Search results for: south africa
Why South Africa’s wines are ageworthy
Peter Ranscombe gets a sneaky peak at bottles from South Africa going under the hammer at the Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction. FEW wine-making countries have such a dual persona in Scottish shops as South Africa. Look in a supermarket and South African bottles are often regulated to the bargain basement shelves. Yet delve…
Read MoreContrasting life in South Africa and a Scottish island
Ardnish is the third in Angus MacDonald’s trilogy. It follows the final days of old veteran Donald John Gillies as he lies on his deathbed with pneumonia, reflecting on the hardships he faced during the Boer War. Much time is spent flitting between South Africa in the 1900s and Ardnish in 1944, where an unexpected…
Read MoreThere’s more to South Africa than pinotage and chenin
Two online wine tastings remind Peter Ranscombe about the diversity of South Africa’s grapes. THINK South Africa, think pinotage, the weird offspring of cinsault and pinot noir that’s become the country’s flagship red. Or perhaps it’s chenin blanc that springs to mind, the Loire stalwart that’s found a new lease of life in the Cape.…
Read MoreSeven South African wines you need to try
Peter Ranscombe revisits some of his recent favourites from South Africa as the country’s alcohol ban shifts direction once more. YESTERDAY’S news that the South African government has lifted parts of its alcohol sales ban will provide some relief for wine producers. Yet – as winemaker Bruce Jack warned in a recent article for The…
Read More12 Wines of Christmas: South Africa
In the latest instalment in his “12 Wines of Christmas” series, Peter Ranscombe looks at KWV’s top wines from South Africa. QUANTITY and quality don’t necessarily have to sit at opposite ends of the spectrum. As we saw with Paul Mas’ operations in the south of France, it’s possible to produce quality wines in large…
Read MoreArmchair exploring: Supporting South African wines
As South Africa lifts its ban on wine exports – again – Peter Ranscombe picks bottles to kick-start some armchair exploring. FEW countries have had such an intense rollercoaster ride through the lockdown as South Africa. First wine exports were banned. Then they were allowed again. Then they were banned again. Last week’s news that exports…
Read MoreRoobois Tea Milk Tart at Bushmans Kloof’s, South Africa
Nestled deep in the Cederberg Mountains is Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat. Set within 7,000 hectares of flora and fauna, the property is home to crystal-clear waterfalls and the world’s largest outdoor gallery, with over 130 ancient rock art sites dating back 10,000 years which has earned it a South African National Heritage…
Read MoreHow a Scotsman took cricket to South Africa
In 1877, young Scotsman James Douglas Logan emigrated to South Africa. Within a few years he had made his fortune through business, politics and his association with the most favoured of imperial pastimes – cricket. This is the fascinating story of how Logan, the son of a Borders railwayman, was instrumental in the development of…
Read MoreAge-worthy South African wines go under the hammer
Peter Ranscombe gets a sneak peak at a collection of older South African wines going up for auction at Christie’s in London this week. ASK different drinkers about how they perceive wines from South Africa and you’ll get a host of different answers. Some will praise the weird and wacky low-intervention wines produced in the…
Read MoreSouth Africa’s old vines: in the ground and in the glass
Protecting old vines in South Africa not only reaps benefits during water shortages but also pays dividends for drinkers, as Peter Ranscombe reports. AS SOON as you land at Cape Town airport, it’s impossible not to be struck by how much the recent water shortages have hit the city, with posters inside the terminal warning…
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