Celebrating the best of Sauvignon Blanc

The largest and most significant international competition dedicated to Sauvignon Blanc wine, which took place for the first time in South Africa in the competition’s 14-year history, culminated in a starlit dinner in the superb setting of Vergelegen wine estate in Somerset West.

The 2023 Concours Mondial du Sauvignon was hosted by the cultivar association Sauvignon Blanc South Africa, with national and international partners.

The dinner at the 323-year-old wine estate, a provincial heritage site, marked the conclusion of several days of sniffing, sipping, swirling and savouring by 40 international and 10 South African judges. They evaluated a record number of 1210 entries from 20 producer countries. This included 152 entries from South Africa.

Quentin Havaux, CEO Vinopres, which manages the technical aspects of Concours Mondial du Sauvignon tastings, said each wine was judged by five people. They represent diverse sectors – winemakers, buyers, media, sommeliers, oenologists and distributors – and 20 countries that span Belgium to Brazil.

The extremely varied geology and topography of the Western Cape, plus the diversity of winemaking styles, “make for complexity, and it is impossible to pin down one characteristic of local Sauvignon Blanc – but this is wonderful,” he said. “Every producer will receive feedback on their wine’s strengths and weaknesses.”

Sauvignon Blanc is South Africa’s top-selling cultivar and most exported varietal. According to Sauvignon Blanc South Africa, the first commercial Sauvignon varietal wine was produced by Verdun (now Asara) in 1977, with Backsberg and De Wetshof entering the market in 1980.

Sauvignon currently holds a 10.9% share of total area under vine in South Africa and is the third-most planted grape in the country.

SA wins big at 2023 Concours Mondial du Sauvignon

International judges awarded silver and gold medals to wines from 20 countries, announced on Monday, 20 March at ProWein in Düsseldorf, Germany.

South Africa ratified its ranking as a major Sauvignon Blanc producer country, winning 56 medals – 26 gold medals and 30 silver medals – along with an international trophy. The Villiera Bush Vine 2022 by Villiera Wines was awarded the Tonnellerie Sylvain trophy, which rewards the best wine matured in oak casks. Darling Cellars’ Gustus Sauvignon Blanc 2020 received the Revelation South Africa trophy for the best-performing South African wine at the show.