ITALIAN for Bacchus, the Roman God of Wine, Bacco is also the name of a new wine estate in the Simonsberg area of Paarl where proprietor Nathan Jankelowitz and his team are attracting attention in more ways than one. Opened to the public at the end of 2022, the Bacco tasting room and restaurant present a multi-sensory experience. There’s the
Read moreJUST a generation ago, the prices of reds and whites at a South African wine farm were very seldom less than what they sold for at wine shops in the towns nearby. Only a few winery proprietors would risk the wrath of retailers who might well refuse to stock the product of any supplier who dared to undercut them. Times
Read moreBRAND NEW on the Paarl wine route, off the beaten track, are the bistro, cellar and tasting room at Brookdale Estate of British businessman and property developer Tim Rudd. Among the foothills of the Klein Drakenstein mountains, the home of luxurious accommodation – and one of the most talked-about South African Chenin Blancs on the world stage last year –
Read moreOF SOUTH AFRICA’S top wine cellars that are open to the public, some have taken their tasting-room experience to another level when it comes to matching what’s in the glass with what’s on the plate, or vice versa. See below for what is currently on offer – just click on the links for more information and how to book a
Read moreSO UNTIL further notice, if you trip out along any of South Africa’s wonderful wine routes over the weekend, you can wine and dine to your heart’s content but you can’t buy any bottles to pack into the boot of your car… Which might well put you off! Following a period of prohibition for which the government came under a
Read moreWHEN YOU want to but can’t venture out onto one of South Africa’s wonderful wine routes straight away, the next best thing might be to reminisce about sorties past or to plan your next trip into the countryside. The slideshows on Top Wine SA showcase the best wine producers in South Africa, the best places to eat at in the
Read moreWHERE TO EAT on the Constantia Wine Route, on a farm, among the vines? And which wines to seek out, what has been highly recommended by the panels of experts? For lunch, you could consider the new venues: Steenberg’s Tryn (main dining area pictured above) has various general indoor, outdoor and private fine-dining spaces, a bar and a menu
Read moreONCE UPON a time, and not that long ago, Semillon – or Groendruif as some refer to it – was being touted as Franschhoek’s signature grape. These days, the ‘French Corner’ of South Africa’s winelands is more likely to prompt images of Chardonnay, red blends of one sort or another and Cap Classique sparkling wine. Plus, perhaps even more synonymous with this
Read moreWHAT YOU’LL SEE on visiting the leading wine producers in the Cape: the tasting venues, the architecture, the cellars, what distinguishes the properties. Showcasing top outfits according to the SA Wine Classification. See below for a slideshow that gives a glimpse of the main attractions on South Africa’s wine routes – to help plan your next trip into the winelands,
Read moreIT WASN’T that long ago when the edibles in a Cape winery’s tasting room were limited to water biscuits or cream crackers. Today, some of South Africa’s best restaurants are located alongside some of the country’s top cellars and matching wine with food at the cellar door extends to a variety of different experiences, some offered even where there aren’t complete meals to
Read moreACCORDING to the restaurant critics commissioned by Italy’s ‘Fine Dining Waters’ S Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, the best in the world in 2015 is Spanish, there aren’t any French restaurants currently quite good enough to warrant inclusion among the planet’s Top 10, and of South Africa’s finest only two are rated exceptional enough to make the cut when it comes down to
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