Announced: The best wines of South Africa

All 234 of them: 2022 five-star winners revealed for the Platter's by Diners Club South African Wine Guide

latest update: 16 November 2021

Read up on your favourite wines or wine estates of the Cape Winelands, the larger Western Cape (and South Africa wide nowadays) and how they scored. Discover new award winning wines for your seasonal treasure hunting. 

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SA'S PRIZE WINNING WINES FOR 2022

For many this is the kid in the candy store moment of the year.  South Africa's best wines according to Diners Club South African Wine Guide 2022 have been revealed.  

We just received the release and we thought not to wait. Herewith Diners Club South African Wine Guide's 2022 winners.  Herewith the release; 

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Platter’s by Diners Club Wine Guide has revealed the eagerly awaited and prestigious list of wines earning the maximum rating of five stars in the new 2022 edition. The unveiling coincides with the launch of the guide on Platter’s digital platforms - the apps for iOS/Apple and Android, and the website (www.wineonaplatter.com).

The best-selling and collectible hardcover version of the new edition will be introduced at a bespoke function in the winelands on Friday 19 November 2021. Wines receiving the sought-after five-star rating in Platter’s must undergo a rigorous process of sighted and blind assessment (i.e. with and without sight of the label) by a team of experienced experts.

Bottlings that are judged to be “Superlative, a South African classic” are given the highest ranking of five stars, equal to 95 points or better on the 100-point rating scale.

The 234 wines that achieve this distinction in the 2022 edition cover the full spectrum of winemaking styles and approaches across 28 different categories.

Red and White Blends are the biggest classes, as in previous editions, with 46 and 27 individual labels respectively. Chenin Blanc, which has made remarkable strides in terms of quality in recent years, is the next-biggest category, with 27 exceptional wines.

Chardonnay performs particularly well this year, with 19 bottlings originating in a diverse range of sites. Another strong performer is Cabernet Sauvignon, with 15 wines, the overwhelming majority of which come from the Stellenbosch area.

Reflected in the five-star line-up are many of the key trends shaping South African wine today, such as the revival and reinterpretation of traditional varieties such as Cinsault and Colombard; red wines with lighter textures and lower alcohol; and the use of clay and concrete vessels as alternatives to oak for fermentation and/or ageing.

“Another relatively recent development, which partly accounts for the rising number of five-star wines, is ‘deconstruction’, where different clones of the same grape variety are bottled separately,” says Philip van Zyl, acting managing director and editor of Platter’s.

“Sometimes not just different clones but also different sites within an estate are produced and released separately, to showcase the terroir. The Pinot Noir category is an example of this phenomenon, with a single producer releasing four wines from four clones and four sites, each with its own personality and nuance, and each worthy of a five-star rating.

“These are exciting times for South African wine as regards quality and diversity, and the ability of its wines to beguile, fascinate and satisfy wine-lovers and -collectors around the world. We are delighted and very proud of our five-star line-up and would like to take the opportunity to congratulate all the producers on their stellar achievement.”

The five-star wines for 2022

The 2022 five-star Cabernet Franc 

• Anthonij Rupert Wyne 2015
• Holden Manz Wine Estate Reserve 2018
• Jordan Wine Estate Insiders Wine Club Private Collection 2019
• Mulderbosch Vineyards 2018
• Raats Family Wines CWG Auction The Stella Nova 2017
• Raats Family Wines 2019
• Warwick Wine Estate 2018

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignons awarded five stars

• Boekenhoutskloof Winery Stellenbosch 2019
• Boekenhoutskloof Winery Franschhoek 2019
• Kanonkop Estate 2017
• Le Riche Wines Reserve 2018
• Leeu Passant 2019
• Muratie Wine Estate Martin Melck 2017
• Oldenburg Vineyards Per Se 2019
• Plaisir 2018
• Rust en Vrede Wine Estate Single Vineyard 2018
• Simonsig Wine Estate The Garland 2017
• Stark-Condé Wines Three Pines 2019
• Tokara Reserve 2018
• Vergelegen Wines V 2015
• Wade Bales Wine Co Stellenbosch 2019
• Warwick Wine Estate The Blue Lady 2018

