Sauvignon Blanc & Friends

Universally recognised, Sauvignon Blanc is a variety that can split a crowd. The style from the Cape, though, finds a wonderfully middle ground between the extraverted style that is most famous in New Zealand and the mineral, subtle style of Sancerre. Here, from cooler climate areas of the Cape, the style is focused, chiselled and with impeccable finesse. Real standouts include Reyneke’s Reserve White which is clearly a Sauvignon Blanc that will age effortlessly but the wines of Klein Constantia and the Wild Ferment of Ghost Corner deliver exceptional value for money.

Semillon is a variety that is commonly blended with Sauvignon in Bordeaux, but in the Cape it is frequently bottled as a standalone variety. The most famous is Boekenhoutskloof’s Semillon which is a must-try in the 2021 vintage. Producers are also seeing natural mutations in the vineyard with this variety with Semillon Gris becoming recognised as its own variety. A brilliant example of this is Thorne & Daughter’s Tin Soldier Semillon 2022 which is Semillon Gris planted from cuttings from a 1964 vineyard.