By the end of the 20th century, Caperitif had become a ghost ingredient in classic cocktail recipes. What was this mysterious ‘Cape Aperitif’ that was referenced in that classic cocktail bible from the late 1800’s, the Savoy Cocktail Book? This question asked by an adventurous Danish mixologist lead to a meeting with a maverick South African winemaker and the rebirth of South Africa’s once-famous vermouth. Caperitif is handcrafted by infusing Chenin Blanc with the flavours and aromas of some 35 natural botanicals, many of which are unique to the insane biodiversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom.

Partly skin contact, partly carbonic maceration, Adi previously used to blend these funkier components into the straight Secateurs, but in the last few vintages, they've chosen to bottle them alone to create Secateurs Riviera Adi highlights that whilst skin contact Chenin can sometimes be quite harsh, tannin dominant and linear, the carbonic maceration creates the most highly aromatic juice, loaded with luscious pineapple and tropical aromas. They layer whole bunches at the bottom of the tank, then destemmed, with the free run juice drawn off daily. A little cloudy in the glass, but no notes of anything too funky or unclean! Bruised peaches, effervescent vitamin c, rhubarb and custard sweets, earl grey tea and lemon barley water. Such fun! Chalky and long in the mouth, we can imagine it would be superb with crudo/ ceviche. Chalky and very long.

Named after a very rare special fynbos from the region. This is a superb Rhone style blend. Purple in colour, opulent on the nose with dark fruits, violets, and smoke. Rich, subtle, and spicy on the palate.

100% Chenin Blanc from two parcels, 60% from a block in the Paardeberg (Swartland) and 40% from the Polkadraai hills of Stellenbosch. Both parcels are grown on Granite soils. The combination of these parcels brings together the best of both regions and makes an incredibly sophisticated wine that is also generous and meets all hopes and expectation. The Paardeberg portion is from a bush vine vineyard planted on decomposed granite giving the wine its elegance, finesse, and focus. The portion from the Polkadraai is planted on Granite and lends characteristics of yellow fruit and depth to the wine. In the cellar The parcels are vinified separately before being blended just before bottling. Grapes were destemmed, pressed, and left overnight to settle in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then racked to 3rd fill 500-liter French oak the next morning. The wine spent 10 months on its primary lees without any batonage before being blended and bottled. No commercial yeast or enzymes were used during the winemaking process. ANALYSIS: ALC 13% | TA 6.1g/L | pH 3.34

Aromatic guava and orange blossom jump from the glass – this Chenin Blanc is off dry with ripe apples, peaches and a hint of orange peel on the palate. The elegant crisp finish makes this a fantastic wine for all occasions. The fruit for Aloe Tree hails from the increasingly fashionable west coast of the Cape. Cool nights and sea breezes combine to extend the growing season, resulting in perfectly balanced, ripe grapes. The iconic Aloe Tree image is sure to be familiar to anyone who has travelled widely through the Cape and is an important part of the biodiversity which South Africa is famous for. The characteristic silhouette provides a backdrop to one of the most spectacular wine regions in the world where wines grow in harmony with the thousands of plant species that make up the Cape Floral Kingdom. Chenin blanc is well adapted for various soil types, but our premium grapes are grown on medium to lower potential soils. Yield levels are limited by winter pruning and by removing shoots and leaving two or three shoots per spur during early spring. Canopy management is required as it plays a major role in yield and quality to ensure an optimum microclimate within the canopy. With its vigorous growth, medium-sized trellises are required and shoot positioning are done to maximize canopy surface. Grapes are harvested at a minimum of 21.5°Brix, but we aim for 22°Brix. Once the Chenin Blanc grapes are harvested, they arrive at the winery where the fruit is gently pressed and only the free run juice is used. Using selected yeasts the juice then undergoes cold fermentation at 14 degrees Celsius for 2 weeks before lying on the lees for 3 months.

Star-bright pale straw with some green tinges, thin watery rim. Forthcoming nose, with green pepper, asparagus, tropical fruit. Fresh and green. Dry entry, crisp acidity. The green flavours follow through, but there are also some tropical fruit notes and some minerality on the mid-palate. Long and zesty finish A fresh, satisfying and typical sauvignon blanc, drinking well now. Versatile

Duncan Savage matriculated at Rondebosch Boys High School in 1995. In 2016. Savage Wines was set up in the heart of Cape Town in Salt River. Vineyards for his wines are leased and grapes sourced from around the Western Cape, maritime in nature where possible. Granitic soil is the focus. "The 2021 White has no Chenin Blanc in this blend so reverts back to the Sauvignon/Semillon blend, the former from the Rupert family; a spontaneous ferment with a judicious 10-20% new 500-liter oak. It has a drop dead gorgeous bouquet with yellow fruit, lanolin and peach skin, quite pithy in style with just a touch of reduction. The palate is well balanced with a lively, slightly peppery entry, the Semillon expressive and dictating the ginger-tinged finish. It just grows with aeration - an outstanding white from Duncan Savage". Drinking Window: 2023 - 2038 Neal Martin 96/100, Vinous Media

