Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek dominated wine tourism for years, but these days the wine routes in the Overberg are becoming increasingly popular. Not only are the wines in the Overberg winning more and more awards, but places like Benguela Cove, Creations and now Gabriëls- kloof are also making a name for themselves around the world.
According to Master of Wine Tim Atkin the majority of the country’s best winegrowers and winemakers are closely attuned to nature and deeply respectful of their vineyards. Acknowledging that the land, the vines and the vintage have the final say lets winemakers create wines that express a place and time as much as their own personalities. He observes that currently “the overwhelming majority of the Cape’s best wines are single- vineyard or single-estate bottlings.”
For the 2025 report Atkin tasted 2 000 wines from close to 400 producers over two visits to the country, funded and organised by Wines of South Africa (WoSA). “WoSA’s support has been invaluable since the report’s inception in 2013,” he said.
This year a great honour fell on Dr Paul Clüver when he was crowned the 2025 Winemaking Legend. As far back as the 1980s he was instrumental in establishing Elgin as a cool-climate wine-growing area. Other wine farms in the Overberg that were also honoured were Gabriëlskloof in Botrivier, winner of the Best Cellar Door Experience, and Rosé Wine Discovery of the Year 2024 Lost Boy Latigo in Cape Agulhas.
Another wine farm that not only produces very good wines, but also steals the hearts of people all over the world is Bouchard Finlayson. This year its Galpin Peak Pinot Noir 2023 walked away with the Michelangelo Trophy.
In 1989 Bouchard Finlayson planted the first Pinot Noir vines in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, a bold step into uncharted territory that would shape the future of South African winemaking. Thirty-six years later that pioneering spirit has been honoured once again, as the Galpin Peak Pinot Noir 2023 received the Michelangelo Trophy, South Africa’s most prestigious wine accolade. This vintage is more than a bottle. It is the culmination of decades of quiet craftsmanship, of soil and soul, and of a winemaker’s pursuit of elegance and truth in Pinot Noir. Crafted by Chris Albrecht, the 2023 Galpin Peak carries the depth of the estate’s history and the promise of what is still to come.
From Tim Atkin MW’s 96-point rating to Gold medals at Decanter and IWC, Galpin Peak has consistently defined South African Pinot Noir on the world stage. The 2023 vintage joins this lineage with not only the Michelangelo Trophy, but also Old Vine Project Heritage Recognition, affirming Bouchard Finlayson’s role as a custodian of terroir and tradition.
“Pinot Noir is justifiably considered, among many, to pose the greatest challenge in producing a wine of excellence,” said Albrecht. “Notoriously sentient, it disapproves of forceful interference, but is unmatched in its eloquent expression of contentment.”
Another boutique winery, Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate, has triumphed at the 2025 Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards, winning the prestigious Best Wine of Show trophy for its Vinography Cabernet Sauvignon 2021.
The wine outshone 1 335 entries to secure the premier wine competition’s highest honour, marking the second time the estate has achieved this remarkable feat.
The Vinography Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 was also named the Best Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy winner and received the Southern Sun Wine Grand Prix award, a distinction reserved for only 1 of 23 top entries. These accolades reaffirm the estate’s dedication to crafting world-class wines that are a pure expression of its unique coastal terroir.
