SWARTLAND
STORIES
What makes Swartland rosé wines different?
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 […]
The winemakers of Piket-bo-Berg are forging a new road
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 […]
What is a field blend?
Written by Clifford Roberts; Photography Johan Viljoen Wine can be an intensely complex subject for a newcomer, but a whole new level opens with the first time you need to ask: what is a field blend? Traditionally when the world blend is used, it generally means wine varieties are harvested and vinified separately in the […]
Orange you excited to try this wine?
Copy and photography by Cookbook Author: Georgia East; Feature photo: Sleeping Co-pilot produced by Jurgen Gouws of Intellego Wines in the Paardeberg. Beloved for its summery hue and Instagram aesthetic, orange wine is truly having its moment in the sun. Also known as amber wine, orange wine’s versatility allows it to be enjoyed with all […]
Is olive oil good for your skin?
Written by Clifford Roberts; Photography Johan Viljoen Our centuries-old pursuit of beauty and health inevitably led to questions like, is olive oil good for the skin? It never gets old because the technology that powers scientific knowledge continues to evolve and drive greater insight. These days, even by products of olive oil production like leaves […]
Is canned wine any good?
Written by Clifford Roberts; Photography Johan Viljoen Canned wine is relatively new to South Africa, so it’s not uncommon these days to encounter the question: is canned wine any good? A good place to start establishing how popular exactly canned wine is. No one’s going to drink it if it’s mediocre, right? It all began […]
Unique provenance is the heart of Swartland Wine of Origin
Written by Clifford Roberts; Photography Johan Viljoen Wine is different; it has a home. And just north of Cape Town, this begins with Wine of Origin Swartland. Unlike other drinks, the immense variety of expressions that make wine so enjoyable and interesting directly reflects where its fruit comes from. In South Africa, that unique trait […]
The best South African sparkling wine for the season*
Written by Clifford Roberts; Photography Johan Viljoen * In our opinion When it comes to the end of a year, you don’t want to settle for anything; you want the best South African sparkling wine you can lay your hands on. Fortunately, you’ve stumbled across this blog and the Swartland’s bubbly offering. So, what’s the […]
Five reasons the Swartland is South Africa’s most fun wine region
Written by Clifford Roberts; Photographer: Johan Viljoen Swartland is all about the feels and is arguably the most fun wine region in the Cape. Yes, it’s a serious wine country too, but the expressions produced and the renowned spirit of its wineries clearly make it first on the list of places to visit for a […]