It was the late Alabama governor George Wallace who described intellectuals as “pointy-heads who couldn’t ride a bicycle straight.” He could have had wine judges in mind if the various conflicting Top100 lists floated by self-appointed pundits are anything to go by/buy. For a capitalist consumer, Johan Wegner’s list of his top ten selling wines at www.getwine.co.za is a more honest and useful compilation.

George Wallace, scourge of Pointy-Headed Pundits

1. Bloemendal Suider Terras Sauvignon Blanc 2009 @ R59 per bottle
2. First Sighting Sauvignon Blanc 2010 @ R55 per bottle
3. Thelema Sutherland Sauvignon Blanc 2009 @ R45 per bottle
4. De Vallei Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Boutique Wine @ R35 per bottle
5. Walker Bay Vineyards Chardonnay 2009 @ R29 per bottle
6. Grand Vin de Glenelly 2006 @ R60 per bottle
7. Knorhoek two Cubs Red unlabelled @ R28 per bottle
8. Hermanuspietersfontein Kleinboet 2007 @ R95 bottle
9. Annaberg Syrah 2004 @ R75 per bottle
10. Hoopenburg Bush Vine Merlot 2007 @ R39 per bottle

As a bonus, an average retail price of R52 will deflate many pretentious producer balloons.