The Swartland, renowned for its exceptional wines and quirky winemakers, is set to embark on a coastal adventure.   Winemakers from the Swartland region are gearing up to showcase their finest wines in Velddrif, along the banks of the Berg River on the West Coast Scheduled for the weekend of 12-13 April 2024, this event promises […]

Written by Clifford Roberts; Photography Johan Viljoen Shopping for wine online rocketed after Covid lockdowns and so did wine clubs, although many winelovers still wonder: is it worth being in a wine club? We thought we’d unpack the answer, which is a big YES. At their most basic level, wine clubs unlock benefits that ordinary […]

Author & Photographer: Georgia East The oldest and most natural way of producing sparkling wine, Méthode Ancestrale produces a softer, finer bubble designed for elegant sipping. This style of sparkling wine originated in 16th century France, where monks would produce wine for religious ceremonies. Here in South Africa’s Swartland region, Leeuwenkuil Family Vineyards are preserving […]

Written by: Clifford Roberts; Photography: Johan Viljoen Quite suddenly, viticulturist Rosa Kruger wails and the telephone dies. I’ve called about a new clone at Kloovenburg that she had a central hand in bringing to South Africa. Seconds later, she rings back. “I’m sorry,” she says. She’s looking after someone’s dog, which got in amongst some […]

Written by Clifford Roberts; Photography Johan Viljoen Fermented drinks have been around for ages, so you may wonder what the traditional method of making wine is. What does this have to do with the festive season and the Swartland? As it turns out, more than you’d expect. Natural fermentation and effervescence in wines – characteristics […]

Written by Clifford Roberts; Photography Johan Viljoen We’re a leading producer of wine in the world, but what is the most popular wine in South Africa? You’ll get many answers to this question. You’ll probably get more questions too. We think there’s only really one proper response you could possibly give when deciding on an […]

Author & Photographer: Georgia East Just like sunscreen and soft serve, a proper braai is something that – for most South Africans – is synonymous with summer. Cooking outdoors and serving up dishes flavoured with smoke is how we all love to spend weekends. But when it comes to braai recipes – and especially those […]

Written by Clifford Roberts; Photographer: Johan Viljoen South Africa makes great rosé wine, but to make sense of the many options available it helps to consider them by region. Rosé wines from a particular area such as the Swartland, share overlapping characteristics. By knowing them you can make a better choice about good rosé wines […]

Written by: Clifford Roberts; Photography: Johan Viljoen In June 2022, one of the Swartland’s latest wards was promulgated under South Africa’s Wine of Origin Scheme. In essence, the approval meant Piket-Bo-berg’s soils, climate and geography were deemed sufficiently different from surrounding production areas and that wines from there may reliably be expected to reflect this […]