Master of Wine Tim Atkin has just released his highly anticipated South Africa 2025 Report, which features 212 wines that were rated 95 points and above! ‘South Africa’s visceral attachment to the land is key to its rising wine success…the overwhelming majority of the Cape’s best wines are single-vineyard or single-estate bottlings,’ he concludes. This annual report, now in its 13th edition, is the most comprehensive commentary on SA’s top-scoring fine wines.
Porseleinberg 2023 is Tim’s Red Wine of the Year and the eighth SA wine ever to be rated 100 points. The title of White Wine of the Year goes to Alheit Vineyards Magnetic North 2024, also scoring 100 points. Beeslaar’s Sacrament 2022 joins the podium as his Red Wine Discovery of the Year, while Sadie Family Twiswind 2024 is the White Wine Discovery of the Year.
At last night’s awards of Tim’s 95+ point wines, Donovan Rall was crowned Winemaker of the Year and Stuart Botha of Tokara was named Young Winemaker of the Year. Megan Van der Merwe of Beau Constantia is 2025’s Rising Star, and Kayleigh Hattingh of Rebel Rebel Wines walked away with the Best Value Sparkling Wine. Angus Paul joined the 95+ pointers for the first time with his Fantamtango Chenin Blanc 2024.
It was an event brimming with excitement and a room full of amazing wines. With many already sold out and only limited stock of others, you can browse our list of over 100 highly rated wines here. For future releases of Alheit 2025s, Boekenhoutskloof 2023s, Storm 2024s, Lismore and many more, email lauren@winecellar.co.za to be added to the allocation list.
This year, Tim Atkin tasted 2,000 SA wines from 397 producers. His annual report continues to highlight the very best that our country has to offer. Tim has been instrumental in bringing South African wines to the world stage and was the first critic to award a local wine – the 2015 Kanonkop Paul Sauer – 100 points. You can buy your copy of his 2025 report on timatkin.com.
