Steenberg Vineyards Raises the Bar for South African Elegance
25 years of Cap Classique excellence.
UK acclaim, global accolades, and 25 years of Cap Classique excellence reinforce Constantia estate’s position as one of South Africa’s most consistent producers. Steenberg Vineyards Raises the Bar for South African Elegance.
London, 15 September 2025 – South Africa’s oldest registered wine farm, Steenberg Vineyards, is making waves on the global stage in 2025, earning widespread praise for its precision winemaking, cool-climate elegance, and terroir-led style.
At the recent London Wine Competition, Steenberg’s standout wines impressed an international panel of judges with their balance, character, and market appeal. The estate’s flagship Lady R Cap Classique 2019, named after the farm’s trailblazing 17th-century founder Catharina Ras, stood out for its finesse and ageability, while the Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Merlot earned strong scores across packaging, price point and quality.
These accolades coincide with a refreshed packaging and flagship label evolution that elevates the estate’s premium tier with clean lines, tactile detail, and a minimalist design language. The new labels echo the quiet confidence of Steenberg’s winemaking and reflect its place at the forefront of South Africa’s fine wine landscape, rooted in heritage, driven by precision, and crafted for modern collectors.
This is also a milestone year for the estate, as 2025 marks 25 years of crafting Méthode Cap Classique at Steenberg. This journey began in 2000 and continues to define the estate’s pursuit of timeless refinement in every bottle.
“We focus on purity of expression, in both the vineyard and the cellar,” says Elunda Basson, Steenberg’s Cellar Master and one of South Africa’s foremost Cap Classique specialists. “Every wine we make is designed to reflect the integrity of our terroir: the ancient Table Mountain granite soils, our ocean-cooled vineyards, and the distinct identity of Constantia as a region.”
Further endorsement came with the release of the 2025 Tim Atkin MW South Africa Report, a globally respected benchmark for quality. All six Steenberg wines reviewed by Tim Atkin MW scored 91 points or higher, including:
Lady R Cap Classique 2019 – 94 pts
The Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc 2024 – 92 pts
Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded) – 92 pts
Merlot 2022 – 92 pts
Semillon 2023 – 91 pts
Nebbiolo 2024 – 91 pts
Tim Atkin MW, a globally renowned Master of Wine and leading voice in the international wine world, praised the stylistic clarity and confidence emerging from Constantia and other key regions. His annual South Africa Report is widely considered the gold standard for fine wine appraisal from the region.
These results follow Steenberg’s Overall Winner title at the 2025 Amorim Cap Classique Challenge, where Lady R Cap Classique 2019 was awarded Best in Show, outshining 152 entries across all categories. The award, judged by a panel led by Cape Wine Master Heidi Duminy, is South Africa’s most prestigious platform for bottle-fermented sparkling wine.
From UK shelves to global ratings, Steenberg’s consistent quality continues to earn recognition from critics, judges, and collectors alike. But for Basson, the reward is simpler: “It’s about allowing nature to speak. When our wines are elegant, balanced, and true to place – that’s success.”
Visit Steenberghere https://steenbergfarm.com/
