“Fairview Wine and Cheese unveils revolutionary ‘Goat Labour’ initiative” “In a move that has raised eyebrows and provoked uproar among traditionalists, Fairview Wine and Cheese, under the visionary leadership of Charles Back, has announced a groundbreaking strategy to tackle economic challenges head-on. Brace yourselves, because the era of vineyard workers is officially over – enter the goats. “Yes, you heard
Read moreAT LAST COUNT, the number of visitors to Groot Constantia stood at around 450 000 a year. It’s been the most popular wine farm in South Africa’s Cape winelands for some time, which is not to be confused with wine sales – gone are the days when ‘Joe Soap’ and ‘the man in the street’ would queue up at the
Read moreFOR A WHILE longer at least, most of South Africa’s leading blended whites remain combinations of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, but the number of outstanding Chenin-led blends seems to be on the increase. These are the country’s white combos that were most pleasing to the top panels internationally in 2023 to date, and highlighted in red are those that qualify
Read moreTHE 2023 Absa Top 10 Pinotage and Perold Cape Blend awards have been reported on already, but for many wine lovers it’s not enough to know what the winning wines were. “Comparing favourites is one thing, but tell us where they come from? What do they taste like? Exactly who made them?” Questions answered: BEESLAAR PINOTAGE 2019 WO Stellenbosch. 25-year-old
Read moreIT SELDOM happens that a winemaker has a hand in two Absa Top 10 Pinotage Competition laureates in the same year, but what do you know… In 2023 there were two of them: Abrie Beeslaar, cellarmaster behind the winning 2017 vintage from Kanonkop Estate in Stellenbosch and also coming top with the 2019 vintage under his own label, as well
Read morePUFFERY aside, behind the smoke and mirrors… The National Wine Challenge attracts entries from some of South Africa’s top wine producers, the judges and tasting director are respected professionals, plus there are often several good-value discoveries or confirmations as well as something or other that prompts you to ponder… Best Value? At just R95pb, a little over half the price
Read moreFROM THE FOOTHILLS of Paarl Rock Mountain to the Simonsberg, Voor Paardeberg and beyond, this is a wine route encompassing some of South Africa’s biggest cellars as well as some of its smallest. Babylonstoren, Fairview and Spice Route are among the most popular tourist destinations in this district where the boundary lines separating Paarl from Franschhoek and Stellenbosch can
Read moreWHERE TO EAT on the Paarl Wine Route, on a farm, among the vines? And which wines to seek out, what the panels of experts have recommended recently? For lunch, your choices include Faber at Avondale, several options at Babylonstoren, the Goatshed at Fairview, Glen Carlou, The Kraal at Joostenberg, The Red Table at Nederburg, Rhebokskloof, the Deck at Ridgeback, Rupert &
Read more“PERHAPS the ‘Cape Blend’ is simply a concept that has run out of time” – Winemag’s Christian Eedes, commenting on the poor showing and no-shows by Pinotage-driven combos for the publication’s 2019 Signature Red Blend Report. Perhaps what many Cape Blend producers have a problem with is the random nature of this competition whereby almost anything goes – apart from
Read moreA CHECKLIST that will come in useful when next you head out wine-tasting or shopping on the Paarl wine route, the following are those whites, reds, bubblies and sweets with the very best track records from the cellars of the area according to the 2019 SA Wine & Cellar Classification. • For the full Paarl Wine Classification, click here. •
Read moreRANKED No. 1 among the highest-scoring entries in the 2018 Ultra Value Wine Challenge was the ‘Stone White’ blend from Stettyn Family Vineyards between Villiersdorp and Worcester. The 2018 vintage of this Chenin Blanc Sauvignon Blanc combo was one of 14 submissions to achieve top ratings from the judges, chaired by Cape Wine Master Ginette de Fleuriot together with British Master
Read moreTHERE WERE around 600 wines judged at South Africa’s National Wine Challenge 2018 convened by Robin von Holdt’s Buybetterwine.com. The judges comprised chairman Greg Sherwood (UK Master of Wine), Ginette de Fleuriot (Cape Wine Master), sommelier Wayve Kolvesohn, with winemakers Duncan Savage, Matthew Day of Klein Constantia, Richard Kershaw (Master of Wine) and JD Pretorius of Steenberg. Sommelier Higgo Jacobs was
Read moreTHE CEDERBERG Private Cellar, KWV and Fairview of Paarl, Eagles’ Nest of Constantia and Saronsberg of Tulbagh have the best track records at the Shiraz SA Challenge since its inception in 2013. At the 2017 edition, all triumphed once again, with Rustenberg of Stellenbosch also sharing the limelight as one of three cellars to earn a couple of trophies on the day.
Read moreIT’S REPORTED that there were over 500 entries in the 2017 edition of the National Wine Challenge, now in its seventh year as a competition that culminates with awards for the Top 100 entries from South African vintners and Grand Cru awards for the wines judged to be best in each class. The number of submissions is some way off the
Read morePARTICULARLY good reviews for Rustenberg and Groot Constantia on the show circuit in 2015 have revived discussions about the so-called ‘First Growths’ in the winelands of South Africa – First Growths being defined as the areas or wines from those areas regarded as among the very finest of a particular district or region, based on the concept of terroir, which has to
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 moreNOTABLE ABSENTEES among the laureates in the latest shoot-out organised by South Africa’s Pinotage Association include Beyerskloof, DeWaal, Spier and Stellenzicht… Familiar faces at the podium this year included Anura, Fairview, Kanonkop, KWV, L’Avenir, Lyngrove, Môreson, Rijk’s, Simonsig and Windmeul… And the surprise newcomer among the Top 10 was Black Elephant Vintners, a Franschhoek producer making its debut with a wine called
Read morePale straw colour, fine bubble, fresh nose, aromas of baked apple, citrus notes, yeasty I WAS ONE of the sceptics on hearing about Fairview launching their first sparkling wine made according to the Méthode Cap Classique. My misgivings had nothing to do with the ability of proprietor Charles Back and his team to master the method of bottle fermentation in producing a bubbly along
Read moreA symbol of of religious tolerance and a delightful bottle of wine IT’S DIFFICULT to think of a more appropriate top wine to contemplate at this time of giving and goodwill around one of the most important dates on the Christian calendar… Recently launched after being awarded a rating of 5 Stars in the latest issue of Platter’s, the new
Read moreSOUTH AFRICAN Shiraz that has been highly recommended this year by one or more of the expert tasting panels around the world AND which costs less than R80 a bottle – with prices given ex-cellar, or approximate retail if the winery is closed to the public: BRAMPTON 2009 – R55 CITRUSDAL CELLARS’ Six Hats 2010 – R50 CLOOF The Very Sexy 2009 – R75
Read more
