Platter’s Wines of the Year 2026

The 2026 Platter Wine Guide will be in the shops at the beginning of December,
a perfect Christmas present for wine lovers

Of the five-star-awarded wines, the highest scorers within each category

receive the sought-after accolade, Wine of the Year This time, there are 36 Wines of the Year

The three prestigious Winery of the Year awards are the highest accolades bestowed by Platter’s

The Top Performing Winery of the Year is the winery that achieves the most five stars after the annual final tasting round
This year the recipient is Diemersdal Estate in Durbanville

The Editor’s Winery of the Year Award recognises an individual or team who, based on performance in the current edition as well as track record, is an excellent ambassador for South African wine

This year the award goes to Alheit Vineyards,
which has shown consistently stellar form since its debut in the 2012 edition

The Newcomer Winery of the Year is awarded to a producer who debuted in Platter’s this year
and achieved the highest scores
The well-deserved recipient of this distinction is The Saldanha Wine & Spirit Co, aka Adi Badenhorst
with two stunning wines earning 95 and 96 points

A five-star rating, is awarded to a wine scoring 95 or more on the 100-point international scale

Two exceptional wines scored 99 Points!

Botanica Mary Delany Chenin blanc 2004

and Leeuwenkuil Heritage Syrah 2022

What follows is by category, the best wine of each grape variety or blend

Cabernet Franc

Raats Vlag 2023

Cabernet Sauvignon
Oldenburg Per Se 2022

Carignan
Torero The Suit of Lights 2024

Cinsault Noir
Bosman Family Twyfeling 2024

Grenache Noir
De Kleine Wijn Hoendertande (Hen's Teeth) 2023

Malbec
Paul Wallace Black Dog 2021

Merlot
Fleur du Cap Series Privée Unfiltered 2022

Petit Verdot
KWV The Mentors 2022

Pinotage
Tokara Limited Release 2023

Pinot Noir
Crystallum Mabalel 2024

Red Blends, Cape Bordeaux
Constantia Glen Five 2022

Red Blends, with Pinotage
Bellingham Pod 2022

Red Blends, Shiraz/Syrah-Based
Flagstone Velvet Red Blend 2023

Red Blends, Other
Anysbos Tesame 2023

Chardonnay 
Crystallum Clay Shales 2024

Grenache Blanc

Scions of Sinai Gramadoelas 2024

Grenache Gris
Pilgrim 2025

Palomino
Riebeek Valley RAAR 2024

Riesling
Saurwein Chi 2024

Roussanne
De Kleine Wijn Liefling 2024

Sauvignon Blanc
Strandveld Pofadderbos 2024

Semillon 
Wildeberg White 2023

Semillon Gris
Terracura Smiley Spesiale 2024

Viognier
Tamboerskloof 2025

White Blends, Cape Bordeaux
Steenberg Magna Carta 2023

White Blends, Other
Mullineux Roundstone White 2024

Cap Classique
Silverthorn Jewel Box 2019

Late Harvest
Thelema Vin de Hel Muscat 2024

Natural Sweet
Stellenrust Chenin d’Muscat 2023

Noble Late Harvest 
Neethlingshof Maria 2025

Vin de Paille/Straw Wine
Fairview La Beryl Blanc 2024

Dessert Wine, Fortified
The Saldanha Wine & Spirit Co Hanepoot #4 2014

Port-Style
Niel Joubert Cape Late Bottled Vintage 2004

made from Shiraz grapes harvested in 2004 and matured in barrel until 2025

Sherry-Style
The Saldanha Wine & Spirit Co Pale Dry #9 NV

An interesting note is the number of wines in this article that have plain white labels with black print

The complete list of Platter Five Star wines can be seen here

All the stories we have produced since 2012
can be opened from the archive list near the top of the column on the right of this page

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