News

A wine factory, comprising 1,500-year-old wine presses, has been uncovered by archaeologists in the city of Yavne, south of Tel Aviv.

The factory, that would have been be capable of producing two million litres of wine a year, includes five wine presses, ageing and bottling warehouses as well as kilns for firing amphorae in which the wine was stored, has been uncovered by archaeologists according to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).

The site, according to the IAA, dates back to the Byzantine era around the 4th-5th century CE, making the winery the largest known to exist from the period.

The directors of the excavation Dr. Elie Haddad, Liat Nadav-Ziv and Dr. Jon Seligman said in a joint statement: “We were surprised to discover a sophisticated factory here, which was used to produce wine in commercial quantities. Furthermore, decorative niches in the shape of a conch, which adorned the winepresses, indicate the great wealth of the factory owners.”

The History of Pinotage in South Africa

There is so much to talk about when the topic of Pinotage, a uniquely South African grape, comes up. From historic tales of creation – merging Pinot Noir and Hermitage (Cinsaut) grapes by Prof Perold – to today’s legends crafting the latest Pinotage or Pinotage blends. The Pinotage tale is one worth well telling and should always end where it is enjoyed with friends, food or maybe even somewhere alone with a bottle of Pinotage as your company.

Meet the father of Pinotage

The story of Pinotage starts with its creator, Prof. Abraham Izak Perold (20.10.1880 – 11.12.1941). Perold’s academic achievements paved the way for the creation of Pinotage and included a B.A. degree in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, Ph.D in Chemistry (Germany) and a temporary professorship in Chemistry at the University of Cape Town. This background equipped him with a unique skill set and after his professorial stint in 1906 the Cape government, wanting to extend the range of grapes planted in the region, sent Perold on a grape varietal scouting mission.

La Motte is introducing a new addition to its well-known portfolio of wines – a French-style rosé called Vin de Joie. The 2021 La Motte Vin de Joie Rosé is an elegant choice that promises to bring joy: whether it is a social joy - having a glass of wine with friends as part of a lazy lunch - or a simple joy - a quiet hour of reading or watching the sun sets…

“We have been thinking about adding a rosé to the La Motte Collection for a while now”, explains La Motte CEO Hein Koegelenberg. “I was impressed by the elegance of a Provençal rosé when I browsed the French wine hall at the 2019 Prowein Wine Trade Show in Germany. Tasting the wine and talking to the winemaker at the brand’s booth, I also found out that the wine was made just outside La Motte d'Aigues – the town after which we believed La Motte was named!”

Serendipity rather than coincidence one would think and enough reason for Hein to bring a bottle of the rosé back to Franschhoek as inspiration for the La Motte team.

The Tokara winemaking team is on top of the world with three Wines of the Year and nine wines, starring Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon in the leading role, scoring 91 points or more in Tim Atkin’s much anticipated South Africa 2021 Special Report.

Top achiever this year is the TELOS 2016 on 96/100. His second highest score of 95 points goes to the Director’s Reserve Red 2018, with the Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 and the Tokara Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 scoring 94 and 91 respectively.

The highest scoring Tokara white wine is the signature Director’s Reserve White 2018 on 95 points. The other stand-out whites are the Reserve Collection Chardonnay 2019 and the Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc 2020 both on 93 points.

Also standing tall on 93 points is the ultra-elegant Tokara Cap Classique 2013, while the Reserve Collection Syrah 2017 fetched 92 points.

Delaire Graff Estate achieves excellence in the 2021 Haute Grandeur Global Awards.

We are honoured to announce that Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa has received a number of accolades in the recently announced 2021 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards. The Awards recognise remarkable achievements in delivering consistent, exceptional experiences in the global luxury hospitality industry.

Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa has been named as the best in class on the global stage in the Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards in both the Culinary Experience and Lodge categories. The lodge also achieved the designation Best Destination Hotel in Africa and the Delaire Graff Owner’s Villa was announced as the Best Boutique Villa in Africa.

Delaire Graff Spa received four titles in the Haute Grandeur Global Spa Awards acknowledging the impeccable standards upheld by Spa Director, Hildegard Carstens, named Best Spa Manager. Further awards included Best Luxury Spa and Best Hideaway Spa in Africa, as well as Best Hotel Spa in South Africa.

