Michael Ratcliffe, Chairperson of the Stellenbosch Wine Routes board is extremely upbeat about the Western Cape’s wine tourism prospects. “The wine industry is in a state of improvement. It is building credibility and a premium positioning. I’d say 50% of producers are making money and the top 10% have never had it so good. The reality is the world needs more wine brands, not more wine. So, we’re on the right track as far as that is concerned. Now, the wine tourism sector needs to catch up. Currently, we’re like a dog chasing a car. Once the dog’s caught up to the car, something needs to happe ..read more

At both Vinexpo Paris and ProWein, the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) captured the industry’s attention. With AI’s presence in marketing, packaging design and even winemaking becoming evident, the consensus seems to be clear: there is no escaping the ‘ghost in the machine’. But professionals would be wise to read the manual on how to tame it. At Vinexpo Paris 2024, three sessions focused on the subject of AI. Thomas Fournier, chief digital officer at Hopscotch Sopexa, talked about BarGPT, an app that uses AI to create visuals and recipes for new cocktails. Does this supplant ..read more

Leanne Beattie is a content creator and social media freelancer who advises on everything from strategy to writing and even photography for digital platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), YouTube and WordPress. She has extensive experience in web design, journalism and freelance writing, photography, social media management and design. Leanne’s started Manage My Blog (now Instaseed) in 2011, consulting with brands for social media management and public relations. In 2016 she also began blogging at The Wine Girl Cape Town, which was named one of the top 20 wine blogs in South ..read more

Norman Goodfellows (NGF), South Africa’s leading premium liquor retailer, has acquired a substantial interest in Port2Port.wine, the nation’s largest online fine wine & spirits marketplace. This strategic acquisition promises to bring together the expertise and reach of two industry powerhouses to greatly benefit the liquor buying experience of consumers across South Africa. Port2Port.wine will continue to operate as an independent brand under its current management team, headed by Nicolò Pudel. Port2Port.wine will continue to operate as an independent brand under its current management t ..read more

Abstract A long-term trial was conducted in commercial vineyards in the Coastal region of South Africa to assess the impact of irrigation with treated municipal wastewater (TMW) on Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon blanc vineyards. Grapevines were irrigated using TMW for 11 years. The grapevines were either rainfed (RF), irrigated with TMW via a single dripper line (SLD) or received twice the volume of wastewater via a double dripper line (DLD). Yield responses and juice characteristics were measured from the 2013/14 to 2017/18 seasons. Although high amounts of K+, Na+, and Cl- were applied via ..read more

Entries for the 2024 Diners Club Winelist Awards have officially opened, and licensed restaurants throughout South Africa have until 16:00 on 27 June to submit their entries. The Diners Club Winelist Awards, which have honoured the best wine lists in the country for three decades, have become a benchmark for excellence. Highly regarded by both the restaurant and wine industries, these annual awards inspire and reward food and wine‐serving establishments that consistently aim to improve the standard of the wine lists presented to their patrons. Each year, restaurants are offered a golden opport ..read more

The Klein Karoo town of Calitzdorp once again shines a light on its reputation as a leading producer of wines and spirits when the Calitzdorp Expressed Festival takes place in June. For Boplaas, it also means showcasing an exceptional natural environment. The family-owned wine farm and distillery has been under Nel custodianship for six generations. It has seen first-hand the importance of caring for the land – not only to produce healthy wine grapes, but also for the sake of a thriving ecosystem. The point is well-made this month in which Earth Day – a reminder of the importance of environmen ..read more

This May, Samara Karoo Reserve is partnering with two celebrated South African winemakers to offer two unforgettable Cheetahs & Cultivars Wine in the Wilderness weekends, expressly curated for those who appreciate both the delights of safari and the sophistication of an expertly crafted wine. Spend two nights at Samara’s recently redesigned Karoo Lodge at R6 550 per person per night (with an optional 3rd night at a 50% discount) for the: Cheetahs & Shiraz Weekend – 17-19 May 2024: featuring one of South Africa’s pre-eminent Shiraz specialists Dewaldt Heyns, member of the Winemakers’ G ..read more

The wineries of South Africa’s City of Oaks have embarked on a tree planting campaign in the wake of a devastating storm earlier this month. Under the leadership of Stellenbosch Wine Routes, a commitment has been made to plant over 1000 trees this year to restore the landscape which was dramatically affected for future generations. Preference is being given to Turkish, Pin and Water Oak trees. The storm not only swept across the town and farmlands, but also led to a fire that razed the historic Manor House and Jonkershuis at Blaauwklippen, notable for its cultural heritage and architectural si ..read more

Free Flow Wines proudly announces the launch of its new website, designed to look modern, professional, and to elevate the user experience. With a commitment to quality, service, innovation and sustainability, Free Flow Wines is thrilled to unveil a digital platform that integrates convenience with an intuitive journey into the world of wine kegging, wine on tap draft equipment and availability, and the benefits of reusable wine packaging. The new website merges the tools and resources from Free Flow’s former educational website, www.TryWineOnTap.com, under the Free Flow brand. The combined we ..read more