WITH THE 2020 addition of Chris Alheit and David Sadie, membership of the Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) rose to 46 producers, whose names and those of the places they work at make for a list that in itself is a useful guide to much of the best from South Africa’s
THE FOLLOWING fine wines of the Cape fetched the highest prices at various auctions over the past 12 months or so – all attracting bids of more than R5000 a bottle. None of these beauties sold for over R1000 on release – the golden oldies originally changed hands for less
SURELY it’s the South African Sauvignon Blanc most raved about by most critics in 2020… With the results of the International Wine Challenge (UK) as well as the Veritas Awards (SA) and 5 Star ratings in the next Platter’s SA Wine Guide still to come, no other Sauvignon from the
IT WAS AS recently as 2012 that British Master of Wine Richard Kershaw established his business in Elgin to make world-class Chardonnay, Shiraz and Pinot Noir that would show a sense of place. Today he is widely acknowledged as one of the top producers in South Africa, one with an
SA WINE LOVERS might struggle to remember a time – not so long ago – when there was only a single bottle of note from the Alvi’s Drift cellar in Worcester: a Muscat de Frontignan, a small bottle and in small quantities, but a fine example and one of South
GOLD MEDAL and a score of 96 at the Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), Best in Class at the Trophy Wine Show (SA), Grand Gold Medal at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (BE). Amazing accolades for the 2017 vintage of Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon in 2020 – or rather, as
THYS LOUW has positioned The Journal Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage and Sauvignon Blanc as the top tier from the family’s farm in the northern reaches of Durbanville. The proprietor of Diemersdal Estate, Thys is the sixth generation of Louws to make wine on the property since they acquired it in 1885
WHO ARE the best of the specialists when it comes to SA wine retailers? See below for the prime candidates in South Africa, but have we left out anyone, any place? And, while we’re about it, where best to shop for South African wines anywhere else in the world?
The top price paid at the online Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auction on 1 June 2020 will be recorded as R17 588 for a single bottle of the 63-year-old red blend Chateau Libertas, but the theme of the sale was mostly about Chenin Blanc, Chenin-based blends, and Pinotage, arguably
OLD AGE isn’t always a good thing when it comes to grape vines, but man, in many instances, can it make a positive difference to what’s in the glass! Big time! Thankfully, very good wines can originate in young vineyards too; the old stuff is scarce and what’s made from
Many hold the view that to substantiate the concept of winemaking as an art form, it’s not enough to be limited in volume, exclusive by nature, embellished with an intriguing backstory… Craft/artisanal wines should also present as art, it is said, verbally and visually. For more about the palettes and
A FEW DECADES ago, wine lovers looking for recommendations as to which South African reds, whites or sweets were a cut above the rest might have relied on certification that the country’s Wine & Spirit Board had pronounced the contents of a bottle to be of ‘Superior’ quality. Then came
