IT'S A SMALL, narrow outdoor space, but the new Wine Deck at Mill St Bistro in Stellenbosch promises more than you might think at a glance. Where Mill Street intersects with Church Street, one of the most popular strips in town for those feeling hungry or just in the mood for a glass of something good, wine lovers can experience some of the whites, reds, pinks and bubbles they've been wanting to try or discover something interesting that they've never heard about. Here you'll find beauties from all corners of the Western Cape, not ‘just' Stellenbosch.
The wine selection is by chef Phil Carmichael, who opened his Stellenbosch bistro in 2024 after a distinguished career in Europe that included launching several Maze restaurants for Gordon Ramsay and, more recently, running Jason Atherton's Berners Tavern at The London Edition, a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of the UK capital.
“We wanted to push boundaries and seek out the crazies, the mavericks doing weird and wonderful things that deliver extaordinary results,” says Carmichael of the South African winemakers he favours. Small, family-run vineyards, biodynamic and organic wines, minimal-interventionist types he regards as ‘unsung wine heroes', although some of them are among the industry's rock stars. At the time of writing, the deck list included the likes of Dawn Patrol Cinsault from Trizanne Barnard, Baccō Vermentino from Julia Blaine, Break a Leg Merlot from Lukas van Loggerenberg, Thorne & Daughters Copper Pot Pinot Noir from John Seccombe, Sons of Sugarland Barbera from Reenen Borman… And to name just some of the attractions on the bistro's more extensive list: The Shelter Chardonnay from Martin Smith of Atlas Swift, Chi Riesling from Jessica Saurwein, the Haarlem to Hope white blend from Bruwer Raats and his cousin Gavin Slabbert, The Foundry Syrah from Chris Williams, Scions of Sinai Atlantikas Pinotage from Bernhard Bredell and the Howard John red blend from Franco Lourens.
To eat, expect classical French dishes on the à la carte menu, with suppliers including Abalobi seafood of Cape Town, Farmer Angus of Spier in Stellenbosch, and the Somerset West Food Garden, a community-driven initiative. There are also half a dozen snacks to choose from on the deck menu.