by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
CAPE TOWN – SOUTH Africa’s finest Chenin Blanc wines will once again take centre stage in China, as the winners of the 2025 Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top Ten Challenge are set to be showcased at ProWine Shanghai later this year.
The initiative, now in its 12th year, highlights the best of South African winemaking while creating export opportunities for local producers in one of the world’s fastest-growing wine markets.
The 2025 Top Ten winners include:
–Alvi’s Drift Private Cellar’s 221 Chenin Blanc 2024
-Chamonix Wine Farm’s Old Vine Steen 2024
-Du Toitskloof Winery’s Pierre Du Mont 2024
-Joostenberg Wines’ Die Agteros Chenin Blanc 2024
-Ken Forrester Wines’ The FMC 2024
-Roodekrantz Wines’ Die Kliphuis 2024
-Stellenrust’s Stellenbosch Manor Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2024
-Stellenrust’s Stellenbosch Manor Chenin Blanc 2024
-Stellenrust’s B28 Chenin Blanc 2024
-Stettyn Family Vineyards’ Shackleton Old Vines Chenin Blanc 2024
Standard Bank said the winners will benefit from its Africa-China trade corridor services, designed to connect South Africa’s premium wines with China’s 1.4 billion consumers.
“In today’s challenging geopolitical trade environment, South Africa’s wine industry needs strategic partners who understand both local production excellence and international market complexities,” said Brendan Jacobs, Head of Agribusiness at Standard Bank South Africa.
He noted that the bank’s partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) enabled tailored solutions such as market matchmaking, translation support, subsidised exhibition costs, and specialised masterclasses for Chinese buyers.
South Africa produces 51 percent of the world’s Chenin Blanc, cementing its leadership in this versatile varietal. Wine is the country’s second-largest agricultural export after citrus, valued at R9.9 billion annually, with almost half of all production shipped to more than 130 countries.
The Chenin Blanc Top Ten Challenge not only rewards excellence but also contributes prize money to farmworker development initiatives, reinforcing Standard Bank’s commitment to sustainability.
“The combination of product quality, global trade expertise, and strategic partnerships ensures our wines can stand proudly on the international stage,” Jacobs said.
The wine sector employs more than 270,000 South Africans, with Chenin Blanc accounting for nearly 20 percent of total vineyard plantings and making a significant contribution to the industry’s R55 billion value.
— CAJ News
