In the highly anticipated 2024 edition of his South Africa Report, Master of Wine Tim Atkin has once again shone a spotlight on the country's top winemakers and wines. This year's report not only highlights the incredible quality emerging from the Cape but also celebrates the diversity, resilience, and innovation driving South Africa’s wine industry forward. From perfect scores to groundbreaking achievements, here are the key takeaways from Atkin's comprehensive review.
The highlights:
Tim Atkin MW’s South Africa Report 2024 features one wine awarded full marks: the 2023 Alheit Vineyards Nautical Dawn, a single-origin, dry-farmed, old vine Chenin Blanc.
Atkin praises Chris Alheit for his minimalist winemaking, describing the wine as "a perfect wine in every sense" and emblematic of South Africa’s terroir-driven approach.
South Africa is producing its greatest wines in history, with Atkin applauding the tenacity, self-reliance, and flexibility of the country's winemakers, cellar and vineyard workers, and growers.
Top-scoring wines in the report include the 2022 Porseleinberg Syrah, 2022 Sadie Family Columella, and 2023 Sadie Family Mev Kirsten, each scoring 99 points.
Alheit Vineyards is recognized as the 2024 Overall White Wine of the Year, while Porseleinberg Syrah and Sadie Family Columella share the Overall Red Wine of the Year title.
Callie Louw of Porseleinberg is named Winemaker of the Year.
Stephanie Wiid of Thistle & Weed is the Young Winemaker of the Year, recognized for her work with viticulturist Etienne Terblanche and their 2023 Brandnetel Chenin Blanc.
Günter Brözel is honored as Winemaking Legend for his contributions to South African winemaking, including his tenure as cellarmaster at Nederburg.
Bosman Family Vineyards is named Viticulturist of the Year for their significant contributions to the South African wine industry through their Bosman Adama plant improvement unit.
Atkin tasted 2,259 wines for the report, with 217 wines scoring 95 points or higher, showcasing the strength of Stellenbosch and Swartland regions.
Atkin highlights the increasing diversity of grape varieties and improved viticulture practices in South Africa, noting the critical mass of transformation and the growing number of black graduates in oenology and viticulture.
Podium 2024 Awards:
Winemaker of the Year: Callie Louw of Porseleinberg
Young Winemaker of the Year: Stephanie Wiid of Thistle & Weed
Viticulturist of the Year: Bosman Family Vineyards
Producers’ Cellar of the Year: Perdeberg Wines
Winemaking Legend: Günter Brözel
Best Cellar Door Experience: Ernie Els Wines
Overall White Wine of the Year: 2023 Alheit Vineyards Nautical Dawn Chenin Blanc
Overall Red Wines of the Year: 2022 Porseleinberg Syrah, 2022 Sadie Family Columella
Overall Rosé of the Year: 2023 Terblanche Family Vineyards Elmie Rosé
Overall Sparkling Wine of the Year: 2018 Graham Beck Cuvée Clive Cap Classique
Overall Sweet Wine of the Year: 2021 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance
Overall Fortified Wine of the Year: 2022 Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve
Red Wine Discovery of the Year: 2021 Fairview Lanner Hill Syrah
White Wine Discovery of the Year: 2023 Kruger Family Wines Karoo Chardonnay
Rosé Wine Discovery of the Year: NV Vinevenom Shining Rosé No. 2
Sparkling Wine Discovery of the Year: 2016 Villiera Pithos CC
Best Value White of the Year: 2024 AA Badenhorst Secateurs Chenin Blanc
Best Value Red of the Year: 2022 Mullineux Kloof Street Rouge
Best Value Rosé of the Year: 2023 Noble Hill Mourvèdre Rosé
Best Value Sparkling Wine of the Year: NV Pongrácz Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique
Best Value Sweet Wine of the Year: 2023 Van Loveren VRL Special Late Harvest Gewürztraminer
Best Value Fortified Wine of the Year: NV KWV Classic Collection Cape Tawny
For more details and to purchase the report, visit www.timatkin.com. For images, click here!
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