Our Story.
Welcome to SAWi’s Grand Wine Collection (GWC)
— the gold standard in identifying South Africa’s most exceptional wines. No trends. No hype. Just consistent, proven brilliance.
Every wine in the collection has scored 93+ points in international blind tastings like Decanter, IWC, IWSC, Trophy Wine Show, Michelangelo, and Veritas.
— the gold standard in identifying South Africa’s most exceptional wines. No trends. No hype. Just consistent, proven brilliance.
Every wine in the collection has scored 93+ points in international blind tastings like Decanter, IWC, IWSC, Trophy Wine Show, Michelangelo, and Veritas.
SAWi was founded in 2006 by Izak Smit—wine author,
diplomat, and co-author of South African Wines: Terroir & Travel—to bring clarity and credibility to a crowded wine world.
Back then, a single gold sticker could sell a bottle. But real excellence, he knew, had to be repeatable. SAWi set a standard rooted in data, not opinion.
Now with support from nearly 400 wineries and over 730 certified wines annually, SAWi has grown into a national benchmark trusted by collectors,
sommeliers, and producers alike.
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diplomat, and co-author of South African Wines: Terroir & Travel—to bring clarity and credibility to a crowded wine world.
Back then, a single gold sticker could sell a bottle. But real excellence, he knew, had to be repeatable. SAWi set a standard rooted in data, not opinion.
Now with support from nearly 400 wineries and over 730 certified wines annually, SAWi has grown into a national benchmark trusted by collectors,
sommeliers, and producers alike.
Our Vision dsfsdfasfnfiSDSDFFSDFSDFSDF
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Whether you're:
A winery | looking to understand your score
A sommelier | aiming to stock the very best wines
A private collector | seeking help curating your cellar
A restaurant | hoping to earn a place on
the SAWi Restaurateur Portfolio