Vergelegen wine estate in Somerset West was the beautiful venue for the highly anticipated launch of the 13th annual Tim Atkin MW SA Special Report – a definitive commentary on South African wine.
Private Clients by Old Mutual Wealth presented the event on 2 September, in association with Winecellar.co.za and Strauss & Co.
This occasion was a rare opportunity to meet Tim Atkin MW in person and taste his Wines of the Year, selected from over 200 exceptional wines that each scored 95 points or more in the 2025 report.
Atkin reported that he sampled 2,000 wines from 425 South African wineries to write his thirteenth annual overview. This resulted in 212 wines receiving 95 points or more this year, “my equivalent of a gold medal”.
“I sincerely hope that the reviews and scores in my report, as well as the Medals of Excellence given to wines that have scored more than 90 points, will ensure that more people are made aware of the outstanding quality of South African wines,” he said. “More than ever, we need to tell the world what’s happening in the Cape.”
Ten Vergelegen wines received 90 points or more. The 2023 V was awarded 95 points, the 2023 Estate Red and 2024 Estate White received 94 points, the 2024 Chardonnay Reserve and 2023 Merlot Reserve were allocated 93 points and the 2023 Mill Race Red received 92 points. The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, 2022 Merlot Reserve and 2024 Florence Rose were awarded 91 points, and the 2024 Wild Winds Sauvignon Blanc received 90 points.
Vergelegen wines are stocked by major distributors and online at https://vergelegen.co.za/shop-wine/
Captions (left to right)
- Vergelegen winemaker Luke O’Cuinneagain, Tim Atkin MW and Vergelegen MD Wayne Coetzer.
- Johan Reyneke of Reyneke Wines, Rosa Kruger, founder of the Old Vine Project, Tim Atkin MW and Roland Peens, fine wines advisor, Strauss & Co.
- The Vergelegen V wine was awarded 95 points.