South Africa

Juicy and vibrant with plenty of red fruit and red floral essences, the 2022 The First Lady Pinotage is bright and attractive in the glass. Medium-bodied and with lively acidity, it offers firm tannins with a clean, succulent finish that is ready for food. The wine rested for a year in various types of oak, 8% new, (AM)

Back where it belongs among the elite wine brands of South Africa, the 2018 Rubicon is a worthy successor to the stellar 2017 release. Featuring Cabernet Sauvignon with 33% Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this is an elegant, polished, refined wine from a hot, dry vintage that illustrates the benefit of a cooler site. Floral, balanced and poised.

Straightforward and red-fruited, the 2021 The First Lady Cabernet Sauvignon offers notes of turned earth and gravel with dusty cherries and plum before notes of wilted flowers and hints of leather pop out of the glass. Medium-bodied and with 13.5% alcohol on the label, the palate is uncomplicated yet shows a balanced structure that ends cleanly. This keenly priced Cabernet will be perfect for pizza and pasta night. (AM)

Orange blossoms, sliced pears, persimmons and melon on the nose of this fruity white. It’s medium- to full-bodied with good fruit ripeness and freshness combined.

Kumusha Wines was founded by Zimbabwean-born sommelier Tinashe Nyamudoka, whose goal is to celebrate African heritage through globally crafted wines. The name “Kumusha” means “your home” in Shona, reflecting the brand’s focus on community, roots, and a sense of belonging. Although inspired by Nyamudoka’s Zimbabwean background, the wines are produced in the renowned vineyards of Western Cape, where diverse terroirs contribute depth and character to each bottle. Kumusha Wines offers varietals such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, each crafted with balance, freshness, and food-friendliness in mind.

Dark plums, coffee, black olives and braised mushrooms on the nose of this mellow red. It’s medium- to full-bodied with nicely softened tannins and a silky finish. Cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit verdot. (CN)

As ever, this is just pure pleasure, and full of grace, apricot puree, intense and concentrated, with the most beautiful balance of citrus, grilled pineapple, truffle, fennel, uplift and joy. Matthew Day winemaker, 90ha estate, 18 months in 50% new 500L Hungarian and French oak barrels, followed by 16 months in large oak casks, 162g/l residual sugar.

This 100% Chenin Blanc is crafted from three sustainably farmed, old-vine parcels in South Africa’s Swartland region — one on the shale and schist soils of Kasteelberg, and two on decomposed granite in the Paardeberg. All vineyards are dry-farmed and bush-trained, with vines over 40 years old. The grapes were hand-harvested, chilled, and whole-bunch pressed before settling overnight. Fermentation occurred naturally over six weeks in a mix of older French oak barrels and stainless steel tanks. After fermentation, the wine was blended and bottled, highlighting both site and varietal purity.

Lovely stone fruit aromas here like apricots, mangoes and fresh pears. Lemons and hints of flint. It’s crisp and fresh, with a medium body, excellent density and clarity. Drink now. (CN)

The Mullineux 2022 Swartland Syrah comes from a site with quartz formations over schist soils. Quartz tends to erode at a different pace, leaving quartz stones on the surface that reflect light but do not reflect heat. This leads to optimal ripening, with soft cherry and blackberry flavors followed by lightly toasted spice. There is a ferrous note to the wine followed by fine, satiny tannins that have a certain lusciousness about them. The wine sees 80% whole-cluster fruit and is fermented in upright wooden vats. Andrea Mullineux says she is looking for the silky tannins that are specific to the Swartland. "Those tannins are a real fingerprint of the region," she says. (ML)

Given its consistently outstanding quality, it’s easy to forget that the average age of Porseleinberg's 14 hectares of vineyards is only seven years' old. Showing what Callie Louw calls a "little more crunch" in 2021, this is a Syrah with time on its side. Wild herb aromas of sage, oregano and rosemary introduce you to a palate that's dense yet refined, with lots of whole bunch spice and structure, negligible oak influence, detailed, layered tannins, some underlying grip and layers of dark berry fruit. One of the world's great reds from a very special site.

