Run by two brothers who are perpetuating their peasant father?s dream of natural wines ? which they have taken to an evangelical, bio-dynamic platform. The brothers Bernard and Frederic Duseigneur operate their 30 hectares from the family home in Lirac, which incorporates the gravity-based winery that their father built. The family are Pieds Noirs, their father having left North Africa at the time of the civil war in 1962. They regard the Rhône as ‘extreme country’; the heat, the cold, the winds etc. This is a tough climate to tame. There is need to lessen some of these extremes ? like planting vines north/south to accommodate the Mistral, and to lessen the sun’s intensity. They pursue bio-dynamic principles in their endeavour to stay in contact with nature.

A pale green Sauvignon Blanc from a large estate that specialises in ecologically sustainable farming. The nose shows hints of grass, fresh herbs and tropical fruits, which follow through to the medium-bodied, well balanced palate. Excellent as an aperitif wine, or as a partner to most seafood dishes and goat’s cheese.

The grapes for this wine were sourced from a prime location adjacent to the celebrated Thelema Mountain Vineyards. Whilst the quality of this zesty Sauvignon is comparable to this famous winery, the status is not, and it is therefore aptly named ‘Zondernaam’ meaning ‘no name’. Fortunately, the prices aren’t comparable either, so take advantage.

A Bordeaux style of wine. Red and black fruits on the nose and palate, with hints of cigar box. This is a one-off blend made by Graham Beck, which has been aged for 12 months in French oak.

Great value from the Rainbow Nation!

One of the best producers on the Cape, Vergelegen has created a rich, buttery Chardonnay from grapes grown in its premium vineyards. Aged and fermented in French oak barrels, this is a full bodied wine that is capable of matching a wide range of food, particularly roast poultry.

This wine has a full, smooth palate with blackberry flavours and cigar-box aromas. The name commemorates John Xavier Merriman (1841 – 1926), who purchased a farm in 1892 which later became Rustenberg Wines. He was the last prime minister of the Cape Colony before the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910.

An exuberant wine that’s intrinsically South African in manner, i.e., full on!

Predominantly Sauvignon Blanc selected from both of Vergelegen’s vineyards where fundamentally their aim is to produce full and intensely flavoured wines. A huge selection of flavours are in abundance, gooseberries, figs, elder flower and clean cut grass to name a few. Perfectly balanced with a racy acidity and mineral structure finishing long and elegantly.

Vergelegen, and outspoken winemaker Andre Van Rensburg, are widely recognised for producing some of South Africa’s finest wines. This superb value Bordeaux blend displays excellent structure, balance and finely grained tannins. The fruit consists of ripe berries and plums beautifully enhanced by silky chocolate and coffee flavours adding even further complexity to the palate.