THE STORY of how Pinotage came to be is well documented by the producers’ association, and there are eight names in the South African winelands associated with the establishment of the cultivar that remain classified as champions of the variety: KWV (of Paarl), DeWaal, Lanzerac, Kanonkop, Simonsig, Delheim and Spier (all of Stellenbosch), as well as Groot Constantia. Of these,
Read moreTHE 2017 Winemag Report on SA Merlot involved the assessment of 67 wines from 50 producers and culminated in five wines rated 90-plus (see below). Published in association with the industry’s producer body that goes by the name of the Merlot Forum, the full report posted on Winemag.co.za states that: “Local Merlot often makes for less ambitious and less expensive wines
Read moreTHE 2017 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show celebrates the achievements of producers from Constantia to the Northern Cape and properties that have been part of the Cape wine landscape for centuries as well as those where winemaking only began within the past 10 years. Winner of the trophy for Most Successful Producer: Tokara of Helshoogte, on the slopes of the
Read moreOH DEAR! Ninety ‘grand golds’ go to wonderful wines from around the world at the 2017 edition of Concours Mondial, but none of them to South Africa – despite the entry of some vintages from Cape cellars that have built up some pretty solid reputations for their Cabernet, Shiraz, Pinotage and various red blends, for example. Nevertheless, 10 gold medals for
Read moreFull Report: Results of the 2017 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles – Valladolid, Castilla y León, Spain
Read moreFull Report: Winemag’s 2017 SA Cabernet Sauvignon Report sponsored by financial services company Prescient
Read moreFor ALL of the top-rated, most highly awarded South African wines of the year according to the most authoritative panels of experts locally and internationally, see here. Showcased below are 20 of the Cape’s world-class wines that were particularly well received around the globe in 2016: Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2015 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, trophy
Read moreWINE AWARDS, ratings, reviews, recommendations. They needn’t be complicated or controversial, however it helps to know what you’re dealing with in distinguishing between pretty darn useful, somewhat interesting, and just a waste of time… Some folk get into a froth over whose opinions count most – besides your own that is – and some troubled souls even question whether wines
Read moreGOLD MEDAL winners at the third Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships in London included two of South Africa’s Cap Classiques: the premium Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2009 from Robertson and Domaine des Dieux Claudia Brut 2010 from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge outside Hermanus. All told, there were 149 gold and 143 silver medallists – the Cape’s Le Lude and Wildekrans among
Read moreTHERE WERE a number of South African wineries that excelled in 2015 by way of good reviews, however none were more frequent visitors to the podium than the grande dame Groot Constantia – a property dating back to 1685 but which ranks right up there with the best in the modern era too. Winemaker Boela Gerber is very modest about his team’s achievements
Read moreTHE LATEST of the most outstanding achievements going the way of South African wines and cellars – the IWSC Winemaker of the Year award to Abrie Beeslaar of Kanonkop – inevitably raises the question about top contenders for 2015 SA Champion(s) status. The following ranked as favourites among the top tasting panels this year – 25 wines from 24 producers: Bellingham The Bernard
Read moreIT HAPPENS at least once a year that a few wine producers and/or critics whinge on one or other topic relating to wine ratings and awards: about the pros and cons of ‘sighted’ versus ‘blind’ tastings (with or without the labels in view); or the merits and demerits of wines being reviewed by an individual critic versus a panel of
Read moreAN EARLIER POST listed South African wines that were (a) below R100 a bottle, (b) highly rated during the 18 months to July 2015, and (c) likely to still be available for purchase. The response was a call to cut to the chase, to come up with the most easily affordable recommendations suitable for a very casual lunch or supper: what’s out
Read moreFOLLOWING good reviews for the 2012 vintage, The Pierneef Collection Syrah Viognier from La Motte joined a very select group of beauties in the Top Wine SA Hall of Fame with eight or more vintages to receive very good ratings from top tasting panels locally and/or overseas during the past 10 years. And with a gold medal won at the 2015 Trophy
Read moreYOU MIGHT well wonder why Rustenberg Peter Barlow was excluded from the line-up for Winemag.co.za’s 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon report, i.e. given the wine’s great track record over the past 10 years, given that it was scored 5 Stars in the 2014 edition of the report and then chosen as the international judges’ overall favourite at this year’s Trophy Wine Show. You might also wonder
Read moreTHE NAMES of South Africa’s top wines in each category are included in the 2015 SA Wine Classifications based on consistently good reviews at blind-tastings conducted by experts locally and around the world. Here is how things stacked up when considering the Top 100 SA wines across all types and varieties over the 10 years 2005 to 2015: TOP
Read moreTHE NAMES of South Africa’s unfortified wine producers currently ranked among the Top 100 are included in the 2015 Classification based on consistently good reviews in blind tastings by panels of experts locally and around the globe. Of these, the country’s 50 most successful cellars – led by Kanonkop, Nederburg and Vergelegen – are spotlighted below. Bergkelder (Fleur du Cap) –
Read moreBASED ON THE best track records in 26 local and international blind-tasting forums 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 the Classification, updated annually since 2004, a wine must
Read morePLATTER’S South African Wine Guide is not without its shortcomings, but after 35 years it still holds plenty of sway among those who are partial to the liquid pleasures of this country and give a damn about what’s in their glass. Published as it is towards the end of every year, it’s the last major assessment of SA wine quality and
Read moreALL OF THE South African wines below are included in the latest SA Red Blend Classification, with those having the very best track records highlighted and the listing limited to wines whose accolades include very good reviews in 2013/14. Prices are for the latest releases/vintages to be rated – rands per standard 750ml bottle and ex-cellar in most instances (approximate retail prices
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