Our Story.


SAWi’s Grand Wine Collection (GWC) is the ultimate guide to South Africa’s finest wines. We don’t chase trends or gold stickers, we celebrate the wines that prove their excellence, year after year.

Each wine in our collection has earned its place with consistent 93+ scores from the world’s toughest blind tastings, like Decanter, IWC, Michelangelo, and more.

SAWi is not your typical wine guide. We’ve built an index based on objectivity, credibility, and consistency.

Our rigorous process only includes wines that stand the test of time and deliver excellence across multiple vintages. It’s not about hype, it’s about long-term brilliance.

Our Legacy.


We track only the best: Gold, double gold, trophies, or top 10 finishes are the only accolades that count.

One win? Doesn’t make the cut.

Only wines that score 93+ points consistently in the world’s most trusted blind tastings are included.

  • No trends. No marketing. Just measurable, 
    repeatable excellence.
  • Top accolades and multiple vintages: That’s the standard for entry.

This process makes SAWi your trusted guide to South Africa’s best bottles, backed by over 1,000 expert reviews and zero guesswork.

Our Vision.


What started as a passion project in 2006 by Izak Smit has grown into the benchmark for South African wines. From humble beginnings to working with 400+ wineries, we’ve become more than a wine guide, we’re a symbol of trust and excellence.

We aim to shape the future of wine recognition, built on data, integrity, and sustainability. In the coming years, SAWi will:

  • Amplify sustainability in the wine industry.
  • Create tools for sommeliers and collectors to easily source top-rated wines.
  • Celebrate long-term excellence and highlight the next generation of trailblazing winemakers.


DARE YOURSELF.

The highly anticipated 2025 edition will spotlight just
736 wines from a staggering 6853 entries across 224
wineries - only the very best earning Platinum (95+)
or Gold (93+) status.

This makes the GWC an unrivaled,
insight-packed resource, offering a definitive look at
South Africa’s ever-evolving wine landscape.