2025 Gold Wine Awards –

The quest for value wines continues

The 12th annual Gold Wine Awards took place at the end of August 2025 at Vredenheim Wine Estate near Stellenbosch. The majority of the judges were retail specialists and were tasked with finding value wines at R180.00, and sparkling wines at R220.00 and below in a double-blind tasting. This event is a highlight for the tasters, thanks to its unique approach and outstanding selection. With a blind tasting format, there’s always a buzz of curiosity about which wines will come out on top. While the process demands focus and precision, a shared passion for great wines fostered a lively, collaborative spirit. Serious evaluation met genuine excitement, making for an engaging and memorable experience.

World economic realities

Political instability, caused by international events, affects agricultural policies and pricing. Despite this, interest in sustainability, small-batch production, and traditionally well established wines are growing. As financial pressures mount, demand for well-crafted, affordable local wines continues to strengthen South Africa’s wine culture.

Local economic realities

The South African economy heavily influences the local wine market, shaping costs, exports, and consumer trends. A weak rand boosts exports, but raises costs for imported essentials like barrels and glass. Inflation and fuel hikes squeeze margins, while load shedding forces wineries to invest in costly power solutions.

Locally, economic strain shifts buying habits, with budget wines gaining traction while premium selections hold niche appeal. Direct sales through tasting rooms depend on tourism, which is recovering unevenly. Meanwhile, bulk and bag-in-box wines are rising in popularity.

Despite these challenges, the industry remains adaptable. Winemakers focus on sustainability, premiumisation, and creative market strategies to stay competitive. South African wines continue to stand out globally for their quality and value.

Panelists at the 2025 Gold Wine Awards

The convenor purposefully chose panelists with extensive retail experience. These are the people in the industry making their living from understanding the flavour profiles and price points of the wines they need to sell. By partnering with industry doorkeepers, the Gold Wine Awards are keeping pace with the people monitoring the consumer’s pulse.

The all star panel consisted of retail veterans Ad Wegner from GetWine, Reinette Muir from Wine Concepts Newlands, Sue Proudfoot from Wine Concepts Kloof Street, Lara Philp from The Vineyard Connection, Ezra Benjamin from Liquor City Claremont, Jaco Sadie from Wyn in Somerset West, Georgio Meletiou from Spier Estate and Gregory Lorimer, head sommelier at Oldenburg Vineyards.

Renette Muir – Wine Concepts Newlands

Sue Proudfoot – Wine Concepts

Lara Philp – The Vineyard Connection

Ad Wegner – Getwine

Ezra Benjamin – Liquor City Claremont

Gary van der Walt – Wine & Company

Jaco Sadie from Main Wyn

Georgio Meletiou – Spier Estate

Gregory Lorimer head sommelier at Oldenburg Vineyards

Wines at R180, and sparkling wines at R220 and below per bottle

Consumers often lack clear guidance when seeking quality wines that deliver great value, particularly within more affordable price ranges. Awards help bridge this gap, serving as trusted indicators of quality that empower consumers to make smarter, more confident purchasing decisions.

The best wines were awarded gold or double gold, indicating value for money. After scoring the wines, the results are then statistically correlated to the price to determine whether the wines offer real value for money. The top-performing producers can use a Top 10 sticker on their bottles proclaiming their Top 10 position.

Retailers recognise that affordable, quality wines drive their business, as consumers become increasingly selective, unwilling to compromise on taste even at lower prices. The awarded wines exceeded expectations, particularly impressive given their affordability, with still wines priced around R180 and sparkling wines available for R220 or less per bottle.

Sauvignon blanc

Sauvignon blanc was the biggest white wine class in the tasting. During the event, Sauvignon blanc took centre stage, drawing particular interest from the judging panel. A thorough and rigorous tasting session showcased the grape’s signature freshness, with standout wines primarily coming from the youthful 2025 vintage, noted for their crisp acidity and vivid fruit notes. By contrast, the 2024 vintage wines offered greater depth, exhibiting layered and developed flavours. Overall, the tasting reinforced Sauvignon blanc’s enduring charm and versatility, demonstrating skilled winemaking that expertly captures the grape’s distinctive qualities, irrespective of vintage differences

We asked the wine tasters, that if they had to choose between a 2025 or 2024 Sauvignon blanc, which they had no clue about in the budget range, which one they would choose. The tasters were adamant that they would prefer the 2024.

We also asked the tasters which characteristic they would regard the highest in a budget friendly Sauvignon blanc, and most of them preferred youthfulness to complexity.

D’Aria did very well with their Sauvignon blanc

The Benguela Cove Sauvignon blanc shone

Chenin blanc

Chenin blanc was the second-biggest wine class in the tasting. The tasting showcased the 2025 vintage as exceptionally poised, marked by sophisticated aromas and a precise, refreshing acidity, highlighting the grape’s impressive adaptability. In comparison, select wines from the 2024 vintage presented richer, more evolved characteristics, reflecting the grape’s capacity to age gracefully and reinforcing Chenin blanc’s reputation for consistent quality. Overall, the event illustrated how distinct yet complementary each vintage could be, celebrating skilled winemaking that brings out the best from each year’s harvest.