The 2022 five-star Cinsault

• Laarman Wines Focal Point 2019
• Rall Wines 2020
• Sadie Family Wines Pofadder 2020
• Savage Wines Follow The Line 2020

The Grenache Noir winnes for 2022

• ArtiSons The Phantom 2019
• Momento Wines 2019
• Sadie Family Wines Soldaat 2020

2022 five-star Merlot

• Holden Manz Wine Estate Reserve 2018
• Shannon Vineyards The Shannon Black 2017

2022 five-star Petit Verdot

• Stellenbosch Vineyards 2015
• Thelema Mountain Vineyards Sutherland Reserve 2019

Five-star awarded Pinotage for 2022

• Bellevue Estate Stellenbosch 1953
• Single Vineyard 2019 Beyerskloof Diesel 2019
• Diemersdal Estate The Journal 2019
• False Bay Vineyards The Last Of The First 2020
• Francois van Niekerk Wines 2019
• Kanonkop Estate Black Label 2019
• Neil Ellis Wines Bottelary Hills 2019

The five-star winners for the Pinot Noir varietal

• Creation Wines The Art of Pinot Noir 2020
• Creation Wines Reserve 2020
• Crystallum Cuvée Cinéma 2020
• Crystallum Mabalel 2020
• Iona Vineyards Kloof 2018
• Newton Johnson Vineyards Windansea 2020
• Oak Valley Estate South Ridge PN 777 2018
• Oak Valley Estate Fynbos Gorge PN 114 2018
• Oak Valley Estate South Ridge PN 115 2018
• Oak Valley Estate South Ridge PN 667 2018
• Radford Dale Freedom 2020
• Richard Kershaw Wines Elgin 2019
• Storm Wines Ignis 2020
• Storm Wines Vrede 2020

2022 Five-star winning Shiraz/Syrah

• Boekenhoutskloof Winery CWG Auction Syrah 2018
• Boschkloof Wines Epilogue 2019
• De Grendel Wines Elim Shiraz 2019
• De Grendel Wines Op Die Berg Syrah 2019
• De Trafford Wines Syrah 393 2019
• Lomond Conebush Syrah 2018
• Mullineux Granite Syrah 2019
• Mullineux Schist Roundstone Syrah 2019
• Patatsfontein Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2020
• Rall Wines Ava Syrah 2020
• Savage Wines Red 2019
• Savage Wines CWG Auction Syrah 2019
• Savage Wines Girl Next Door 2020
• Super Single Vineyards Mount Sutherland Syrah 2018
• Van Loggerenberg Wines Graft 2020

And one 2022 five-star Tinta Barocca

• Sadie Family Wines Treinspoor 2020

The winners in category Red Blends, Cape Bordeaux

• Constantia Glen Five 2017
• De Grendel Wines Rubáiyát 2018
• De Trafford Wines The Drawing Board 2019
• Ernie Els Wines Signature 2015
• Glenelly Estate Lady May 2017
• Glenelly Estate Lady May 2016
• Grangehurst CWG Auction Au Revoir 2017
• Groot Constantia Estate Gouverneurs Reserve Red 2018
• Jordan Wine Estate CWG Auction Sophia 2018
• Keet Wines First Verse 2018
• Mvemve Raats MR de Compostella 2018
• Plaisir Grand Plaisir 2016
• Ridgeback Signature C 2018
• Spier Frans K. Smit Red 2017
• Spier Frans K. Smit CWG Auction Selection 2018
• Super Single Vineyards The King & I 2015
• Taaibosch Wines Crescendo 2018
• Tokara Director’s Reserve Red 2018
• Van Biljon Wines Cinq 2017
• Vergelegen Wines GVB Red 2016

Winners for category Red Blends, with Pinotage

• Beyerskloof Faith 2017
• David & Nadia Elpidios 2019
• KWV Wines Perold 2018
• Opstal Estate Carl Everson Cape Blend 2019

The 2022 winners in category Red Blends, Shiraz/Syrah-based

• AA Badenhorst Kalmoesfontein Red 2019
• ArtiSons JJ Handmade Eight Pillars 2018
• Bartho Eksteen Groepsdruk 2019
• De Grendel Wines Sir David Graaff First Baronet 2017
• Ellerman House Hotel & Villas The Ellerman 2019
• Erika Obermeyer Wines Erika O Syrah-Grenache Noir-Cinsault 2019
• Radford Dale Black Rock 2019
• Rust en Vrede Wine Estate 1694 Classification 2018
• Sadie Family Wines Columella 2019
• Saronsberg Cellar Full Circle 2019
• Sijnn Red 2018
• The Liberator God’s Own Country 2017