Dashing Cabernet Sauvignon character, oozing power and panache. Dark berry fruit, crushed rock and iodine minerals infiltrate the succulent core with a spearmint lift to end. *Gold Medal - 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards*

This innovative and always impressive blend of Chenin Blanc and 37% Verdelho comes from five different regions, featuring parcels on granite, sandstone, schist and shale soils. Layered, understated and effortlessly complex, this is savoury, stony and bone dry, all lemongrass, yellow apple and subtle stone fruit flavours with leesy texture and a mouth-watering finish.

Lievland is a historic Stellenbosch estate whose roots stretch back to 1715, making it one of South Africa's oldest wine properties. The estate entered a new chapter in 2017 when José Conde and Tyrrel Myburgh, co-founders of MAN Family Wines, purchased the long-dormant property and undertook an extensive restoration with the goal of returning it to its former stature. Located on the western slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain, Lievland benefits from decomposed granite soils, a Mediterranean climate, and a diverse range of vineyard exposures that produce wines of both richness and freshness.

Whenever people ask for unique gins either to offer as gifts or expand their collections, my first instinct points immediately to Inverroche. The amber especially offers a complex and intriguing profile that you won't find elsewhere. Somewhere between an Old Tom style gin and a barrel aged dry (though there is no wood involved here), it offers all the juniper and floral character of the brand's Classic gin but with added weight, fruit and spice. Golden apples, teak wood, cinnamon, anise, and honey all meld together to create something indescribably satisfying and wonderfully distinct. Though the cocktail applications are nigh endless, I would love to have this in a modified cobbler where it replaces the amontillado.

A supple, creamy and delicious cabernet-driven blend. Notes of blackcurrants, mint chocolate, blueberries and nutmeg follow through to a medium- to full-bodied, ripe and velvety palate. 94% cabernet sauvignon, 3% malbec, 2% merlot and 1% cabernet franc. (CN)

The Paardeberg Grenache was the first that Marelise Niemann made under the Momento label. Sourced from a dry-farmed vineyard on decomposed granite, it's a pithy, stony, chiselled red with some spicy top notes from 30% whole clusters, mouth-watering acidity and crunchy pomegranate and redcurrant flavours.

Elegant, refined and subtle, with a hint of good reduction, supple raspberry and wild strawberry fruit, some clove spice and texture from 10% whole bunches, fine, scented oak and filigree tannins. Graceful and well balanced.

Genteel, refined and elegant with vivid lime citrus and green apple vitality countered by the broad creamy breadth and well-knitted oak. Beautifully long and flinty. *Gold Medal - 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards*

Cap Maritime was established by the acclaimed team behind famed winery Boekenhoutskloof to showcase the remarkable potential of South Africa's cool-climate coastal vineyards, with a focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Sourcing fruit primarily from the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus, the wines benefit from cooling Atlantic breezes and mineral-rich soils that produce exceptional freshness and finesse. Rather than emphasizing richness or overt fruit, Cap Maritime strives for a more restrained, Burgundian-inspired style built around elegance, texture, perfume, and a clear expression of site. Careful vineyard selection and thoughtful, minimalist winemaking allow each bottling to reflect its unique terroir with clarity and nuance. Today, Cap Maritime has earned a reputation as one of South Africa's leading producers of refined, age-worthy Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, demonstrating just how compelling the country's coolest growing regions can be.

Just starting to drink now. Has good flesh and texture. Plenty of depth here. Crisp acidity, elegant, a fine combination of purity, structure and length. Should develop into an exceptional wine given a bit of time in the cellar. Following one of the wettest winters in 24 years, flowering took place in good conditions. Yields were relatively generous at 23.2hl/ha. Matured for 9 months in 228L barrels (56%), 300L barrels (48%) and 4% foudre. (AH)

After making his mark at Groot Constantia, including producing some of the valley’s earliest Sauvignon Blanc, Neil Ellis began sourcing grapes from exceptional sites across the Cape, establishing his own label in 1984 and becoming a leading advocate for the potential of regions such as Elgin and Groenekloof. Today, his son Warren Ellis maintains that philosophy, crafting wines that emphasize freshness, place and balance. The West Coast Sauvignon Blanc is a particularly compelling expression of this approach, sourced from bush vines in the rolling hills of Groenekloof near Darling, where the cooling Benguela Current, persistent southeasterly winds and morning coastal mist create a long, slow ripening season. Fermented cool and aged on its lees, the wine combines ripe passion fruit and melon with citrus, fresh herbs and a subtle saline minerality—a distinctly South African take on Sauvignon Blanc that offers both character and remarkable value.

