HOW WAS THAT! A panel tasting report published in the UK’s Decanter magazine focusing on South Africa’s ‘Cape red blends’ that include Pinotage in the mix makes no mention of the Pinotage Association‘s definition of a ‘Cape Blend’ – nor that there are some wine producers who disagree with the
SOUTH AFRICA’S Delaire Graff, Graham Beck, Nederburg, Tokara, Zevenwacht… In the spotlight yet again with six wines in particular following the 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition based in London – including some pricey stuff if you’re earning and paying in SA rand: • Delaire Graff Estate Banghoek Chardonnay 2023
ONLY FIVE wines scored better than 92 and termed Outstanding, i.e. one rated 93 (low silver?), three 94 (high silver?), one scored 95 and none rated Extraordinary or Profound (96+). No. 1 in the 2025 Prescient Fund Services Pinotage Report published by Winemag.co.za was illimis Pinotage 2024, WO Polkadraai Hills-Stellenbosch,
The 2025 edition of Caroline’s annual Red Wine Review, hailed as one of the most prestigious tasting events on the South African wine calendar, will be staged on the evening of Thursday 24 July in the Members’ Lounge of the DHL Stadium in Green Point, Cape Town. Hosted by Caroline Rillema of
STILL AVAILABLE at the time of writing, costing just a little bit more than it did a month or so earlier when chosen as the panel’s absolute favourite and scored 96 points in Winemag’s 2025 SA Chenin Blanc Report: The Dry Land Collection Courageous Barrel-fermented Chenin Blanc 2024 from the
HIGHLY recommended, R80 a bottle ex-cellar and still available at the time of writing: Wellington Wines Duke Merlot 2023, one of the winners in the Merlot SA Forum’s 2025 Top 10 Competition. Also highly recommended, R125pb ex-cellar and still available at the time of writing: Bellevue Estate Cinsault 2021 from
THE ANNUAL Decanter World Wine Awards: the biggest wine competition on the planet, held in London. In 2025, well over 16 000 entries from 57 countries evaluated by 248 judges from 35 countries including 22 Master Sommeliers and 72 Masters of Wine, scoring according to a 100-point scale. The five
The 2020 and 2024 vintages of La Motte’s Pierneef Syrah-driven blend and Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc respectively are more than cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche’s artistic interpretation of the vintage – the 2025 releases also bring a new look and a new name. As a tribute to SA artist Jacob Hendrik Pierneef (1886
JUST A COUPLE of days was all it took. By Wednesday 11 June, the top-scoring white blend at South Africa’s 2025 Trophy Wine Show was “Sold Out” at the cellar in Worcester and at the show’s ‘designated retailer’, Port2Port, i.e. barely 48 hours after the awards presentation on Monday 9
OF THE 650 wines judged at South Africa’s 2025 Trophy Wine Show, 40 were scored 95+ to earn gold medals (see below), and of those, 23 went on to earn trophies (highlighted in purple below). The most highly rated red wine on show: Stellenzicht Arenite Syrah 2023. The most highly
PRODUCED at Koos Bekker’s estate in Paarl using grapes from the farm’s vineyards below the Simonsberg, Babylonstoren Shiraz has been one of South Africa’s most highly rated expressions of the variety over the past 10 years. Voted among the Top 10 wines at the 2025 edition of the international Syrah
FOR THE FIRST time in five years, South Africa won one of the most prestigious awards at the International Wine Challenge in London, with Le Grand Domaine of Devon Valley in Stellenbosch presented with the trophy for best Cabernet Sauvignon on show at the 2025 edition – ahead of the
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