GREAT VALUE! Every wine from South Africa at under R200pb scored 95+ in authoritative panel tasting reports during the past six months – November 2025 to April 2026: CHENIN BLANC Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve Chenin Blanc 2024 Rated 96/100 in Platter’s Guide R165pb ex-cellar, Durbanville Leeuwenkuil Reserve Chenin Blanc
ABRIE Beeslaar. A quiet, modest winemaker who keeps his cards close to his chest. Former cellarmaster at the renowned Kanonkop estate, three-time recipient of the Winemaker of the Year award at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (2008, 2015, 2017) and a member of the exclusive Cape Winemaker’s Guild, he
The release of the 2025 white wines from Cavalli celebrates the latest chapter in the re-positioning of the Smith family’s estate in the Helderberg. Over the past five years, and particularly since the appointment of acclaimed Cape Winemaker’s Guild member Rianie Strydom in 2023, the team’s focus on precision, site
THE MOST established of the Cape Bordeaux red blends in the flagship range of wines from Gary and Kathy Jordan’s estate in Stellenbosch Kloof honours the family heritage as master cobblers. First farmed back in the 1700s, the property was acquired by third-generation shoemaker Ted and Sheelagh Jordan in 1982
GRENACHE Noir is referred to as the ‘abalone’ of South African grapes, according to De Kleine Wijn Kelder on the Tulbagh farm Drie Fonteine. “So skaars soos hoendertande,” says winemaker Wynand Grobler, “as scarce as hens’ teeth.” Which gave rise to the name of the wine, of which the 2023
FOLLOWING the annual general price increases effected by many South African wine producers at the beginning of March ’26, listings of the country’s wines most highly rated by the top panels over the past year have been revised accordingly: click here. For the Cape’s wines highly rated by the top
FROM the 2026 vintage, the Mullineux wines made using grapes originating on the home farm on the Kasteelberg outside Riebeek Kasteel in the Swartland will be certified organic and then some… The Roundstone estate’s vineyards are the first in South Africa to be certified as Regenerative Organic, a globally recognised
BELIEVE it or not, Vivino claims to have over 74m users of their website/app and over 19m wine listings – millions of wine lovers sharing their experiences. From their HQ in Copenhagen, Denmark: “Our community has rated and reviewed millions of wines, creating the most comprehensive database of what real
Enter the 2026 Investec Trophy Wine Show and Investec Trophy Spirits Show competitions now! This year the Trophy Wine Show celebrates its 25th edition. Each year, in the quarter century of its existence, it has assembled panels composed of some of the most influential judges in the world. Their discoveries
There are many reasons why harvest time at La Motte is so lovable. The farm is abuzz with an infectious energy, but this special season also celebrates the farm’s French Huguenot winemaking traditions and tastes that became somewhat of a treasure over the years. As is the annual custom, guests
THE PREVIOUS Heritage Syrah from Leeuwenkuil Family Vineyards was the 2019 vintage, rated 96/100 in Winemag’s 2024 Shiraz Report. No 2020, no 2021, and then POW! A near-perfect score of 99 points for the 2022 vintage in Platter’s 2026 South African Wine Guide. “Straight out of Côte Rotie,” said Platter’s
10 YEARS AGO it wasn’t a name you’d be familiar with on the shelves of wine stores and supermarkets. Today it’s renowned as one of South Africa’s top labels in terms of quality and interest value… Leeuwenkuil (lion’s lair) was named after the large cats that once roamed the area,
