Description

This is Tim’s fourteenth South Africa Special Report. At 328 pages and more than 125,000 words, it’s one of the most comprehensive overviews of the world’s seventh-largest producer, as well as a labour of love.

To compile his latest report, Tim tasted 1,831 wines from 351 different producers, spending five weeks in the Cape in March, June and July this year.

The bulk of the report consists of tasting notes for the 1,420 brands that scored over 90 points. But there’s also plenty of in-depth analysis of the current South African wine scene, a list of the best restaurants, Tim’s controversial annual classification of the best Cape producers, as well as his wines, winemakers, viticulturist/grower, rising star, cellar door and legend of the year. In his in-depth 25,000-word introduction, Tim covers the history, politics and economics of the industry, as well as discussing climate change and the ups and downs of recent vintages. There’s also a tribute to the coming of age of the New Wave.

All in all, 247 wines scored more than 95 points – Tim’s equivalent of a gold medal. There is one “perfect”, 100-point wine this year (the ninth to enjoy such an accolade since his first report in 2013) and one 99-point wine. The excellent scores support his belief that South Africa is making the best wines in its history, especially in vintages like 2017, 2021 and 2025. 2025, in particular, was an historic, once-in-a-generation year.

The strongest performers were again Chenin Blanc and Syrah, but there are dozens of different styles among Tim’s top wines, including an Assyrtiko, a Carignan and a Hárslevelű for the first time. The Cape’s diversity really is one of its trump cards.

Tim’s 2026 South Africa Special Report is available to download now. If you’re planning a trip to the Cape – or just want to buy some of South Africa’s best wines – it’s an indispensable guide to one of the most exciting wine-producing countries on the planet.