Description

This is Tim’s thirteenth South Africa Special Report. At 319 pages and more than 110,000 words, it’s one of the most comprehensive overviews of the world’s eighth-largest producer, as well as a labour of love.

To compile the report, he tasted 2,000 wines from 397 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 1,475 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, his controversial annual classification of the best 325 producers and his wines, winemakers, cellar door, viticulturist, rising star and legend of the year. In the 20,000-word introduction, Tim covers the 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 Pinotage on its 100th birthday.

All in all, 212 wines scored more than 95 points – Tim’s equivalent of a gold medal. There are two “perfect”, 100-point wines this year (the seventh and eighth to enjoy such an accolade since his first report in 2013) and two 99-point wines. The excellent scores support his belief that South Africa is making the best wines in its history, especially in vintages like 2017 and 2021. I was also impressed by many of the 2023 whites and the overall quality of the 2024 vintage. The good news is that 2025 is shaping up to be another classic year.

The strongest performers were again Chenin Blanc and Syrah, but there are dozens of different styles among my top wines. The Cape’s diversity is one of its trump cards.

Tim’s 2025 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 scenes on the planet.