SOUTH AFRICA has a number of fine Chardonnay cellars, and that of Paul Clüver on De Rust Estate in Grabouw counts as one of the very best. Pioneers of the Elgin wine district in the Cape South Coast, the farmers, winemakers and business folk on the team also know their stuff when it comes to Pinot Noir, Riesling and Sauvignon
Read moreIT WAS IN 1694 that Rust en Vrede was established among the foothills of what became known as the Helderberg area of the Stellenbosch winelands. The Engelbrecht family have been the proprietors since the late 1970s, and for over 40 years the farm has been one of South Africa’s leading producers, specialising in red wines. The ‘Estate’ blend of
Read moreTHE ENGELBRECHT family and their team have maintained Rust en Vrede’s reputation as one of South Africa’s top red wine cellars for the past 40 years or so, ever since the Stellenbosch estate began specialising in Cabernet and Shiraz, either in collaboration or on their own. All of these reds are Classified, with the Estate blend as well as
Read moreGROOT CONSTANTIA was declared top achiever at the 2018 Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards, with winemaker Boela Gerber’s Natural Sweet Grand Constance 2015 and port-styled Cape Ruby 2016 the most successful of eight wines whose combined scores lifted the trophy. It’s been another good year by way of reviews for this dessert wine from South Africa’s oldest producer: Best in
Read moreGOING BY the last count in 2014, South Africa has some 3300 farms on which grapes are being grown for making wine and there are around 550 wineries in the various regions, districts and wards. According to industry data published by SAWIS, about 200 farms are registered for the production of Estate Wine – wine that is grown, produced and bottled on
Read moreWHERE 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
Read moreIF YOU ARE into South African ‘Wine of Origin’, micro climates, soil types, grape clones, et al, then the advent of the country’s Single Vineyard Wine was one of the best things to come along since the concept of Estate Wine took a knock when the laws were relaxed some years back. There have been many SA wine drinkers who’ve been
Read moreTHE BAKERY at Jordan affords visitors to the estate in Stellenbosch Kloof an opportunity to wine and snack on a deck under the trees just below and to the side of the highly rated Jordan Restaurant… Upstairs is one of the Top 10 kitchens in the country where patrons indulge in fine dining and pay the price that comes with
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