In this episode, you'll hear how John came to be known for his textural whites, and how he learned to embrace a model for winemaking that fit his terroir (read: not trying to be a copy/paste version of Bordeaux or Burgundy). You'll also hear John's take on why getting South African wine to be mainstream in the US is still an uphill battle, as well as his adoration for Japan and, yes, McDonalds... 

Alder Yarrow recently published a piece for Vinography called “Putting South African Chardonnay in a Global Context,” in which he positioned South Africa against some of the world’s great Chardonnay regions (Chablis, Sonoma, etc.). Among those reviewed was the 2020 Van Loggerenberg “Break a Leg” Chardonnay, which Yarrow calls “bright and delicious.” Read more here.

Tim James, one of South Africa’s most lauded wine writers, details a few older-vintage wines he recently opened. Thorne & Daughters was in the line-up; of the 2017 Rocking Horse Cape White Blend, he writes that it “didn’t seem “older” at all; it’s developing nicely, with a good few years to go. Always one of […]

Tim James, one of South Africa’s most prominent wine critics, recounts why “there’s clearly plenty going for the new-wave Cape South Coast.” We’re seeing an exciting movement here akin to the Swartland Revolution a few years back. Among the winemakers mentioned are Natasha Williams of Lelie van Saron and Mark Stephens of Deep Rooted Wines […]

Banele Vakele of Tembela Wines is the newest South African producer to join the Vine Street Imports portfolio. He makes a Chenin Blanc and a Syrah, sourced from regions you wouldn’t necessarily expect (Durbanville for the Chenin, an area better known for Sauvignon Blanc, and a nice yin-yang mix for the Syrah from Constantia and the Swartland). In the words of wine critic Tim Atkin, “Banele Vakele is an exciting young winemaker who is rapidly making a name for himself.”

Trizanne Barnard from Trizanne Signature Wines is a force of nature. She's an avid surfer, rock climber, and acclaimed South African winemaker. In her earlier years, she worked as the assistant winemaker for Klein Constantia, and then she helped...

Today’s inaugural episode is with Mick Craven of Craven Wines based in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Craven Wines is known for their single-vineyard bottlings, and their infamous skin-contact Pinot Gris. In this episode, you’ll hear how Mick got into wine, why he’s doesn’t like the idea of typicity, and why his winery neighbors have learned to come check in on him when he blasts Radiohead.

Lettie Teague went out in search of wines with silly names that still deliver in terms of quality. She wanted real wines made by real winemakers with a sense of humor, not a mass-market brand with a clever marketing team. Our own Lukas van Loggerenberg made the short list with his 2020 Trust Your Gut […]

Jancis Robinson ponders the question of why more Americans don’t drink more South African wine. “I’m such a fan of South African wine, I’d like everyone to appreciate it as much as me. And producers and growers there really do need every bit of financial encouragement to keep vines, many of them venerable, in the […]