ODDLY ENOUGH, not all of the cellars in Wellington are members of the local wine route. Not officially, that is. For example, Mischa Estate to the north and Napier Vineyards on the Bainskloof Road to the east are not part of the ‘Go Wellington‘ movement. Nor is Roodekrantz north-west of the town, though perhaps they’re considered more Swartland than Wellington.
Read moreSO, THE 2022 edition of Platter’s South African Wine Guide finally arrived on the bookshelves at around R390 a copy – early December instead of late November. At the time of writing, you still couldn’t buy one on the publisher’s website, where the 2021 version was on sale at R360. An online subscription for roughly half the price gives you
Read moreWHERE TO EAT along the Wellington Wine Route, on a farm, among the vines? And which wines to seek out, what the panels of experts have recommended recently? For lunch, head to Diemersfontein, where their restaurant was revamped and re-opened earlier this year as Aan Tafel (pictured above), where the signature dishes include boerewors and burgers, bunny chow, curries
Read moreINCLUDING South Africa’s most highly rated wines as reviewed by top judging panels locally and/or internationally in 2017. See HERE for the panels whose reviews counted, or see HERE for all of the top SA wine ratings during the past two years together with details of the accolades. EXCLUDING wines sold only on auction, wines sold only on export markets, wines sold out long
Read moreTOP WHITE WINE RATINGS CHARDONNAY Bartinney Chardonnay 2016 Chamonix Chardonnay 2016 Confluence Chardonnay 2016 (Julien Schaal) Crystallum The Agnes Chardonnay 2016 Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve Chardonnay 2016 DeMorgenzon Reserve Chardonnay 2016 Dorrance Cuvée Anaïs Chardonnay 2016 GlenWood Grand Duc Chardonnay 2015 Groot Constantia Chardonnay 2016 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2016 Hoopenburg Integer Chardonnay 2016 Jordan Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2016 Jordan Nine
Read moreTHERE ARE plenty of wine shops with an online presence delivering South African vino to most corners of the country and around the world, but who’s doing the best job, how to weigh them up against one another, where to go for that elusive beauty or special bargain from the Cape? A survey of which stores offer a good number of the
Read moreTHE RED BLENDS from South Africa’s winelands that were the subject of good reviews in 2015 include plenty to choose from at under R100 a bottle. At under R50 there are fun labels such as Balance (depicted by an elephant on a stool) from Worcester’s Overhex, wines with a story behind them such as Sixpence of Opstal, Rawsonville, as well less frivolous
Read moreTOP SA SHIRAZ 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 SHIRAZ RATINGS IN 2013 Asara 2010 – Gold Medal at Trophy Wine Show Boekenhoutskloof 2003 – 5 Stars in Christian Eedes Report Boekenhoutskloof 2011 – 4½ Stars in Platter’s Guide Boschendal Reserve Collection 2011 – Trophy at
Read moreTOP 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
Read moreFAMILIAR AND not-so-familiar names among South Africa’s most successful sparkling wine producers in 2013… The following bubblies achieved outstanding reviews from the judges at blind-tastings around the world during the past 12 months: TOP SOUTH AFRICAN SPARKLING WINE RATINGS IN 2013 Ayama Blanc de Blanc 2008 – 4½ Stars in Classic Wine Magazine Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Brut Reserve 2008 – Double Gold
Read moreTHE STAND-OUT Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa, the best reviews of the year – from particularly good value wines including Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection, Dieu Donné and Tokara, to Cabs made at the Cederberg Private Cellar and Stark-Condé in the Jonkershoek Valley that have come under the spotlight again and again and again: Cederberg 2009 – Top 100 SA Wine Challenge selection Cederberg Five Generations
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