South Africa

A joint venture between the Boustred family of Simonsberg and Michel Rolland of Bordeaux, each grape variety is individually vinified and then brought together by Rolland into a Bordeaux blend with a South African twist. The estate is mostly Merlot, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage adding vital support. Low yields, hand-harvesting, cold maceration on the skins, long, slow fermentation in open vats with regular hand punching down and pumping over, and malolactic fermentation in barrel are all crucial to the quality and style of the resulting wines. The Remhoogte is intense with red and blackcurrants, full bodied with characteristic herbal "fynbos" and firm tannins. Bonne Nouvelle ups the stakes further with big, bold flavours and dark, spicy, plum fruit. It is beginning to drink well now but it is no shrinking violet and will last.

Hartenberg Estate is at the forefront of the new era of South African winemaking. Although established in Bottelary as long ago as 1692, it was in 1986 that the then new owners first realised its huge potential. So began a process of rapid change that has resulted in the Estate producing some of the most distinctive and sought after wines that the premium Stellenbosch wine-growing region has to offer. Under the quiet and unassuming direction of chief winemaker Carl Schultz, without question one of the most respected and skilled winemakers currently operating in South Africa, and chief viticulturist Wilhelm Joubert, the farm has accumulated many significant awards, among these being the best Merlot in the world (International Wine and Spirits Competition 2008) and third best Shiraz (Syrah du Monde 2008).The seemingly rare and refreshingly simple strategy of only releasing wines when they are actually ready for drinking is another hallmark of this exceptional farm.

David Nieuwoudt's estate is situated in the Cederberg Conservancy area, a spectacularly rugged region of exceptional natural beauty which local landowners have all agreed to manage in a sustainable manner. Cederberg's wines are appropriately spectacular themselves, with the much-lauded reds that show superb concentration, definition and balance, and fresh, crisp, intense whites. With vineyards at 1000 metres above sea level, David undertandably characterises his estate as making "wines with altitude".

These wines are made in the Elim region which is a small, promising maritime ward within the Cape Agulhas district of the Cape. This region has just 114ha of vineyards which are arrayed around the old mission village of Elim near South Africa's most southerly point. They are also brand new to the UK market and are great wines to boot.

The verdant Constantia valley, home to Klein Constantia Estate, is the oldest, most enduring vineyard region in the Cape, first producing wine in 1689. Family owned and run, Klein Constantia’s philosophy is founded on quality rather than quantity, reflected in the wines regularly inviting accolades, both locally and internationally.