The non-alcoholic wine category is growing at the speed of knots. Yes, SA’s three extensive alcohol bans in 10 months (and let me rather not say what I think of that) would have helped fire this growth. But the real thing that is driving it is a general desire to live more healthily. If wellbeing and your waistline are [...]

Situated in the Knorhoek Valley at the foot of the Simonsberg mountain, a mere 10km outside of Stellenbosch, you’ll find Muratie – a wine estate with a history and heritage that’s quite unusual. The story of Muratie is essentially a love story. One that goes back many years – all the way back to 1685, when the then Governor [...]

Hit the N2 out of Cape Town and if the traffic is good (which these days is a pretty big if) you get to Sir Lowry’s Pass in under an hour. In mere minutes you climb over 400m above sea level and, once you get to the top, a whole different world unfolds before you. You’re in the Overberg (which [...]

Say ‘Four Cousins’ and quaffable everyday wines at pocket-friendly prices immediately come to mind. But what many may not know is that this range is actually part of the Van Loveren stable – and that it was launched by four real-life cousins! Van Loveren, in the beautiful Robertson Valley, has been in the Retief family since 1937. The first [...]

The non-alcoholic wine trend is seriously on the up and up. Now I do love my wine, but there is very definitely a space in my wine rack for low alcohol or no-alcohol wines. So I’m delighted that there are some new kids on the block for summer 2020. PIEKENIERSKLOOF WINE COMPANY – SIX [...]

There was much considered sipping (sadly not by me) and here they are – the winners of this year's Shiraz SA challenge. The annual awards ceremony, which took place last week, was of necessity virtual for the first time ever. You can see it here. I know you cannot rush out and buy any of these fine wines right now due to [...]