We asked the wine tasters, that if they had to choose between a 2025 or 2024 Chenin blanc, which they had no clue about in the budget range, which one they would choose. The tasters were divided, some choosing youthfulness over age.

Vondeling is always very reliable with their Chenin blanc from the Perdeberg

Montagu is a perineal favourite when it comes to value for money Chenin blanc

Chardonnay

The unoaked Chardonnay category stood out for its bright acidity and clear, fresh fruit flavours, whereas the gently oaked examples introduced refined layers, accented by hints of subtle vanilla. Each style demonstrated careful attention from the winemakers, revealing the grape’s impressive versatility. The careful tasting process emphasised the precision and subtlety required in crafting these wines, confirming that both unoaked and lightly oaked expressions, when expertly handled, beautifully highlight Chardonnay’s timeless character.

We asked the wine tasters, that if they had to choose between a 2025 or 2024 Chardonnay, which they had no clue about in the budget range, which one they would choose. The tasters were adamant that they would prefer the 2024.

Rosé / Blanc de noir (BdN)

The Rosé and Blanc de Noir class was the third-biggest white wine class. This year there were again exceptional examples that show why this class is so popular.

The lighter-coloured wines stood out with vibrant freshness, defined by lively citrus and crisp green apple flavours. In contrast, the deeper-tinted styles presented more intricate profiles, marked by subtle notes of red fruits and delicate stone fruit undertones. The event demonstrated the remarkable adaptability of Blanc de Noir and Rosé wines, showcasing how winemakers expertly bring out diverse characteristics from the grapes, resulting in an appealing range from fresh and zesty to elegantly layered. The balance of fruity character and dryness across the samples highlighted their suitability for enjoying in various settings.

Category preferences for value for money

We asked some of the tasters to rate the following white wine categories, in order of value-for-money, from most value-for-money to least, and this was the result:

• Sauvignon blanc
• Chenin blanc
• Blanc de Noir / Rosé
• White blends
• Chardonnay

Sauvignon blanc value spending tips.

We asked some of the tasters what factors they would recommend to look at when buying value for money Sauvignon blanc, and this was the result:

• Area the grapes were grown
• Must be chilled
• Younger vintage is better
• Must be in a screwcap
• Beautiful label

Red wine:

Shiraz

Shiraz was the biggest red wine class and the wines were very consistent, with some excellent quality.

During the Shiraz tasting, judges explored an impressive diversity of flavours across the wines presented. Certain samples stood out for their powerful, rich characters, dominated by intense blackberry and luxurious dark chocolate notes. Meanwhile, other wines offered a more subtle complexity, featuring elegant hints of black pepper, leather, and gentle spice nuances. This tasting highlighted Shiraz’s remarkable capacity to embody a wide spectrum of flavour profiles, from bold intensity to refined subtlety, offering wine lovers an engaging range of experiences to enjoy.

The 2024 vintage showed very well and was packed with vibrant red fruit, spice, and integrated oak and spice.

Pinotage

Pinotage was the third-biggest red wine class, and a large spectrum of flavour profiles were on display. Some wines had strong flavours of dark cherry and plum, giving a deep, full taste. Others were lighter, with notes of red berries, earth, and a hint of smoke. These wines proved Pinotage can offer both bold and gentle flavours, appealing to many tastes.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Merlot was the second-most popular red wine tasted, known for smoothness and easy-going flavour. Most wines had gentle tastes of ripe plums and fresh red berries. The fruit flavours mixed together nicely, creating Merlot’s typical softness. The tasting showed again that Merlot reliably offers wines people enjoy, keeping it a popular choice for relaxed, tasty red wines.

The red blend tasting highlighted creativity in winemaking. Bordeaux blends featured Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, showing classic balance and refined structure. Cape blends stood out by blending local and international grapes, producing bold flavours that reflect South Africa’s style. Each wine told a different story about the land and how it was crafted. These blends showed how winemakers use tradition and new ideas to create exciting, unique tastes.

Vergenoegd Löw Wine Estate did well with their Runner Duck Red

Thelema did very well with their Mountain Red

Value for money preferences for red wine.

We asked some of the tasters to rate the red wine types, from most value-for-money to least when buying a value for money red wine at R120.00, and this is the order of importance according to them:

• Merlot
• Shiraz
• Bordeaux Blend
• Other red blends
• Cabernet Sauvignon

Smart spending in the wine aisle

We once again asked our tasters what their smart spending tips would be for their best friends, to buy the best wine at the price, and here are some:

• Wine that do better in cool regions, would be better from cool regions.
• Try new wines and explore. Kiss a few frogs.
• Red blends can hide some good surprises.
• Award stickers help guide tasters.
• Ask for advice in the wine store.
• Do not go for unknown, flashy labels.
• Club together with friends, and buy different wines to explore together.

The Top 10 producers were:

This year’s Double Gold winners

This event would not have been possible without our partners:

Details about the 2026 Gold Wine Awards will be announced in the last week of January 2026.

For enquiries, visit the website at https://goldwineawards.com/ or contact Sanet at sanet@goldwineawards.co.za.