Gentle aromatics of leafy red fruit and a touch of spicy red pepper. Brilliant acidity with a core of wild strawberry and redcurrant. Powdery, chalky tannins with a fresh and enticing finish.

New Dawn Wines is the personal project of South African winemaker Rüdger van Wyk, whose journey into wine is closely tied to both his upbringing and the broader history of South Africa. He grew up in George, far from the traditional wine regions, in a family that emphasized education to overcome the limitations imposed by apartheid-era inequality. Rüdger van Wyk was first introduced to winemaking as a teenager through his brother, sparking an interest that led him to study at Stellenbosch University and later refine his craft internationally, including time in Burgundy. After nearly a decade producing acclaimed wines at Stark-Condé, he left in 2023 to launch New Dawn Wines as an independent label that reflects creative freedom and a more inclusive vision of South African wine. The winery itself represents a “new dawn” not just personally, but symbolically—aimed at breaking from rigid traditions and making wine more culturally relevant and accessible. This philosophy is especially clear in the Lifestyle Red, which was created in response to the founder’s belief that fine wine had become too expensive and overly formal for everyday enjoyment. This wine blends 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Grenache Noir, 27% Syrah, 11% Cinsaut, and 5% Carignan from certified sustainable Western Cape vineyards to create an expressive but approachable wine.

A distinctive African crème liquor made from the fruit of the wild Marula tree, a favorite treat of the region's majestic elephants. Perfect over ice or in a cocktail, like this Tusk at Dusk:<br> 1 oz Amarula Cream<br> ½ oz rum<br> ½ oz Grand Marnier<br> 1 oz chilled espresso<br> Shake ingredients and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with chocolate shavings.

Direct and approachable, offering aromas of dark fruit with savory and earthy complexity. Medium-bodied, firm and fresh, with a silky texture and a juicy mid-palate. (AS)

Power and precision in the flavours, a touch of tar, rosebuds, pink grapefruit, preserved citrus, star anise, just a ton of flavour and character and grip, it stretches out through the palate, peach pit, with energy and power. Just such a consistently great wine. Matthew Day winemaker, 90ha estate, 18 months in 50% new 500L Hungarian and French oak barrels, followed by 16 months in large oak casks, 168g/h residual sugar. Alcohol 14%.

Established in the mid-1980s, Graham Beck focuses solely these days on Cap Classique (traditional-method sparkling) wines. This 100% Chardonnay vintage bubbly was half barrel-fermented and aged for four years on lees in bottle before disgorgement. It offers a creamy brioche depth, lively acidity and a purity of apple, pear and lemon citrus fruit. (AW)

Made by famed winemaker Duncan Savage of Savage Wines, the Salt River Sauvignon Blanc is a blend of five different vineyard sites located around Stellenbosch. The anchor of the wine is the now a 35-year-old bush vine vineyard grown on the slopes of Bottelary. The other components are trellised and bush vine vineyards, with various different aspects, planted in granitic soil. These vineyards have combined exceptionally well in creating the saline mineral style of Sauvignon.

The meatiest and most concentrated of the three single-vineyard syrahs, this has notes of bacon fat, peppercorns, black olives and brambleberries. It’s medium- to full-bodied, broad and firm, with fine and chewy tannins. Still tightly wound. From a vineyard planted in 1988. 100% crushed whole-cluster fermentation.

Fermented with 100% whole clusters, like all of the site-specific Mullineux Syrah, this is the most intense, backward and well-structured of the trio. Serious, compact and concentrated, it's a red that wouldn't look out of place in Cornas, with violet aromas, damson and blackberry fruit, sturdy tannins and the freshness and focus of a cool vintage.

Founded by Jeremy and Emma Borg, Painted Wolf is a South African project that directs part of its proceeds toward African wild dog conservation. "The Den" is the winery's accessible range, and this Pinotage is labeled for the broader Coastal Region appellation.

A great addition to the gin selection because it adds a new exciting and delicious taste experience. The Verdant has a light translucent green color. In the nose it has classic juniper and botanical aromas. In the mouth it becomes very interesting with a creamy mouthfeel with licorice and botanical flavors that come together to produce a unique and lovely gin. Inverroche recommends it to be mixed with tonic and a twist.