Franco Lourens spent some years working with the great Chris Alheit before settling to focus entirely on his own range of wines. This is a breathtakingly self-assured range and almost in the blink of an eye places Franco into the very top bracket of top-end New Wave SA producers. Franco is a leading light of South Africa’s New Wave and champion of old-vine Chenin, among others. He is inevitably set to join the likes of Chris Alheit, Eben Sadie, Adi Badenhorst, Duncan Savage et alia in the shimmering constellation of New Wave South African stars. BUT - and here's the rub - since Franco is still relatively unknown, the prices do not yet reflect how sensational the wines really are. Since mid-2020 Franco has shared cellar space with another great new vigneron Lukas van Loggerenberg in Paarl. "35% Verdelho, 21% Chenin Blanc, 19% Colombar, 18% Grenache Blanc (five days skin contact) and 7% Palomino – sourced variously from Stellenbosch, Swartland and Piekenierskloof. Expressive aromatics of pear, peach and citrus plus floral perfume and hay while the palate has good fruit definition, well integrated acidity and a gently savoury finish, some light phenolic grip adding interest. Subtle and intricate". 94/100 winemag.co.za

Franco Lourens spent some years working with the great Chris Alheit before settling to focus entirely on his own range of wines. This is a breathtakingly self-assured range and almost in the blink of an eye places Franco into the very top bracket of top-end New Wave SA producers. Franco is a leading light of South Africa’s New Wave and champion of old-vine Chenin, among others. He is inevitably set to join the likes of Chris Alheit, Eben Sadie, Adi Badenhorst, Duncan Savage et alia in the shimmering constellation of New Wave South African stars. BUT - and here's the rub - since Franco is still relatively unknown, the prices do not yet reflect how sensational the wines really are. Since mid-2020 Franco has shared cellar space with another great new vigneron Lukas van Loggerenberg in Paarl. "50% Grenache Noir (25% whole-bunch fermented), 30% Cinsault and 20% Syrah (100% whole-bunch fermented), all grapes sourced from the Swartland. Enticing aromatics of red berries, floral perfume, herbs and spice while the palate is wonderfully energetic – pure fruit, really bright acidity and powdery tannins, the finish having a saline quality. This is nicely weighted with an alcohol of 13% – not too slight but still elegant". 95/100 winemag.co.za

Ripe plums, mulberry, cherry blossom, and violet aroma while infused with subtle hints of cinnamon and sweet spices. The palate is gentle and the tannins fresh but rounded.

White grapefruit, intense tropical fruit, ripe gooseberry and fleshy kiwi fruit over-lay Iona's distinctive herbal and floral undertones. The palate is keenly balanced showing cut green apples and lime marmalade followed by great minerality and length. Vegan.

This Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is vibrant ruby red colour, and combines aromas of ripe blackcurrants with flavours of juicy plum on the palate with smooth tannins and a rich long finish.

South Africa’s celebrated Gottfried Mocke made legendary chardonnay in his time at Cape Chamoix. He now makes this wine at the famous Boekenhoutskloof estate using superb-quality fruit sourced from near neighbours. The result is a classic example of cool-climate chardonnay, refined and with an uplifting saline note while still maintaining a generous texture on the palate. Cap Maritime sits perched on top of a ridge separating the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde appellation from the Valley, one of the most exciting places to grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in South Africa. The wine shows layers of green apple and citrus fruits. Judicious use of French oak seamlessly brings together aromas and palate with a gentle spice that makes this an utterly moreish Chardonnay.

No Place Like Home is the second single-origin Syrah to join the Minimalist Wine family. It is a clear and complex expression of the cool-climate Elgin Valley and sits alongside Stars In The Dark, our tribute to the rugged terroir of Cape Agulhas. The grapes all come from Niemandsrivier, a beautiful 3 hectare vineyard in Elgin that we lease from Johan and Milanie Vosloo and farm ourselves. Planted in 2006, it features three clones on a geographically complex mix of Sandstone and Shale soils and is the perfect canvas to produce fine wines. Vines located in the same block can react to their environment in unique ways and No Place Like Home is an exploration of the variation that exists within a single vineyard. Using a mix of drone technology (with a Near Infrared Camera flying 80m above the vineyard) and good, old-fashioned soil analysis, we identified four distinct pockets across the 3 hectare parcel, then harvested and fermented them separately before marrying them together. It has been fascinating to observe all the micro-differences in a small site like ours and the extent to which they can each impact flavour profile. No Place Like Home is a meticulous blend of four distinctly different wines produced from one 3ha block and the result is the finest expression of the vineyard’s complexity and intensity. The Wine Home might be Elgin but the upfront kick of white pepper and cardamom takes us straight to an Indian Spice Bazaar. Its complex combinations ebbing and flowing, with pretty florals morphing into cherry, leather and bacon fat. On entry, it is all about coated red fruit, followed by a savoury mid-palate that finishes strong with distinct white pepper. Structurally, with its vibrant cool-climate acidity and fine-grained tannin, it has the potential to be one of our longest-lived wines, so patient drinkers can expect to be rewarded generously!

