South Africa wins at Decanter World Wine Awards

SA has claimed two International Trophies at the annual Decanter World Wine Awards.

Heading heavenward

Emma Odendaal discovers that world-class wines and a wide range of restaurants complement the sweeping vistas of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.

Are you a diner from hell? Read this to check

Are South Africans agreeable diners or do we have unrealistic expectations? Kim Maxwell opens the floor to local restaurateurs.

SA's most romantic restaurants

Forget the wilted roses and cheesy card. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and few are the women who won’t go weak at the knees for an intimate dinner. Leigh Robertson and Andrea

Beneath the Andes

In pursuit of the perfect Malbec, Dan Nicholl explores the heart of Argentina’s winemaking industry, but discovers that there’s more to Mendoza than just one varietal.

New 'Blonde' restaurant opens in Cape Town

The company behind Blonde, Caviar, that's also responsible for bringing us Sevruga and Beluga, has broken away from its typical menu style in creating the offering at Blonde.

Boekenhoutskloof

First conceived in 2002, Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block has grown its red blend market share every year since.
 
 

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Digizine

Read the latest issue of WINE online for a fraction of the price. Click here...
 
 
 
 

The great leap

Though Stellenbosch winery De Toren has impressed since inception, it’s taken until now to pick up its first rating of 5 Stars for Fusion V 2007. Christian Eedes looks at how this came about.
 
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Waterford finds gold with its Bordeaux blend

Waterford Auction Reserve 2005 is rated 5 Stars in this issue, and remarkably was made as an afterthought once Flagship red blend The Jem had already been assembled, writes Christian Eedes.
 
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The great leap forward

Though Stellenbosch winery De Toren has impressed since inception, it’s taken until now to pick up its first rating of 5 Stars for Fusion V 2007. Christian Eedes looks at how this came about.
 
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Sumaridge tasting room review

Just off the R320, on the outskirts of Hermanus, lies Sumaridge, with sweeping views of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley that stretch to Walker Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
 
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What’s so great about Eben Sadie?

What is it about Eben Sadie's wines that have earned them such a significant reputation?
 
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Best-Value Shiraz

Obikwa 2009, with a distinctive ostrich motif on the label, offers the best value overall in the 2010 Global Trader Shiraz Challenge 2010, writes Christian Eedes.
 
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Joubert-Tradauw Private Cellar

Why you need to pay a visit to Joubert-Tradauw Private Cellar.
 
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Winning Shiraz

Dewaldt Heyns of Saronsberg in Tulbagh goes about his business in an uncompromising fashion, with the 2010 Global Trader Shiraz Challenge being just another in a string of awards, writes Christian Eedes.
 
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Rickety Bridge

A wine enthusiast is faced with myriad options when driving into Franschhoek. Signs beckon with "Taste our awardwinning wines!", "Lunch served here", "Open for tastings seven days a week". Overwhelmed with literally hundreds of options, how does one choose?
 
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Badsberg's award-winning sweet wines

Breedekloof winery Badsberg has a whole range of very good sweet wines. By Christian Eedes.
 
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Laborie tasting room review

As winter descends on the Cape, wine lovers increasingly seek out cosy tasting rooms, roaring fires, and liquids to warm the belly.
 
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Franschhoek's Môreson Pinotage

Môreson winemaker Clayton Reabow is sure to win hearts and minds with his Pinotage 2008. By Christian Eedes.
 
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Winemaking in KwaZulu-Natal

All is not well on the Midlands Meander. Jeanri-Tine van Zyl goes in search of the true producers of quality KZN wine.
 
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Muratie tasting room review

Walking through the cellar doors to Muratie’s tasting room, one is immediately entranced by a sense of romance and a rich, deep history.
 
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The history of Altydgedacht

Established in 1698, Durbanville estate Altydgedacht has now been in the Parker family for six generations. Joanne Gibson visits a farm with an extraordinary history, facing extraordinary challenges.
 
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Riebeek Kasteel

There is a bright star in the culinary heaven. Jeanri-Tine van Zyl follows it to discover a small town bursting with sensual food and wine offerings.
 
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A perfect Pinot Noir from Crystallum

Peter-Allan Finlayson brings an irreverent attitude to winemaking that serves him well, with his two versions of Pinot Noir under the Crystallum label particularly impressing. By Christian Eedes.
 
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De Wetshof estate

Last year Danie de Wet retired after years in service at KWV. Jeanri-Tine van Zyl spent a day on family estate De Wetshof and got a glimpse into the life and ideals of this venerable man of the cellar.
 
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Shaken, not stirred in Tulbagh

Eccentric Tulbagh is situated just over an hour’s drive from Cape Town. Having been shaken by a large-scale earthquake in 1969, the town has an interesting story to tell.
 
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De Grendel tasting room review

Why De Grendel in Durbanville is well worth a visit.
 
 

Win A One-Night Stay For Two Sharing At Kurland Luxury Hotel

Enjoy a luxurious stay-over at Kurland Hotel, near the picturesque beach resorts of Plettenberg Bay and Nature's Valley, in the heart of the Garden Route in South Africa. For more. [click here]
 
 

Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2010

Everything you need to know about this year's Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show. For more. [click here]
 
 

Panel chairman's choice: September 2010

This month Christian Eedes looks at wines from Hermanuspietersfontein; Durbanville Hills; Capaia and Rupert & Rothschild. For more. [click here]
 
 

Longmeadow

When I arrived, I was proffered a limited-edition bottle of Perrier water. "Limited" because of the fun '50s design on the bottle in yellow and green with a single pink butterfly and a million stars and bubbles. For more. [click here]
 
 
 
 
 
I wanted to write an ode to Cyprus. But instead I discovered that I had to discard everything I believed about the island. I went searching for romance and found wine. I went looking for a tasting experience, and had to settle for wine poured into shooter glasses. If I had to write a tasting room review it would’ve gone something like this…
 
Why the blend is beautiful.