FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 announces 20 finalists

The FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 has announced its 20 finalists, marking the 20th anniversary of the competition. The selection was chosen from 159 entries submitted by 95 different producers.

The finalists represent a variety of vintages, including eleven wines from 2025, seven from 2026, and two from 2024. Half of the selected wines are wooded, utilizing barrel components or older oak, while the others are predominantly tank-fermented.

Dr. Carien Coetzee, the judging panel convener, noted that the leading wines demonstrated strong balance, concentration, and varietal expression. The judges specifically highlighted the restrained use of oak in the strongest wooded wines, which helped build structure without masking the cultivar’s character.