morning session
Rosé
South African Rosé wines continue to gain recognition for their quality and clarity of expression, with a growing focus on varietal-driven styles made predominantly from a single grape variety. Produced across key regions such as Stellenbosch, Robertson, Franschhoek and the Coastal Region, these Rosés showcase how grape choice and site influence freshness, texture and flavour profile. From Pinotage- and Cinsault-based examples to Grenache, Pinot Noir and Blanc de Noir styles, the wines highlight bright fruit purity, balanced acidity and a dry, food-friendly structure. Together, they reflect a modern South African Rosé identity—precise, expressive and rooted in both vineyard character and thoughtful winemaking.
No/Low Alcohol Wines
– Flavour without the buzz - The world of wine is embracing a vibrant new chapter with the rise of low and no-alcohol wines, a category that’s gaining momentum among discerning drinkers. Once a niche novelty, these innovative wines are now captivating a global audience seeking flavour without the buzz. Crafted with cutting-edge techniques, they deliver the complexity and elegance of traditional wines while catering to health-conscious and sober-curious lifestyles. This tasting table showcases the best of this emerging category, inviting you to explore a fresh, flavourful frontier in wine that’s redefining enjoyment for all.
Grenache Noir and Cinsault
South Africa’s expressions of Grenache Noir and Cinsault reflect a renewed focus on heritage varieties, old bush-vine vineyards and site-driven winemaking. Drawn from regions such as Swartland, Piekenierskloof, Stellenbosch and the Cape West Coast, these wines showcase the suitability of Mediterranean cultivars to the Cape’s diverse soils and dry-farmed conditions. Freshness from maritime and high-altitude sites balances natural fruit purity, while a restrained, minimal-intervention approach highlights elegance, finesse and terroir.
High Altitude Vineyards
These South African wines come from high-altitude vineyards, generally planted at 500 m above sea level or higher, where cooler conditions and marked day–night temperature shifts significantly influence grape development. Slower ripening at altitude helps retain natural acidity while promoting aromatic clarity and flavour concentration, and increased UV exposure contributes to thicker grape skins, enhancing colour, structure and phenolic depth. Together, these factors create wines with freshness, precision and a distinctive sense of place, clearly reflecting the unique mountainous terroirs from which they originate.
afternoon session
Cap Classique
Cap Classique is South Africa’s bottle fermented sparkling wine made in the traditional method, celebrated for its finesse, precision and sense of place. Crafted with the same time honoured techniques used in the world’s great sparkling wine regions, it undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle, developing fine bubbles, layered complexity and a signature biscuity richness. Long lees ageing adds depth and texture, while the country’s diverse terroirs bring vibrant fruit expression and natural freshness. Cap Classique is represented in 5 different styles, namely: Brut, Brut Rose, Blanc de Blancs and Prestige Cuvee.
Old Vine Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc is a cornerstone of South Africa’s old vine heritage, with many of the country’s most treasured vineyards reflecting decades of dedication and care. Old vine Chenin Blanc wines offer remarkable depth and expression, shaped by resilient vines and a profound sense of place. These wines are celebrated for their natural balance, textured palate, and ability to express both freshness and complexity. The Old Vine Project and the Chenin Blanc Association have played a pivotal role in advancing the category through research, education, and global advocacy, championing Chenin Blanc’s diversity of styles and reinforcing South Africa’s position as a world leader in old vine Chenin Blanc.
Old Vine Varieties
Wines crafted from old vines have become one of the most compelling stories in the global wine landscape. These vineyards stand as living testaments to a grower’s deep connection to the land and a commitment nurtured over generations. South Africa is uniquely positioned as the only wine-producing country where old vine vineyards can be formally certified through the Old Vine Project (OVP). The Certified Heritage Vineyards seal reflects the planting date of the vines, verified through the South African Wine Industry Information Systems (SAWIS) database, with records dating back to 1900. With 46 different old vine varieties in South Africa, there is a rich heritage and remarkable diversity to celebrate. Old vines possess a remarkable ability to produce wines of depth and character, offering layered texture, complexity, and an inherent sense of freshness.???????
Fairtrade Wine – Trade That Creates Lasting Value
Fairtrade is an internationally recognised certification system that promotes more equitable trade relationships, sustainable farming, and improved livelihoods for workers and producers. In the wine sector, Fairtrade certification ensures that grapes are grown and wines are produced under rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards.
Fairtrade-certified wines support decent working conditions, fair wages, and the payment of a Fairtrade Premium — an additional sum invested by workers or producers in projects of their choice, such as education, healthcare, skills development, and community infrastructure. Environmental stewardship is central, with strict requirements on agrochemical use, soil and water management, and the promotion of safer, more sustainable viticulture practices.
For buyers, Fairtrade offers assurance of responsible sourcing, transparency across the supply chain, and credible impact aligned with ESG and sustainability commitments. For producers and workers, it provides long-term market access, stronger resilience, and a shared stake in the success of the wine value chain.
Fairtrade Africa represents certified producers and workers across the continent, including South Africa’s world-class wine industry, connecting ethical production with global markets and conscious consumers.