South Africa
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Babylonstoren Sprankel
The Babylonstoren Sprankel 2018, from the Western Cape, offers an intriguing alternative to traditional Champagne. It’s part of the growing selection of Cap Classique wines from South Africa with over 260 producers and more than 400 different cuvées. South Africa now produces an impressive 11 million bottles annually and the Sprankel is a great example…
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Global Chenin Blanc Masters 2024
The Global Chenin Blanc Masters competition recently highlighted the remarkable versatility of Chenin Blanc, which produces some of the finest sweet and dry white wines, both with and without oak, as well as sparkling wines. The Loire Valley is its historic home, producing notable sparkling and sweet wines, such as Crémant de Loire, sparkling Vouvray,…
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ASDA Extra Special Pinotage
Having recently enjoyed this wine at an Asda press tasting, I decided to purchase a bottle to experience it in a different setting. This wine comes from South Africa. Pinotage originated in 1925 as a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut and was developed by Abraham Izak Perold, the first Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch…
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Amava Vines Coastal Reserve White Blend
This wine has been created by Nadia Engelbrecht of the Perdeberg Group in South Africa. The Amava Vines Cape white 2020, a blend from the dry-farmed Coastal vineyards of Swartland and Paarl encapsulates the rich heritage in the word ‘Amava’ – a reference to roots tradition, and staying connected to one’s origins. This wine presents…
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Sparkling Wines From Three Continents
The 2023 holiday season gave me the opportunity to try a few affordable Champagne and sparkling wines from three different continents: Les Pionniers Non Vintage Champagne Les Pionniers Non Vintage Champagne is a great example of how quality and affordability can come together. Despite the Co-op’s discretion about its origins, it’s an open secret that…
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Flooding in South Africa Could Disrupt Your Favourite Wines
The South African wine industry is facing a new set of challenges that could potentially disrupt the supply and quality of wines from the region. According to a recent article on Wine Spectator, South African winemakers are grappling with flooding, which has caused significant damage to vineyards and infrastructure. This comes on top of the…
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Stellenrust Stellenbosch Manor
Not to be accused of only posting positive reviews, here’s an exception that left me rather disappointed. This particular bottle had previously received a high score of 95 from Decanter, a DDWA gold medal and also a 3.7 rating on Vivino. Made from the Cinsault grape, it’s meant to be a lighter wine, akin to…
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Bosman Nero
In 2021, South Africa introduced Bosman Nero, its first Nero d’Avola, a collaboration with actor and filmmaker Thapelo Mokoena, who is a shareholder in the project. Crafted by winemaker Corlea Fourie, this wine is made from Nero d’Avola, a vine chosen for thriving in sun-rich, water-scarce African soil. With a commendable 3.9 score on Vivino…
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