Both Organic and Fairtrade. The Sauvignon brings herbaceous and lime notes, and a zingy citrus acidity. The Chenin Blanc adds a fruity mid palate of stone fruit and guava.

Fairly simple cherry and redcurrant aromas lead to blackcurrants and plums in the mouth, with refreshing acidity and a line of bitterness on the back palate. The grapes were whole-bunch pressed, which perhaps adds that greeness underneath the ripe fruit. A more structured, tannic wine than initially expected, but with lovely fruit - delicious wine.

Cool climate freshness and fragrant sweet, ripe cherry and blackberry flavours, with firm, ripe tannins. Blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Mouvedre, Viognier. Drinking well now and suitable for cellaring for at least 10 years.

This baby wine of SA's most famed grand Bordeaux-blend Rubicon is on astonishing form. In fact as no Rubicon was made in 2019 this wine contains all the top barrels that would normally be reserved for it. 50% new Nevers oak, 27% Cab Franc. Dense but taut with cab franc lift, pencil lead, capsicum, the whole spectrum of Cabernet class at a crazy good price.

Easy to drink, fresh and crisp chardonnay. A good choice for people who prefer lighter and less bodied chardonnays.

This classic Cabernet shows inviting flavours of blackberry, with hints of cocoa, almond and cedar. A full-bodied wine with excellent balance on the palate and a smooth lingering aftertaste, it just cries out for some lamb or beef steak. Really delicious.

Refreshing dry rosé from South Africa. Hugely quaffable.

A delicious wine with bright, crunchy cherry and raspberry aromatics. Fresh, sleek mouthfeel and vivacity.

MCC = Methode Cap Classique, the South African term for sparkling wine produced in the traditional method, as in Champagne.

Mostly Chenin, old vine low yield, unoaked. Limpid, whistle-clean, green apple, elderflower. Fine-textured fish wine. Super value.

Named in honour of the ancient vilafonté soils that make up the estate at 1.5m years old, one of the oldest documented soil types in the world where the vines for this wine have been growing for almost two decades. A Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Just 330 barrels produced of this stunning wine. Layers of fresh plum, black cherry, baking spice and vanilla pod. Lovely mineral notes with a lingering finish. A line of acidity giving real tension to the whole wine.

The Rosé 2020 is a silky-smooth wine crafted from Swartland Cinsault by the legendary Adi Badenhorst. A crisp combo of wild strawberry, plum sorbet, tangy redcurrants, mint leaf and sea spray will have you wanting to stock up for summer. We love cans. There’s no corkscrew needed, no pressure to finish a whole bottle, no chance of finding it corked, and being lighter and easier to recycle, it’s much better for the environment. They’re also perfect for a weekday treat, a picnic in the park, or adding a splash to dinner while leaving enough for a glass for yourself. "Canned wine has gone seriously next-level". Victoria Moore, The Telegraph

Meerlust, one of the Cape's most historic wine estates, originally planted in 1693. In 1756, it was purchased by the first Myburgh and has been the pride of the family ever since. Today, after seven generations, Hannes Myburgh, the present owner, continue the great family tradition of wine making. This is a juicy, opulent and rich wine that is a perfect example of the variety.

One of our entry-point wines that offers exceptional value and quality, it comes from the Riebeek Valley in Swartland and is a modern style of Chenin Blanc. The nose is packed with aromas of apples and guava which are echoed on the palate together with some fresh acidity.

Barrel fermented. Pale yellow with green hints; bruised apple. Quite fleshy ripe fruit with teasing juicy acidity. Lots of texture and length. Ripe stone fruits and mouth watering long finish. Wine Merchant Top 100

The wine has a bright hue with a golden straw colour. It displays a refreshing nose of bright pear and peach blossoms with subtle lemon meringue and notes of freshly rolled oats. A full-bodied wine with great palate tension. Crisp apple and chalky citrus are infused with mild layers of Crème Brulé, spun sugar and floral potpourri. The flavours are vibrant, and the finish refined

