South African Sauvignon Blanc Earns Global Recognition
South African Sauvignon Blanc Earns Global Recognition. South African Sauvignon Blanc producers have delivered a notable performance at the Sauvignon Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2026, strengthening the country’s position in the international wine industry. The competition took place from 7 to 9 April in Varaždin, Croatia, where nearly 1,000 wines from 25 countries were evaluated by more than 50 international experts through blind tastings.
This year saw a 12.5 percent increase in South African entries, alongside a total of 30 medals awarded to local producers. These included one Grand Gold medal and 13 Gold medals, reflecting both increased participation and sustained quality across the category. The results indicate steady progress for South African Sauvignon Blanc on a highly competitive global stage.
The Vinolok Trophy South Africa Revelation Award, presented to the top-performing local Sauvignon Blanc, was awarded to Alvi’s Drift Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2024. The wine also secured a Grand Gold medal, placing it among only 18 wines worldwide to achieve this distinction at the event.
Among the Gold medal winners were:
- Sweef Sauvignon Blanc 2025
- Convergence Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2025
- Diemersdal The Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2024
- Diemersdal Wild Horseshoe Sauvignon Blanc 2024
- Alvi’s Drift 221 Sauvignon Blanc 2025
- Alvi’s Drift Signature Sauvignon Blanc 2025
- Groot Constantia Sauvignon Blanc 2025
- Ghost Corner Wild Ferment 2024
- Cederberg Sauvignon Blanc 2025
- Escapades Sauvignon Blanc 2023
- Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2025
- Boschendal Appellation Series Elgin Sauvignon Blanc 2024 and
- Zorgvliet Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2025.
In addition to the Gold and Grand Gold achievements, a further 16 South African wines received silver medals. The competition also introduced a new CMB Merit label for wines scoring 86 points or more without receiving a medal, with South Africa recording 31 wines in this category.
Competition organisers noted that South Africa’s results reflect an industry showing increasing confidence and consistency, competing alongside strong entries from countries such as France, Austria, Italy, and New Zealand.
Elunda Basson, chairperson of Sauvignon Blanc South Africa and cellar master at Steenberg Vineyards, highlighted the importance of international evaluation for the category. She stated that while local recognition remains valuable, global competitions provide a critical benchmark for assessing quality against international standards, reinforcing South Africa’s standing among leading Sauvignon Blanc producers worldwide.