And the winners for Red Blends, Other

• Anysbos Tesame 2019
• Blackwater Wine Sophie Cabernet Franc-Cinsaut 2020
• De Trafford Wines Elevation 393 2015
• Hogan Wines Divergent 2019
• Leeu Passant Dry Red 2018
• Lingen 2019
• Marianne Wine Estate Floréal 2018
• Naudé Wines Oupa Willem 2019
• Rust en Vrede Wine Estate 2018
• Waterkloof Circle of Life Red 2019

2022 Five-star Chardonnay

• Bartinney Private Cellar Hourglass 2019
• Capensis Silene 2019
• Creation Wines The Art of Chardonnay 2020
• Creation Wines Reserve 2020
• GlenWood Grand Duc 2019
• Groot Constantia Estate 2019
• Holden Manz Wine Estate Reserve 2019
• Iona Vineyards Kloof 2019
• Laarman Wines Focal Point 2019
• Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2019
• Newton Johnson Vineyards CWG Sandford 2019
• Oak Valley Estate Groenlandberg 2020
• Restless River Ava Marie 2019
• Rhebokskloof Wine Estate Black Marble Hill 2019
• Richard Kershaw Wines Elgin 2019
• Rustenberg Wines Five Soldiers 2019
• Storm Wines Vrede 2020
• Trizanne Signature Wines Onderduivenshokrivier 2020
• Warwick Wine Estate The White Lady 2020

2022 Five-star Chenin Blanc

• AA Badenhorst Family Wines Kelder Steen 2020
• Alheit Vineyards Nautical Dawn 2020
• Beaumont Family Wines Hope Marguerite 2020
• David & Nadia Plat’bos 2020
• David & Nadia Skaliekop 2020
• DeMorgenzon The Divas 2020
• JC Wickens Wines Swerwer 2020
• Kaapzicht Wine Estate The 1947 2020
• Kleine Zalze Wines Project Z 2019
• Kleine Zalze Wines Family Reserve 2020
• L’Avenir Vineyards Single Block 2020
• Luddite Wines 2020
• Mulderbosch Vineyards Block W 2020
• Mullineux Granite 2020
• Paulus Wine Co Bosberaad 2020
• Raats Family Wines Eden 2020
• Raats Family Wines Old Vine 2020
• Raats Family Wines CWG Auction The Fountain 2020
• Rall Wines Ava 2020
• Sadie Family Wines Mev. Kirsten 2020
• Sadie Family Wines Skurfberg 2020
• Savage Wines Never Been Asked To Dance 2020
• Spier 21 Gables 2020
• Stellenrust Old Bushvine 2020
• Stellenrust 56 Barrel Fermented 2020
• Thistle & Weed Springdoring 2020
• Thistle & Weed Duwweltjie 2020

Colombard

• Naudé Wines Langpad 2021

Grenache Blanc

• Rall Wines 2020

Sauvignon Blanc

• Anthonij Rupert Wyne Altima 2020
• Buitenverwachting Hussey’s Vlei 2020
• Cape Point Vineyards Reserve 2020
• Cederberg Private Cellar David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner Wild Ferment 2020
• Die Kat se Snor 2021
• Diemersdal Estate The Journal 2020
• Highlands Road Estate White Reserve 2018
• Lomond Pincushion 2020
• Lomond Ben Nevis 2020
• Reyneke Wines Biodynamic Reserve White 2019
• Rickety Bridge Winery Paulina’s Reserve 2020 Stellenbosch Vineyards Darling 2019
• Tokara Reserve 2020
• Trizanne Signature Wines Sondagskloof White 2020

Semillon

• Anthonij Rupert Wyne Laing Groendruif 2020
• Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate Catalina 2019
• De Kleine Wijn Koöp Debutant White 2020
• Rickety Bridge Winery The Pilgrimage 2019
• Sadie Family Wines Kokerboom 2020
• The Vineyard Party Here Be Dragons 2018
• Thorne & Daughters Wines Paper Kite 2020
• Vergelegen Wines Reserve 2019