Bursting with dark berry flavours of blackberry, dark cherry and plums, this Shiraz has soft and supple tannins and a white pepper finish. The fruit for Aloe Tree hails from the increasingly fashionable west coast of the Cape. Cool nights and sea breezes combine to extend the growing season, resulting in perfectly balanced, ripe grapes. The iconic Aloe Tree image is sure to be familiar to anyone who has travelled widely through the Cape and is an important part of the biodiversity which South Africa is famous for. The characteristic silhouette provides a backdrop to one of the most spectacular wine regions in the world where wines grow in harmony with the thousands of plant species that make up the Cape Floral Kingdom. The grapes come from selected vineyard blocks on the west coast. The extra warmth in this area helps develop the full body and ripe flavours of this variety. The vines are planted on Karoo clay soils that add body and texture to the wine. The vines ages vary from 10 to 25 years old. Once the grapes arrive at the winery, the fruit is gently pressed and only the free run juice is used. Using selected yeasts the juice then undergoes fermentation at between 18-22 degrees Celsius for 5 days. Because of the depth of flavour, it requires less oak treatment compared to other grape varieties and matures on French oak for 3 months to improve body and texture. During fermentation the wine is pumped over 3 times a day for colour extraction.

Aromatic guava and orange blossom jump from the glass – this Chenin Blanc is off dry with ripe apples, peaches and a hint of orange peel on the palate. The elegant crisp finish makes this a fantastic wine for all occasions. The fruit for Aloe Tree hails from the increasingly fashionable west coast of the Cape. Cool nights and sea breezes combine to extend the growing season, resulting in perfectly balanced, ripe grapes. The iconic Aloe Tree image is sure to be familiar to anyone who has travelled widely through the Cape and is an important part of the biodiversity which South Africa is famous for. The characteristic silhouette provides a backdrop to one of the most spectacular wine regions in the world where wines grow in harmony with the thousands of plant species that make up the Cape Floral Kingdom. Chenin blanc is well adapted for various soil types, but our premium grapes are grown on medium to lower potential soils. Yield levels are limited by winter pruning and by removing shoots and leaving two or three shoots per spur during early spring. Canopy management is required as it plays a major role in yield and quality to ensure an optimum microclimate within the canopy. With its vigorous growth, medium-sized trellises are required and shoot positioning are done to maximize canopy surface. Grapes are harvested at a minimum of 21.5°Brix, but we aim for 22°Brix. Once the Chenin Blanc grapes are harvested, they arrive at the winery where the fruit is gently pressed and only the free run juice is used. Using selected yeasts the juice then undergoes cold fermentation at 14 degrees Celsius for 2 weeks before lying on the lees for 3 months.

One of our entry-point wines that offers exceptional value and quality. Light ruby with an inviting nose of raspberry and plum, the silky texture is really admirable. Easy to enjoy on its own but enough body to be versatile with all manner of dishes.

V attractive aromas. Toasty but not excessive. Elegant on the palate. Precise stone fruit. Restraint of alcohol. Chiselled minerality. Touch of coconut on the finish.

The 2019 Pinotage boasts an excellent deep colour, ripe berries and plums, smoky eucalyptus and gentle leather on the nose. Intensely ripe brambles and brioche with a good mouth-feel and lingering aftertaste. . Lovely. And will improve. Great value for money. Nobody’s been bottling Pinotage longer than Lanzerac and this wine shows a wealth of experience with this proudly South African variety. With 5 to 10 years’ maturation this wine will start to acquire the velvet density and luxurious chocolate and caramel flavours of its very early Lanzerac predecessors. A full-bodied, complex wine with a beautiful balance between fruit and wood showcasing a good tannin structure that will allow it to age extremely well.

A variety becoming more and more popular in the Cape thanks to it's drought resistant nature. This is a light, strawberry scented style. Hugely quaffable.

The John X Merriman is a powerful wine that rewards aging. In its youth the wine is worth decanting and expresses cassis, black currant and dark fruits complemented with cigar tobacco and sour cherrynotes. As the wine ages and its fine grained tannins soften a softer more savoury palate develops revealing wonderful drinkability and tertiary complexity.

Rustenberg is a well-known producer of high quality Chardonnays; the Stellenbosch Chardonnay embodies their house style. Apricot, coconut and orange peel aromas followed by flavours of marzipan, sponge cake and citrus rounded off with carefully-judged oak and balanced, fresh acidity.

Shiraz is a variety chosen for its property of expressing a sense of place, and in this instance, vineyards surrounding Waterford in Stellenbosch. No new wood is used in the making of this wine, using 225L Old French oak barrels, 4th fill and older. Whole berry fermentation and soft extraction methods (pumpovers only) have brought out the purity in the wine. Concentrated red and dark fruit with warm earthy aromatics can be found in this Stellenbosch Shiraz, accompanied by plum fruit and leather spice undertones.

Easy to drink, fresh and crisp chardonnay. A good choice for people who prefer lighter and less bodied chardonnays.