Vergelegen | - Part 2

Tag Archives: Vergelegen

Best picnic options in the South African winelands – baskets and blankets, under the trees, on the lawns, among the vines, next to the cellars, in the forest, you name it

11/2014 Mike Froud Leave a comment

WHERE TO PICNIC in the winelands of South Africa, near a winery, not far from the vines? Here are the best spots to purchase a picnic basket full of good food and wine in the countryside when wine-routing in the Cape. The are all on farms associated with highly rated reds or whites, bubblies or sweet dessert wines, i.e. the venues are

Top-priced bottles from South Africa’s Top 100 Cellars – the ultra-premium luxuries

04/2014 Mike Froud Leave a comment

WHAT LEADS TO a wine being positioned as ultra-premium price-wise could be a rarity factor coupled with consumer/collector demand, the investment that’s gone into the maturation/ageing of the product, brand value, perhaps simply the cellar’s wish to offer a statement wine demanding attention even when or precisely because it’s beyond the realm of affordability for many folks. Invariably though –

South Africa’s top Cabernet Sauvignon ratings in 2013 and best SA Cabernet at under R100 a bottle – experts’ choice

12/2013 Mike Froud Leave a comment

TOP SA CABS in 2013… The following wines achieved outstanding reviews from the judges at blind-tastings around the world during the past 12 months: TOP SOUTH AFRICAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON RATINGS IN 2013 Boekenhoutskloof 2011 – 5 Stars in Platter’s Guide Cederberg Five Generations 2011 – 5 Stars in Platter’s Guide, Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards Delaire Graff Reserve 2009 – Trophy at

South Africa’s top white blend ratings in 2013, plus the best white blends at under R80 – the experts’ choice

12/2013 Mike Froud Leave a comment

CAPE POINT, Chamonix, Delaire Graff, DeMorgenzon, Steenberg, Tokara and Vergelegen top the list of contenders for South Africa’s champion white blend producer for 2013… The following wines achieved outstanding reviews from the judges at blind-tastings around the world during the past 12 months: TOP SOUTH AFRICAN WHITE BLEND RATINGS IN 2013 AA Badenhorst 2011 – 4½ Stars in Platter’s Guide

Winter Wonderland! Cape winelands transformed after one of the heaviest snowfalls in years makes its mark

08/2013 Mike Froud Leave a comment

Thelema Mountain Vineyards, Helshoogte, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch Vergelegen, Helderberg, Somerset West Vineyard up the road from the Niewoudt’s Cederberg Private Cellar From Ken Forrester Vineyards: Avontuur Estate on the Helderberg, Somerset West Stark-Conde, Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch Boekenhoutskloof, Franschhoek Morgenster Estate, Helderberg, Somerset West Stellenrust, Stellenbosch Paul Cluver, Elgin

Chamonix delights French palates at Classic Wine Trophy

03/2013 Mike Froud Leave a comment

THE RESULTS of the 2013 Classic Wine Trophy competition are hardly surprising in terms of the class winners. Particularly not when it comes to the overall victor, with Chamonix scooping three of the 14 trophies awarded in various categories at the Taj Hotel in Cape Town just a few months after being named Winery of the Year in the 2013 edition of

Wonderful whites: all the top-rated SA blends in 2012

12/2012 Mike Froud Leave a comment

WHITE BLENDS to rival the best in the world, the experts’ choice, top South African wines on the basis of authoritative reviews around the globe in 2012 – with Cape Point, Miles Mossop, Tokara and Vergelegen among the premier league regulars, plus some new names on the radar: AA Badenhorst 2010 – 5 Stars in Platter’s Guide Allée Bleue Isabeau 2011 – Top 100 SA

Top Cap Classique: best South African bubblies in 2012

11/2012 Mike Froud Leave a comment

THE STAND-OUT Cap Classique sparkling wines, the best South African bubbly reviews of the year by experts around the globe. Once again the big guns command attention for all the right reasons, but there are now also plenty of other sparklers offering better value than Champagne. Bring on the festive season! Boschendal Grande Cuvée Brut 2007 – trophy at Classic Awards, Top 100

Leopard wine route anyone? Different take on the Cape

09/2012 Mike Froud Leave a comment

LEOPARDS and wine? Well, it’s a stronger link than between wild dogs and wine (apologies to the makers of Painted Wolf Wines who did so well in the Top 10 Pinotage Competition). In fact, while the winelands of the Cape are far away from the great game reserves in the northern and eastern reaches of South Africa, the chances of seeing

New Vergelegen red inspired by Cheval Blanc, St Emilion

06/2012 Mike Froud Leave a comment

I’M NOT SURE what to make of it, the new wine from Vergelegen – a Bordeaux-style red blend of Cabernet Franc (60%), Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon called ‘DNA’ that comes in a bottle with no mention of the producer on the front label which instead carries an illustration of winemaker Andre van Rensburg’s thumb-print. According to MD Don Tooth, it’s