WINE, FOOD, AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOOD!

As wine enthusiasts, we spend a lot of time talking about expensive wine…you know, the “showstoppers”.

Impressive new releases, highly rated bottles, the type of wines that need a special occasion to justify opening them. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. I enjoy those wines as much as anyone else. But, it does mean that another part of the South African wine industry can sometimes get overlooked.

I’m talking about the wines people actually buy and drink every day. The quaffable favourites.

That was probably my biggest takeaway from attending Winemag‘s reintroduction of the Aspiring Top Drop Awards, a competition specifically for wines selling at R120 or less.

It’s an interesting price point because it’s incredibly competitive. Walk into pretty much any off-consumption outlet and there’ll be A LOT of wine sitting around that mark. Some of it is fairly forgettable, to be honest. But if you’re willing to spend a bit of time looking, there are some absolute gems to be found!

Personally, I’ve always felt that things get even more interesting once you move slightly above that. Add another R50 or so and suddenly there’s a whole other tier to choose from! For me, R150 to R200 is probably the sweet spot for value in South African wine, with some serious wines sitting in that bracket. And I mean, what is R50 these days? Just do it. It’ll be well worth it!

That’s also why finding something at R120 or less that can compete with those wines is super satisfying. Hunting down bottles that overdeliver has become a bit of a hobby of mine over the years.

Winemag tasted 92 wines for this year’s awards, with 22 ultimately making the cut by scoring 91 points or higher. Looking through those wines, and more importantly tasting them, was a good reminder of just how much quality is available without having to spend a bucketload of money. You’re not buying a name or a label, just an honest wine in a bottle, patiently waiting to be discovered…and consumed!

A couple of the whites immediately stood out for me. The Thor Vintners & Co West Coast Sumi 2026 was one, and whoever decided to serve it from a little potjie deserves some credit too! It was a fun touch and certainly made the wine difficult to forget. I also really enjoyed the Salt Rock Chenin Blanc 2025. It was weighty, broad, and shouted louder than any other wine in the room.

Among the reds, Koelenhof Koelenberg 2024 impressed, as did the Durbanville Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2024.

The competition’s overall winner was Nederburg Baronne 2024, selling for +/- R100.

The Baronne probably needs very little introduction to South African wine drinkers. It has been around for decades and, because it is so familiar, I think it can be quite easy to overlook. I believe that’s exactly why its performance here is worth mentioning. After all these years, it’s still affordable, easy to find and, it’s consistent. At its price, the 2024 is seriously good value!

That said, the wine that probably got me thinking most on the day was the Riebeek Cellars Collection Shiraz 2025. Not because it was necessarily the biggest or most impressive wine in the room, but because I knew it. We had history.

About 10 years ago, while sourcing wines on a tighter budget, I discovered the Riebeek Cellars Shiraz. I remember tasting it and wondering how on earth they could sell it for so little. Obviously not complaining, just pointing out how the wine left an impression. I think it was around R70 at the time. Maybe even less!

Back then, what I loved about the Shiraz was that it actually had something to say. It gave me more than it had to. There was plenty happening on the nose and palate and, for me, it spoke very clearly of the Swartland. As head winemaker Emile van der Merwe put it so simply on the day, “It smells and acts like a Swartland Shiraz”! What, like a pirate? Just kidding.

Ten years later, there it was again. I tasted it and immediately recognised it. That was probably my favourite part of revisiting the wine. It hadn’t suddenly tried to become something else. The personality I remembered was still there, and so was the drinkability that made me take notice of it in the first place.

There is an important place for wines like this.

Wine can become a very serious subject very quickly. We talk about scores, vineyards, barrels, soil, vintages and increasingly high prices. All of that matters, but sometimes the question is much simpler…is this good, and would I drink it again?

At R120 or less, I think that question becomes particularly important. It’s also why I like what Winemag is doing with the Top Drop Awards. These wines are competing in one of the busiest parts of the market, and recognising the producers getting it right gives consumers somewhere useful to start looking.

Aspiring’s involvement also makes sense. They’ve worked in fine wine logistics for more than 25 years and know the South African wine industry well. It’s good to see that kind of experience being put behind an award focused on accessible wine.

There were 22 winners this year, and I certainly haven’t mentioned all of them here (perhaps that’s the point). There are still plenty to go and find, for yourselves!

At the end of the day, if a R100 bottle can surprise you, turn a few heads, or make you question how they’re selling it for that price, I’d say that’s worth celebrating.

If you’ve recently come across any standout wines at this price, let me know in the comments. I’m always keen to find more!