JUST PRIOR to South Africa’s annual general wine price increases in March and April 2018, grape farmers were forecasting the smallest crop since 2005 and the financial pressure on wine producers continued to mount. In response, Vinpro MD Rico Basson advocated during his ‘state of the industry’ review that pushing up prices was a means of dealing with the situation. And growing in
EIGHT WINES from Sauvignon Blanc, with Eight Rows in the Hall of Fame, four Sauvignons in the SA Wine Classification, three in the Top 20 and two in the Top 10. Diemersdal Estate of Durbanville is not the only leading Sauvignon producer in South Africa, but no other winery comes close as regards their success as a specialist with so many versions of
NITIDA winemaker Daniel Keulder tells of how in 2012 the Wild Child “started off as a bit of an experiment with a wild ferment in a couple of barrels”. Hence the name of a Sauvignon Blanc still made largely using a method involving natural or indigenous rather than inoculated or cultured yeast, one of several wines produced from this variety at
FROM one of South Africa’s Top 20 wineries, one of the nation’s Top 10 expressions of Sauvignon Blanc, Top Wine SA Hall of Fame… Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sur Lie is consistently rated as among the Cape’s top quality, more interesting Sauvignon Blancs, and the 2017 vintage is no exception: a winner at the SA Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 competition plus
MARCH 1 is traditionally when the annual general price increases are implemented by most South African wine farms and distributors to address production cost increases, inflation, etc. In 2018 many producers delayed their yearly hikes or indicated that a second adjustment would follow that in March because of the increase in VAT, due to come about in April. There are
WHAT’S not to like about Douglas Green Chardonnay 2017? Maybe that you can’t buy it from the cellar while on the Wellington wine route, only from a supermarket. Or perhaps that there’s no reference on the label to where the grapes come from: ‘Western Cape’ isn’t helpful; WO Robertson is a nice-to-know. Otherwise all good: latest of the good reviews from
BELOW are the top Sauvignon Blanc producers in South Africa over the past 10 years, those with the best track records spanning 2008 to 2017, presented according to where you’ll find their tasting rooms on the various wine routes. For the 2018 SA Sauvignon Blanc Classification, see here, and for the contact info and addresses of those outfits that can be
ACCORDING to Vinpro, an organisation representing thousands of farmers and hundreds of cellars in South Africa, the industry is at a turning point in 2018, faced with the smallest grape crop since 2005 and increasing financial pressure. The national vineyard is in decline – mainly due to farmers uprooting vines and replacing them with more profitable crops, but also because
BASED ON THE BEST track records in over 30 local and international forums for the assessment of wine quality and interest value over the past 10 years, the South African Wine & Cellar Classifications celebrate the country’s leading outfits – those regularly on top form, their product judged top-notch again and again, year after year. To be eligible for the
IF YOU’RE contemplating which Franschhoek wineries to buy from, the following have the best track records in the valley over the past 10 years – full SA Wine & Cellar Classifications here. ALLÉE BLEUE Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Chenin Blanc L’Amour Toujours (Red Blend) Pinotage BELLINGHAM The Bernard Series Basket Press Syrah The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage The Bernard Series
THE NEDERBURG AUCTION is an opportunity to buy some rare South African wines at what is reputed to be the fifth biggest sale of its kind in the world and the the ‘Oldest in the New World’. For most wine lovers, attendance is still by invitation only, but whether you purchase with the help of a retailer bidding on your behalf,
FROM TIME to time Top Wine SA has fielded queries regarding how the South African Wine & Cellar Classifications compare with the South African Wine Index, which also has to do with good track records. For those who remain curious about the SAWi Wine Excellence Awards or how Top Wine SA’s selection of the country’s Top 100 and the Hall of Fame differ from
THERE ARE PARTS of the South African winescape that for various reasons dominate particular categories. Sure there are exceptions to the rule(s), but Calitzdorp is the Port capital and the Breede River Valley districts of Breedekloof, Robertson and Worcester are where most of the fortified Muscat champions are based. The Cape’s best Pinot Noir tends to come from the Cape
FROM THE VALLEY to the upper slopes and over the ridge, wonderful views left, right and centre… The Hemel-en-Aarde wards outside Hermanus in the district of Walker Bay account for six of South Africa’s Top 10 Pinot Noir – two of the others originating in Elgin (Paul Cluver Seven Flags and Oak Valley), one in Franschhoek (Chamonix Reserve) and one in Stellenbosch
CONSIDERING the most highly rated of South Africa’s most successful wines of the 10 years 2007 to 2016, the country’s strongest suits are not surprising. What might raise eyebrows is that there aren’t more Cap Classique sparkling wines or that there isn’t a single varietal Merlot or Semillon in the 2017 Top 100 SA Wine Classification or Top Wine SA Hall
BASED ON THE BEST track records in 28 local and international forums for the assessment of wine quality and interest value over the past 10 years, the South African Wine & Cellar Classifications celebrate the country’s leading outfits – those who are regularly on top form, their product judged top-notch again and again, year after year. To be eligible for
SMALL POINT BUT… Why have a menu at the home of such South African marvels as Beyerskloof Pinotage, blends including the country’s ‘indigenous’ variety, and the Pinotage burger, that lists some items in French, Italian, etc? However, moving right along… The Red Leaf Bistro is one of the hotspots on the Stellenbosch wine route, particularly since the restaurant was revamped and the range of
“PINOTAGE has the heart of a lion and the tongue of a woman; after drinking a certain quantity you can talk forever and fight like the devil!” – Anonymous. More memorable wine quotes here. The Top 10 Pinotage in terms of South African wines with the best track records over the past 10 years (2006 – 2015) are the following: Beyerskloof
THE TOP 10 Shiraz, as regards South African wines with the best track records over the 10 years 2006 to 2015, come from just as many different appellations: Boekenhoutskloof Syrah – Franschhoek cellar, Wellington & Swartland fruit, 2013 at R400 pb Bon Courage Inkará Shiraz – Robertson, 2013 at R155 pb Cederberg Shiraz – Cederberg, 2014 at R190 pb Cirrus Syrah (Guardian Peak) –
THE SA Wine & Cellar Classifications point to the current ‘who’s who’ of the South African winelands – all of the top wines and cellars over the past 10 years, including the very best in each class. Ten years’ tasting results, the best track records, involving the TOP TASTING PANELS, local and international – a pooling of expert opinions about South
