Now in its 14th year, British wine writer, critic, and Master of Wine Tim Atkin’s 2026 South Africa Special Report is live: a veritable Rolodex of the country’s most important names in wine. It was recently launched at the Norval Foundation, a fitting setting for two expressions of contemporary South African creativity to meet: fine wine and fine art.
Among sculptures by Brett Murray, producers poured their top-rated wines from what is Tim’s largest report yet. Over five weeks, he tasted 1 831 wines from 351 producers in situ in the Cape.
“I love South Africa,” says Tim when quizzed on the genesis of the report. “It deserved to be written about in depth. I think I was probably one of the first international commentators to say, ‘Hey, these wines are amazing,’ and stick with them. Not just stick with them, but say that they’re really worth paying attention to.”
This year sees a record 247 wines scoring 95+ points, including one 100-pointer, while Tim hails 2025 as a once-in-a-generation vintage. Chenin blanc and syrah remain the strongest performers, but the diversity of the top wines, including assyrtiko, carignan and hárslevelű, shows just how far the Cape has come.
“The rise and rise of grenache is also very exciting. And I’m seeing better pinotages. The lighter and more pinot noir- and cinsault-like, rather than cabernet-like, the better they’re becoming.”
When asked about the venue, Tim notes that founder Louis Norval is an avid wine collector, adding: “We’re looking at some of the finest wines in the country alongside modern South African art. I think there’s a natural synergy between the two.”
Expanding on this, he says: “I think fine wine is a very important part of contemporary luxury. One of the things I believe very strongly is that fine wine can be made anywhere. Sometimes people confuse luxury with the traditional regions of the world, as if the only wines that can be luxurious, or deluxe products, are those from places like France and Italy. I think that’s untrue. South Africa nowadays is punching its weight in the fine-wine world.”
More than a guide, the report takes stock of the industry, covering everything from politics, economics, and climate change to the coming of age of the New Wave. For Tim, one of the most significant shifts since his first report in 2013 has been the emergence of new regions and a generation of winemakers pushing quality forward.
“Places like the Karoo, the Ceres Plateau, and the South Coast were not really recognised as exciting quality regions. They are now.”
Just as important, he says, is the industry’s camaraderie, which reminds him of Australia in the late 1980s: “People worked together to promote a common end.”
When it came time to present the top awards, a visibly emotional Tim addressed the crowd: “It’s difficult for me to make a decision between all of you because you’re all so good. This country is full of people doing great things.”
The Podium
- Winemaking Legend of the Year: Pieter Ferreira
- Winemaker of the Year: Hannes Storm of Storm Wines
- Young Winemaker of the Year: Jolandie Fouché of Wolf & Woman Wines
- Rising Star of the Year: Stefan Johannes of Zwartwater
- Growers of the Year: Chris Steyn and Cató Rabie of Eendrag Farm
- Winery of the Year: Lismore Estate Vineyards
- Producer Cellar of the Year: Daschbosch
- Wine Tourism Award: Boschendal
In closing, Tim concluded with a poignant message: “South Africa is at its best when it’s working together to promote everybody’s wines as one. I like to talk about Eendrag, about unity. Unity is the word I’d like people to come away with from this report.”