Long before the Shiraz wave hit South Africa in the 1990s, the Durbanville Wine Valley was pioneering this loved Rhône variety. The cool maritime climate and soils of decomposed granite and clay have always provided an ideal terroir for Shiraz in a classic, restrained style compared to the more opulent offerings of warmer regions.

This special offer of Diemersdal Shiraz consists of one bottle of each of the following vintages: 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, with two bottles of the very fine 2020 making up the balance. And these wines come with a pedigree of accolades: 2016 won a Gold Veritas medal, 2018 took Gold at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, as did the 2019 at the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards. And with the awards season coming up, we are predicting great things from the 2020 as well.

The variety has been a stalwart at Diemersdal for decades, the vineyard loving the area’s cold winters and mild summers, and wine-lovers really enjoying the feature of Shiraz made in this part of the Cape winelands. Juandré Bruwer, one of Diemersdal’s winemakers and a passionate Shiraz acolyte, says that cool-climate Shiraz is his favourite style of this wine.

“When the grapes ripen in a cool climate, such as Diemersdal, the wine is bright, fresh with gorgeous red-fruit,” he says.

Cape winemakers can hardly afford to be one-trick ponies. Unlike their Old World brethren who spend most of their lives committed to working a handful of grape varieties into two to three wine-styles, South African vignerons must tap into the national vinous psyche. Which in most instances demands an almost promiscuous approach in handling a vastly diverse array of grape varieties and wine-styles under one umbrella brand.

Here in the New South, it is not uncommon to find one winery happily producing Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinotage and Merlot – with a Cap Classique bubbly or two thrown in for good measure. Port and Noble Late Harvest, optional. It is wild and varied, and we like it.

Specialisation is a rare luxury afforded only a few winemakers. Although, there are a handful of Cape winemakers whose skill with a certain variety has risen to the surface; the yin meeting yang, the experience, craftmanship and commitment offering the consumer a guarantee of something exceptional. Danie de Wet and Chardonnay springs to mind. Beyers Truter and Pinotage. Jan Boland Coetzee with Pinot Noir, while Sauvignon Blanc happens rather well when handled by Thys Louw.

The South African Chardonnay Forum has been re-launched under the chairmanship of Johann de Wet, CEO of De Wetshof Estate. In a heart-to-heart Q&A he outlines the objectives and flies the flag for Cape Chardonnay.

Q: What role does a cultivar grouping, such as the Chardonnay Forum, play?

Johann de Wet: Well, I’d like to start by saying that this grouping had been dormant for a few years, so at the end of 2020 we did a re-launch after talks with South Africa’s Chardonnay producers. These discussions, and the decision to re-look this specific cultivar grouping, were inspired by the astounding positive reception Cape Chardonnay has been getting – local and internationally – over the past few years. Positive comment, plus the undeniable quality of Chardonnay we are currently seeing, inspired myself and a few like-minded industry players to get the forum back on track.

As far as the role of such groupings, I don’t think there is one overriding ethos and vision representing all such collectives. Like the country’s wines and the different terroir they represent, we all have unique traits. The SA Chardonnay Forum aims to provide a platform committed to two aspects. First, to use the forum to share technical information as well as to identify these pertinent topics and issues for communicating.

Tokara, the prestigious family owned Stellenbosch wine estate, celebrates the 50th anniversary of Cap Classique with a Double Gold medal awarded in France for the new 2013 blanc de blancs vintage.

Claiming its rightful place on the international stage as a South African Cap Classique, Tokara’s 2013 vintage garnered 93/100 points at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge held annually by one of France’s leading wine guides.

The third offering of this consummate Méthode Cap Classique was crafted entirely from Tokara’s outstanding cool climate Chardonnay vineyard in Elgin. The extraordinary depth of flavour, elegance and complexity of the 2013 vintage can be attributed to barrel maturation of the base wine for eight months followed by seven years on the lees in the bottle to develop richness and finesse.

The mousse is exceptionally fine and consistent, enlivened by aromas of lightly toasted almonds, lemon preserve and a hint of fresh green apple. These zesty aromas are enriched on the palate by freshly baked gougère.

“The finest of bubblies, the palate is a wonderful interplay between silky fluidity, crystalline acidity and fine mousse. It is incredibly moreish and will leave you yearning for another sip,” says winemaker Stuart Botha.