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In this interview, Warwick Estate CEO Christiane von Arnim talks about what makes wines from South Africa, France and Germany so unique and more. She has been leading the next chapter of the Warwick legacy since 2018.

Are there any essential wine hacks you wish more people knew about?

When opening a bottle with a wax closure, ignore it and pull it out the way you usually would instead of cutting and picking away the wax. This is much easier and neater – and a lot less frustrating.

Winter is a time for red wine. While Stellenbosch is the heartland of the country’s icon reds, it is wine from the pioneering Simonsig Estate that shines among the brightest of these expressions.

Leading the way since its conception is the Simonsig Tiara. Tiara was the first of the farm’s premium range; among South Africa’s first Bordeaux blends; and, the wine that first launched Simonsig’s standing as a producer of top quality red wine.

The Ken Forrester Old Vines Reserve Chenin Blanc 2021 was awarded a Best in Show Award at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards, cementing Forrester’s reputation as the pioneering leader of Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc.

Almost three decades since Ken Forrester made the career shift from prominent Johannesburg restaurateur to Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc specialist, the Chenin Blanc category has evolved vastly and this variety is now widely regarded as South Africa’s white flagship.

In viniculture, blends are commonplace. In fact, almost all wines are blends in some way or another.

Blends can range from wines combined from different barrels, grapes from different vineyards or vineyard blocks, and – of course – different varietals. At Haute Cabrière, we pride ourselves on pioneering new wine blends. It’s a part of our DNA and something we continue to explore generation on generation.

WWF South Africa is delighted to announce that five more wine farms have been welcomed into its prestigious Conservation Champion programme, bringing to 55 the total number of WWF Conservation Champions in the Cape Winelands, which overlaps two major global biodiversity hotspots – the Cape Floral Kingdom and the Succulent Karoo.

Biodiversity loss is among the top environmental risks according to the 2021 Global Risk Report from the World Economic Forum.

During the vineyard dormant period, it is important to keep a keen eye out for disease, pests, and maintenance needs, this requires a combination of responsiveness and strategic planning.

Post-harvest disease management is key to the ongoing health of the vineyard. This period is heavily influenced by seasonal weather that can increase the potential of fungi to occur. The infamous forms are Powdery and Downy mildew which interrupt the plant’s ability to photosynthesise and threaten the grape bunches during the growing season and the carbohydrate storage in preparation for the dormant phase.

Once the harvest is complete it is tempting to forget about the vineyard and focus on making wine, however, this time is exceptionally important for the vines and future vintages. The period in focus is after the ripe fruits have been harvested and before the leaves start to fall from the vines.

During this time the vines are hard at work storing carbohydrates in preparation for winter when they move into a dormant phase. It is during this busy time when the leaves are still healthy and green that they are photosynthesising and looking for as many nutrients as possible to prepare for the cold.

De Grendel’s 2022 harvest has set a record for the largest intake to date but, more than quantity, it is the early signs of excellent quality that have the De Grendel winemaking team in optimistic spirits about the new vintage.

With De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc 2022 already bottled and the rest of the 2022 vintage in various stages of maturation in the cellar, De Grendel cellar master Charles Hopkins and assistant winemaker Morgan Steyn reflected on the high points and challenges of harvest 2022.

Tokara has won international acclaim with its handcrafted XO Potstill Brandy bringing home a second Brandy Masters Gold Medal.

Tokara, the prestigious family-owned wine estate in Stellenbosch, has won international acclaim once again with its luxurious, handcrafted XO Potstill Brandy bringing home a second Brandy Masters Gold Medal.

This annual competition is presented by The Spirits Business, the leading international spirits trade publication based in the UK. The highly contested 2022 Brandy Masters rewarded the finest brandies on the world stage with 120 entries judged by a panel of spirits specialists.