MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release 2014.10.16

CONTENDERS FOR 2014 FNB SAUVIGNON BLANC TOP 10 UNVEILED

The race for top honours in South Africa's only competition exclusively devoted to Sauvignon Blanc is

intensifying with the announcement of the 20 finalists in the running for this year's FNB Sauvignon Blanc

Top 10.

FNB recently renewed their sponsorship of the competition, which is organised in conjunction with the

Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group of South Africa (SBIG), for another three years. The FNB Sauvignon

Blanc Top 10 has become a leading platform for producers of this noble cultivar to showcase and

benchmark their wines. Sauvignon Blanc is one of the country's most competitive and dynamic wine

categories, and this year's judging panel had the unenviable task to select the Top 20 finalists from a vast

number of high-quality entries.

Charles Hopkins, cellar master at De Grendel and well-known wine judge, acted as convenor of the 2014

evaluation panel which also included the esteemed judges Cathy van Zyl, Master of Wine, sommelier

Miguel Chan, expert marketer Jacques Steyn, winemaker Richard Kershaw, Cape Wine Master Winnie

Bowman and James Pietersen. Two protg members, Chandre Petersen and Heinrich Kulsen, also sat

on the tasting panel to gain some invaluable tasting and judging experience. The exhaustive judging

process took place from 1-3 October at Nederburg.

The Top 20 wines, in alphabetical order, are

Anura Sauvignon Blanc Reserve Unfiltered 2013

Boschendal Sauvignon Blanc Grand Vin Blanc 2014

Brampton Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Cape Point Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2013 (wooded)

Conradie Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Driehoek Ludic Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Du Plevaux Private Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Hermanuspietersfontein nr 7 Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Hermit on the Hill The Infidel Sauvignon Blanc 2012 (wooded)

KWV The Mentors Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Longavi Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Nederburg Arnold Graue The Young Airhawk Sauvignon Blanc 2013 (wooded)

Sir Lambert Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Spier 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Stellenrust Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Strandveld First Sighting Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Teubes Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Uva Mira Sing-a-Wing Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Zevenwacht 360 Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Our acknowledgement of the Top 20 finalists aims to recognise the depth of wine-making talent we have

in South Africa. The South African wine industry is an important contributor to economic growth and local

producers continue to gain the respect of international markets as demonstrated through the sustainable

rise in exports. We congratulate the Top 20 finalists on their achievement thus far, said Stephan

Claassen, FNB Business Provincial Head: Western Cape.

This year's Top 20 list includes previous winners and exciting newcomers, offering a good indication of

the innovation and growth within the Sauvignon Blanc category, with wines originating from such diverse

regions as the West Coast, Stellenbosch, Darling, Elim, Cederberg, Walker Bay and Worcester.

The winners of the coveted Top 10 positions will be announced on 22 October 2014 at Nitida.

Find the latest SBIG news on www.sauvignonblanc.com, go to Facebook Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group

of South Africa, follow the group on Twitter @SauvignonSA or on Google+ Sauvignon Blanc SA.

ENDS

Issued by Marlene Truter Communications

Contact: Marlene Truter

tel 083 294 6060

marlene@marlenetruter.co.za

On behalf of SBIG

Contact: Thys Louw

tel 082 442 1317

thys@diemersdal.co.za