News
South Africa
‘South Africa: Where Are We Now?’
SOUTH AFRICA IS… NOT WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS Where Are We Now? “So, where is the wine industry in 2024?” “It stands at a crossroads. South Africa found its own voice thanks to the Swartland Revolution and ‘new wave’ producers… while some wine regions covet exclusivity and luxury branding, South Africa represents something inclusive, […]
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South Africa
‘A Guide to the Swartland, South Africa’s Most Underrated Wine Region’
For Condé Nast Traveler, Lane Nieset shares a food & wine lover’s guide to the Swartland, this “lesser-known wine community” producing “some of the country’s most sought-after bottles.” Nieset names Izak Mouton of Sakkie Mouton Family Wines, Jurgen Gouws of Intellego, and Hanneke Kruger of Vino pH as a part of the “influx of young […]
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South Africa
The Polkadraai Hills ward of Stellenbosch is ‘starting to turn heads’
For Decanter, Tim Atkin, MW provides a regional profile of the Polkadraai Hills and highlights his top 10 wines. Among those named were Van Loggerenberg ‘Graft’ Syrah 2021 (97 points) Craven Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (93 points). Plus, Atkin esteems that Boschkloof and Saga Vineyards winemaker Reenen Borman makes “one of the world’s greatest Syrah […]
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South Africa
Forbes highlights Sijnn’s ‘exceptional’ crop quality in their 2024 vintage
For Forbes, writer Jessica Dupuy covers South Africa and our producer, Sjnn, in the first part of her 5-part series about southern hemisphere grape harvests during the 2024 vintage. She writes that Sijnn’s program is “to produce a flagship red and white from any blend of these varieties that best expresses each vintage and the […]
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South Africa
NY Times: “For Thanksgiving, 20 Wines Under $20” – Storm Point wines featured for second time
For the second time, both Storm Point Chenin Blanc and Red Blend were featured on a NYT “20 under $20” list. The latest piece by Eric Asimov is a round up of excellent value wines for Thanksgiving. “Chenin blanc is one of my absolute favorite grapes, but it’s hard to find good examples this inexpensive,” […]
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South Africa
Copper Pot named a Wine Spectator Top 100 Wine of 2023
Copper Pot’s 2021 Pinot Noir was recently named among Wine Spectator’s 2023 Top 100 list, and it was (sadly) the ONLY South African wine to make the list. “[It’s] a ripe, juicy version, with fragrant details of woodsy spices, dried thyme and a streak of stony minerality echoing on the lasting finish,” writes Wine Spectator reviewer […]
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South Africa
‘A Sijnn retrospective: tasting the past and present of this remarkable vineyard in Malgas, South Africa’
Dr. Jamie Goode visited the Sijnn Estate in Malgas for a tasting and lunch to celebrate the estate’s 20 year anniversary. “The first few years of being here must have been difficult,” writes Goode. “The Afrikaans farmers who were their neighbours would have been very puzzled by vines going into the ground. The closest winery […]
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South Africa
“South African Wine Has Never Been Better—Have Americans Noticed?”
For SevenFifty Daily, Caitlin A. Miller reports on the successes and struggles of South African wine in the United States. Miller questions, “With South Africa producing such exciting, high-quality, value-driven wines, why aren’t more American wine drinkers—and buyers—paying attention?” Our own Aaron Meeker comments on the excellent value of South African wine, and how the […]
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Podcast
South Africa
Episode 25 – Catching up with Mick Craven
Mick Craven from Craven Wines was our very first guest on this little podcast when we launched last year. He was back in town, so we sat down for a quick catch up. In this episode, we talk about the Cravens’ infamous Pinot Gris, which (surprise, surprise) was rejected yet again by the South African Wine & […]
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