A CONSISTENT EXPRESSION OF PLACE
Discover how seven Steenberg wines achieved 90+ points in the Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report 2026, reflecting a consistent expression of place, craftsmanship and the close relationship between vineyard and cellar.
Cape Town, May 2026
Seven Steenberg wines recognised in the Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report 2026
There is something particularly meaningful about recognition that extends beyond a single wine.
In the 2026 Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report, seven Steenberg wines achieved scores of 90 points or higher, spanning different varieties, vintages and styles across our portfolio.
Individually, each score is an achievement. Together, they tell a more interesting story: one of consistency, of place, and of the many decisions made in the vineyard and cellar long before a wine reaches the glass.
Seven wines. One Steenberg standard.
The 2026 results include wines from across the Steenberg portfolio:
From our Icon wines to our distinctive Sauvignon Blanc expressions, small-production Canvas wines and cool-climate Merlot, the breadth of the results is particularly significant.
It reflects something we work towards with every vintage: not simply making one exceptional wine, but achieving a consistent standard across wines with very different personalities.
It begins in Constantia
For Cellarmaster Elunda Basson and Viticulturist Vlok Hanekom, that consistency begins in the vineyard.
Steenberg’s position in Constantia provides a distinctive foundation. A cool maritime climate, diverse soils and a long growing season create conditions in which freshness, structure and definition can develop naturally.
But place is only the beginning.
Each vineyard block has its own character. Understanding its soils, microclimate, exposure and response to the conditions of a particular growing season informs countless decisions throughout the year—from canopy management and vineyard health to picking dates.
That understanding follows the grapes into the cellar.
Elunda and Vlok describe viticulture and winemaking as a continuous conversation: vineyard and cellar working together to understand what each site can give and how best to preserve that character in the finished wine.
“Great wine begins long before harvest. It is the result of many decisions made throughout the growing season, with the vineyard and cellar working together to preserve what the site gives us.” –Elunda Basson, Cellarmaster
Independent recognition
Tim Atkin MW’s annual South Africa Special Report has become an important independent assessment of South African wine, with wines tasted from producers across the country.
For Steenberg, the significance of the 2026 results lies not only in the individual scores, but in their breadth.
Seven wines. Different varieties. Different vintages. Different expressions.
Yet each shaped by the same place, the same attention to detail and the same relationship between vineyard and cellar.
Perhaps that is the most meaningful recognition of all.
Seven wines. Seven expressions. One Steenberg standard.
Share this article
related news
