Three of the 13 gold medals won by South African sauvignon blanc wines at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2026 (CMB 2026), held earlier this month in Varaždin, Croatia, are for wines from the Durbanville wine valley.

Diemersdal wins two gold medals

Of the three, two medals were won by Diemersdal Wine Estate, for its Diemersdal The Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2024 and Diemersdal Wild Horseshoe Sauvignon Blanc 2024, and one from Durbanville Hills, for its Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2025.

Among the South African gold medal winners only two wine farms managed to win two gold medals each.

The other was Alvi’s Drift with its Alvi’s Drift 221 Sauvignon Blanc 2025 and Alvi’s Drift Signature Sauvignon Blanc 2025.

The other local gold medal winners were:

• Sweef Sauvignon Blanc 2025
• Convergence Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2025;
• Groot Constantia Sauvignon Blanc 2025;
• Ghost Corner Wild Ferment 2024;
• Cederberg Sauvignon Blanc 2025;
• Escapades Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Boschendal Appellation Series Elgin Sauvignon Blanc 2024;
• Zorgvliet Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2025.

Samples tasted from 25 countries

This latest international results underline the strengthening of South Africa’s sauvignon blanc position as one of the most dynamic sauvignon-producing countries on the global stage. South Africa not only increased its number of entries, but also its gold medal tally, according to a media release by Sauvignon Blanc South Africa.

Exclusively dedicated to wines made from the sauvignon grape variety, this benchmark competition brought together nearly 1 000 samples from 25 countries this year.

No fewer than 50 international experts took part in the blind tastings from 7 to 9 April, once again confirming the high standards and diversity of a competition that has become a global reference.

South Africa recorded a 12,5% rise in entries, reflecting growing producer confidence and strong engagement with the competition. More significantly, it secured 30 medals – including one Grand Gold and 13 Gold – reinforcing that this growth is firmly rooted in quality.

Alvi’s Drift sets the benchmark

The Vinolok Trophy South Africa Revelation Award for the top South African Sauvignon Blanc was awarded to the Alvi’s Drift Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2024. The wine also earned a coveted Grand Gold medal, reserved for exceptional wines that excel across all judging criteria. Overall, only 18 wines received Grand Gold medals this year.

A further 16 South African wines received silver medals. In addition, a new CMB Merit label was introduced this year, awarded to wines scoring 86 points or more without receiving a medal (with the top 33% of wines awarded medals).

South Africa again performed strongly in this category, with 31 local wines achieving this distinction.

According to the organisers of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles South Africa’s performance reflects an industry that is not only growing, but doing so with confidence and consistency on the global stage. While countries such as France, Austria, Italy and New Zealand also delivered strong results, South Africa is not merely keeping pace but asserting its own distinctive identity.

Elunda Basson, chair of Sauvignon Blanc South Africa and Cellar Master at Steenberg Vineyards, says international recognition remains the ultimate benchmark for the category.

“Local recognition is important to us, but it is on the international stage that the true quality of South African Sauvignon Blanc is tested,” she said. “When our wines are assessed by judges who understand the global profile of Sauvignon Blanc and still win top honours it confirms that we belong among the world’s best.”

. Visit https://sauvignonselection.com/en/ for the full results and https://sauvignonblanc.com/ for more about Sauvignon Blanc South Africa.

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