White Blends, Cape Bordeaux

• Cape Point Vineyards Isliedh 2020
• Constantia Glen Two 2020
• Groot Constantia Estate Gouverneurs Reserve White 2018
• Savage Wines White 2020
• Spier Frans K. Smit White 2019
• Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2018
• Trizanne Signature Wines Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc 2019
• Vergelegen Wines GVB White 2019
• Wade Bales Wine Co Constantia Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon 2020

White Blends, Other

• AA Badenhorst Family Wines Kalmoesfontein White 2019
• Alheit Vineyards Hemelrand Vine Garden 2020
• Beaumont family Wines New Baby 2020
• Leeuwenkuil Family Vineyards White 2019
• Lemberg Wine Estate Lady 2020
• Miles Mossop Wines Saskia 2019
• Momento Wines Chenin Blanc-Verdelho 2020
• Mullineux Old Vines White 2020
• Olifantsberg Family Vineyards Blanc 2020
• Rall Wines White 2020
• Sadie Family Wines Palladius 2019
• Sadie Family Wines ‘T Voetpad 2020
• Sadie Family Wines Skerpioen 2020
• Stark-Condé Wines The Field Blend 2020
• The Ahrens Family The WhiteBlack 2019
• Thistle & Weed Khakibos 2020
• Thorne & Daughters Wines Rocking Horse 2020
• Vuurberg White 2020

Méthode Cap Classique

• Anthonij Rupert Wyne Brut Rosé 2016
• Black Elephant Vintners Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs NV
• Colmant Cap Classique & Champagne Absolu Zero Dosage NV
• Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2015
• Newstead Lund Family Vineyards Brut 2016
• Pieter Ferreira Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs 2015
• Silverthorn Wines CWG Auction Big Dog VII 2016
• Spier Brut RD 2013

Dessert Wine, Fortified

• Orange River Cellars Omstaan Wit Muskadel NV

Natural Sweet

• Black Elephant Vintners The Honey Thief NV
• Klein Constantia Estate Vin de Constance 2017

Noble Late Harvest

• Boekenhoutskloof Winery 2018
• Buitenverwachting 1769 2020

Vin de Paille/Straw Wine

• De Trafford Wines Straw Wine 2018
• Meerhof Wines Mooistrooi 2020
• Savage Wines Not Tonight Josephine 2020

Port-style

• Boplaas Family Vineyards Cape Vintage Reserve 2019 B
• oplaas Family Vineyards Cape Tawny Reserve 2005
• De Krans Wines Cape Vintage Reserve 2019
• KWV Wines Cape Tawny NV
• Sijnn 2019

Brandy

• Boplaas Family Vineyards Potstill Reserve 20 Years
• Boplaas Family Vineyards Potstill Reserve 12 Years
• KWV Brandies Centenary
• KWV Brandies Nexus
• KWV Brandies 20 Year Old
• KWV Brandies 15 Year Old Alambic
• KWV Brandies 12 Year Old Barrel Select
• KWV Brandies 10 Year Old Vintage
• Tokara XO Potstill
• Van Ryn 20 Year Old Potstill
• Van Ryn 15 Year Old Potstill
• Van Ryn 12 Year Old Potstill

Husk Spirit

• Dalla Cia Wine & Spirit Company 10-Year-Old Celebration Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot

 

Buy the Platter's by Diners Club South African Wine Guide

 

For the tasting notes on the five-star wines, as well as the reviews and ratings for the other wines featured in the 2022 edition: Go to www.wineonaplatter.com/products and purchase a digital subscription and go to www.wineonaplatter.com/login to use the web-based guide.

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Produced by: John Platter SA Wine Guide (Pty) Ltd
Editor: Philip van Zyl (pvz@wineonaplatter.com)
Tasters for 2022: Winnie Bowman, Greg de Bruyn, Tim James, Malu Lambert, Angela Lloyd, Cathy Marston, Fiona McDonald, Gregory Mutambe, Christine Rudman, Penelope Setti, Dave Swingler, Cathy van Zyl and Meryl Weaver.

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Website: www.wineonaplatter.com