Welcome to Cape Chatter

Welcome, wine lovers and do-gooders alike! Today, we're raising our glasses to a cause that's close to our hearts: wine for good in South Africa's vibrant wine industry. Get ready to uncork the magic of giving back while enjoying the finest wines that Wellington in the Western Cape, has to offer!

If your inner voice didn’t automatically respond “Awethu!” to that headline, then you’ve not been around South African struggle politics or political demonstrations much.

70 kilometres east of Cape Town, the landscape changes dramatically over the boundary of Sir Lowry’s Pass. Into the heart of ancient sandstone Hottentots Holland mountains, the hills start to shade in greener. The abundant nature and veritable forests of fynbos are thanks to the surrounding Kogelberg Biosphere, a UNESCO World Heritage site. At the centre of this 3000-hectare nature reserve Elgin’s vineyards correspondingly adhere to sustainable practices; such as the Biodiversity Wine Initiative (BWI) scheme as well as the Integrated Production of Wine system (IPW). The 20 estates all have an overarching commitment to eco-friendly viticulture.

‘Where is the Karoo?’ One might ask this question, as there is no exact definition; generally, this arid to semi-arid region covers part of the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape Provinces.

Perspective is, according to the Oxford Dictionary, “a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view”. Recently, accompanying a group of 15 American wine enthusiasts, all members of the Napa Valley Wine School, provided an interesting view of something that we, as South African wine lovers and consumers, almost overlook every time a bottle is opened. And that’s the sustainability seal, that little green protea graphic with a bunch of numbers which is affixed to every bottle of South African wine and what it means.

SIPPING WITH PURPOSE | Fairtrade Wines and the Top 4 Karoo Delights in the Western Cape to enjoy them at!

Carve up from Cape Town along the storied Route 62 and watch as the landscape stacks ever skyward, the mountains scaling up as the road whips through. These ancient monoliths are some of the highest in the Western Cape and inform the viticulture here. The soils crumble down, Table Mountain sandstone, granite, Bokkeveld shale. They command the weather too, casting rain shadows, directing cloud formation. The rocky curves twist and fold along the river creating pockets, valleys and kloofs, little oases for vineyards in this otherwise dry, desert region.

Many of the Cape’s vineyards claim to be ‘within sight of the sea’; few lie as close to the sea’s edge as those of Fryer’s Cove, a mere 500 metres from the Atlantic Ocean in the West Coast’s Doring Bay.

Hey wine enthusiasts, gather around because it's time to celebrate a special occasion - South Africa's Wine Birthday! That's right, this vibrant nation has been producing delicious wines for centuries, and what better way to honour this tradition than by raising a glass (or two) in celebration? If you're looking to indulge in some exceptional wine experiences, the picturesque West Coast of Cape Town is where you need to be!

Look right, look left – and look right again. That was always the advice drilled into children before crossing the road.

“Terroir exists in the skins and the stalks,” asserts Dan Colombo when asked about terroir versus technique when it comes to skin-contact, oxidative wines. This is the first time the young winemaker (just over the edge of 30), is showing his full line-up of wines in one sitting. The eponymous range are all minimalist, texture-driven, skin-contact wines. Colombo says he keeps the sense of site intact by extracting whole bunches ‘very lightly’.

The beauty of the winelands delights all who visit the Cape; it’s a beauty distinctive to each area, making it unnecessarily difficult to pick a favourite.

The Western Cape of South Africa is known for its beautiful scenery, warm weather, and of course, delicious wine. The wine industry in the Western Cape dates back to the 17th century when the Dutch East India Company established a refreshment station at the Cape. They quickly realized the potential for wine production due to the Mediterranean-like climate and rich soils.

The festive season for South African sparkling wine producers is usually shorter than some of their still wine making compatriots. While some winemakers are still standing ankle-deep in beach sand with a fishing rod in hand, enjoying well-deserved time off, others have to pack up the bikes and boogie boards to get back to the winery. That’s because the grapes destined for Cap Classique need to be picked earlier than Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay or Merlot. The first week in January is when the first bunches are snipped from the vines – and already social media has reflected photos of the first truck loads of grapes making it to the winery.