On 23 and 25 September the Franschhoek Wine Valley gets the opportunity to showcase its wide range of stellar wines to the semi-finalists competing in this year’s triennial Sommelier Cup competition, presented by Wines of South Africa (WoSA). Representing countries from across the globe the sommeliers will spend the day in the valley, meeting with the Vignerons, attending a series of tastings and experience our vil...

The De Krans Pinotage Rosé has done it again. For the 2nd year in a row it has been awarded the prestigious Double Gold medal at the recent Rosé Rocks competition. This year the award was bestowed on the 2019 vintage. This competition is the first of its kind in SA which is entirely dedicated to Rosé and seeks to not only acknowledge excellence in Rosé winemaking but also to in effect, promote the category in...

Steenberg has triumphed at the 2019 Amorim Cap Classique Challenge as the victorious producer of South Africa’s Best Rosé MCC. The blushing Steenberg 1682 Pinot Noir MCC, one of 134 Méthode Cap Classique contenders in the competition this year, was awarded Double Gold and the Trophy as the Rosé category winner. “This is great news for us and even though I am fairly new to Steenberg, everyone knows that C...

When it comes to global accolades TOKARA’s flagship white knows no bounds, after yet another Gold strike on the world stage and a score of 95/100 from the prestigious 2019 International Wine and Spirit Competition in London. This is the 4th time this year that the TOKARA Director’s Reserve White 2016 has been hailed by international wine commentators and judges as a benchmark for South African Bordeaux-style ...

Awards season is in full swing and De Krans Wines is bringing home the awards, earning a Double Gold and Gold at the recent 2019 Vitis Vinifera Awards. The very popular De Krans Premium Moscato Natural Sweet Perlé Wine 2019 was the recipient of the Double Gold medal, and this semi-sweet wine with a fizz has quickly become one of the best-selling wines from De Krans since its launch a few years ago. It serves as ...

The Constantia Glen flagship red has yet again stepped into the limelight on the world stage with the 2015 vintage bringing home a gold medal from the 2019 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) in London. Constantia Glen FIVE 2015 scored a whopping 96 points out of 100 points at this prestigious international competition. Earlier this year the same wine was awarded platinum at the esteemed Decanter World ...

September is met with great anticipation and excitement in the wine industry as it coincides with the release of Tim Atkin’s annual review of South African wines. In the results, announced on 3 September, 11 wines within the Anthonij Rupert Wyne portfolio scored an impressive 90+ out of a possible 100 points. The Cape of Good Hope Serruria Chardonnay 2017 scored the highest – 95 points. Tim Atkin is a British...

Roodeberg, the legendary South African wine that celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, has broken the venerable 90 point barrier with three signature blends in the highly respected Tim Atkin 2019 South Africa Special Report. Top scorer, with 93/100 is the just released Roodeberg 1949, a meticulously crafted, limited edition commemorative blend. Next up on 92 points is Dr Charles Niehaus, the top tier red blen...

TOKARA’s flagship white blend has been hailed one of Tim Atkin’s ‘wines of the year’ in his highly regarded 2019 South Africa Special Report with no less than 11 wines from this family owned Stellenbosch wine estate crossing the 90 point threshold. Awarded 95/100, Atkin’s elite ranking comparable with the best wines in the world, the TOKARA Director’s Reserve White 2016 was one of just five wines to ma...

Constantia Glen Sauvignon Blanc – a dryland vineyard triumph Constantia Glen’s new Sauvignon Blanc 2019 vintage, just released from the beautifully appointed boutique wine estate, is a wonderfully complex wine with ample personality and an unfettered expression of its Constantia roots. The Constantia Glen Sauvignon Blanc 2019 is a multi-layered wine with complex flavours from dryland vineyards grown on the...

TOKARA Multi Varietal strikes gold at SA Olive Awards TOKARA, the highly acclaimed, family owned wine and olive oil farm on the outskirts of Stellenbosch, has netted a slew of medals across its range of cold pressed extra virgin olive oils at the 2019 SA Olive Awards. Top performer this year, is the 2019 TOKARA Multi Varietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a gold medallist in the ‘Medium’ category. A blend of Fran...

Bid farewell to the Winter blues and swing into Spring by heading off to the picture perfect Franschhoek Wine Valley over the weekend of 14 and 15 September for this year’s Franschhoek Uncorked Festival. What better excuse to explore one of South Africa’s premier wine destinations, whilst uncovering a fine selection of wine gems from the Franschhoek Vignerons. Wineries in and around the valley welcome the fr...

Van Loveren Family Vineyards has continued its contribution to nature conservation in South Africa with the release of the latest vintage Rhino Run wines. The range of superb quality wines celebrates this magnificent animal of the African plains and the efforts being made to save it. “The plight of the rhino has been well-publicised and continues to grow direr every passing day,” says Van Loveren Wines CEO Ph...

New look Balance wines support desert elephant conservation Balance, the quirky range of generous, everyday wines, has been relaunched after a stylish makeover, mastering the fine balancing act between a modish new look and environmental awareness. As a caring range of wines signified by the trusty mascot, Hank the elephant, Balance has adopted the Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA) as a CSI initiative. For eve...

The flagship Decorex exhibition, synonymous with sophisticated décor and design, is bringing the finest localised products, interior stylists and creative inspiration to the Gallagher Convention Centre from 7 to 11 August. This year’s Decorex Joburg, centred on the show’s 2019 theme, 'Designing for Africa – feels like home’, will highlight the increasing inter-continental reach of Africa’s design influence...

Exceptional Italian winter value at 95 Keerom and 95 at Parks Dine like an Italian at exceptional value and tuck into chef-proprietor Giorgio Nava’s special 3-course winter menu available exclusively during August at 95 Keerom in Cape Town’s CBD and 95 at Parks in Constantia. For starters, tuck into a classic caprese salad with creamy artisanal burrata mozzarella. The main course is a choice of Chef Giorg...

Recently launched state-of-the-art multi-functional studio in Cape Town, Infinity Studios, is set to become a hive of activity as it firmly sets its sights on becoming one of the city’s foremost creative hubs. Infinity Studios owner, James Pople, has spent the better part of his career in a variety of creative environment across the world – and is thrilled to be back in the Mother City in time for its winter s...

Balance wines take the wheel with an exciting new pizza tasting If you are looking for a laid back food and wine experience without all the serious wine paraphernalia – Balance, the easy drinking range of quality, everyday wines, has you covered. The new Balance Pizza Wheel Tasting, now available at Overhex Winery & Bistro near Worcester, lets you experience these joyous wines, with a mouth-watering, crispy piz...

Diverse TOKARA wines from the kingdom of Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon is a significant cornerstone of TOKARA, the prestigious family owned Stellenbosch wine estate, with a diverse selection of consummate wines. TOKARA’s forward thinking vision for Cabernet Sauvignon from day one after owners GT and Anne-Marie Ferreira acquired the farm, has seen their vineyards on the foothills of the Simonsberg cons...

Coffee Professionals from all over South Africa and abroad will be brewing up innovation, excitement and passion around all things coffee when the FNB Creative Coffee Week 2019 takes place in Durban from 27-29 June 2019. Following the unprecedented success of the inaugural Creative Coffee Week last year, event organisers Melanie Winter and Iain Evans of Coffee Magazine have planned an even bigger and better programm...