Exploring South Africa: Our Buyers Return from a Trip to the Cape

Andrew and Dave arrived in Cape Town after a long 12 hour flight from London, ready to embark upon a whirlwind trip that would take them through the stunning Cape Winelands of Franschhoek, Paarl, Wellington, Stellenbosch and the Breede River Valley.

The guys enjoyed a good night’s sleep before heading straight to the Western Cape, a region which stretches over 185 miles from Cape Town to the mouth of the Olifants River. Home to some of the most famous wine regions in South Africa, the team started in Franschhoek – a small town situated around 75km away from Cape Town and just a short distance from Stellenbosch.

Andrew and Dave joined winemaker Ryno Booysen at Wildeberg winery, which is nestled in the extremely picturesque Franschhoek Valley.

Ryno is the man behind some of our biggest and best selling South African wines, including lots of the wines in our Billy Bosch range and Three Gables range. Ryno has been producing exceptional wine for many years and really knows a thing or two when it comes to South African vino, so it’s fair to say Andrew and Dave were very excited to see what was on offer with this year’s vintage.

The team tasted their way through a range of wines, from wonderfully full and fruity Shiraz-based wines to deliciously clean and refreshing Chenin Blanc blends. (We suspect these two have probably had worse Mondays!)

The pair then headed out with Ryno to explore the vineyards in this area, most of which sit in the valley, surrounded by mountainous terrain.

The area is well-protected from the oceanic influences and, as a result, enjoys a warm, continental climate that’s ideally suited to the production of robust reds and rich, fruit-driven whites. The shadows cast by the mountains also help to moderate the temperatures here, creating the perfect harmony of conditions for these grapes to thrive.

As the photos from Andrew and Dave’s trip show, the vineyards are truly spectacular in this part of the world, and you can find out more about them in our guide to South African wine regions.

The fun – sorry, I mean work – didn’t stop there for these two. The next day they went to visit the lovely Nadia Englebrecht in Perdeberg, an area not far from Paarl.

Nadia is the driving force behind many of our South African vinos and is a very talented winemaker. With a focus on the coastal region, Nadia picks only the best fruits, from a variety of high quality sites, to create wines which are expertly crafted.

The guys tasted a delicious Sauvignon Blanc by Nadia, which was wonderfully zesty with hints of juicy tropical fruits and citrus, before moving on to a complex and robust Cabernet Sauvignon that went down a treat with a juicy steak!

Andrew and Dave also made time on their South African adventure to head our to Riebeek Valley to meet with Jaques Theron, another winemaker we have worked with previously, to see what he and his team had to offer from this year’s vintage.

Jacques understands the unique conditions found in Ribeek and Swartland and uses this knowledge to develop wines that showcase the very best of this region. The wines here were nothing short of exceptional and it was clear that it had been a good year for Jacques and his team.

In fact, Andrew and Dave were impressed with the quality of the vintage across the whole of the region. South Africa experienced a slightly cooler growing season compared to previous years, which resulted in a slower ripening process. Therefore the grapes had a little longer on the vine to develop, resulting in wines with bold colours, and more intense flavour extraction, creating some really stunning vinos.

And just like that it was time for Andrew and Dave to head back to the UK. The duo had a blast and although you may be looking through these pictures green with envy (like the rest of us here at VW HQ), the good news is we have some cracking wines on the way, and that’s certainly something to look forward to!

Of course, you haven’t got to wait for the 2022 vintage to reach us to be able to get your hands on some exceptional South African wine. With over 40 already in our range, there is plenty to choose from to suit wine lovers far and wide.

The wonderful thing about South Africa, and one of the main reasons we love this region so much, is its diversity. Home to a wide array of grape varieties and terroirs, there really is a wine for everyone.

The Billy Bosh range has become somewhat of a staple here at Virgin Wines. From big and bold reds that are fruit-driven and intensely rich, to light and refreshing whites that really hit the spot over the summer months, this range is not short of variety, that’s for sure.

The Billy Bosh Western Cape Shiraz is a hugely popular red produced by Ryno at Wildeberg. This lively red leaps straight out of the bottle the second you pop that cork.

On the nose you can expect to find rich blueberry notes, whilst the palate is bright with cherry flavours and hints of spice. Year after year, this wine delivers, and the 2022 vintage will be no exception. But for now this 2021 version is a real hit. With over 1,000 five-star reviews, you don’t just have to take our word for it.

For those looking for something a little more refreshing, the Bastions V Sauvignon Blanc will be right up your street. Bastions V is another essential in our South African range which has received a lot of love over recent years. Also produced in the Western Cape, this range is hugely diverse. The Sauvignon Blanc is zesty and fresh, with ripe tropical flavours, underpinned by a distinct minerality.

For you red wine fans, the Bastions V Merlot 2021 is another great shout. This time from the Paarl region, just a stone’s throw from Stellenbosch, you can expect to find wonderfully rich notes of strawberry and plum on the nose, complemented by fresh red fruit flavours on the palate. This wine is great value for money as it has all of the classic traits you’d expect to find in a Merlot produced in Stellenbosch – but without the price tag!

Another cracking wine from this region is the Three Gables Paarl Chenin Blanc 2021. Our Three Gables range encompasses the true versatility of South Africa and showcases the best of the region. This deliciously energetic wine is full of tropical and citrus notes, which dance around the palate. A crisp acidity makes this wine a true thirst-quencher and a heavenly match with summer salads.

If you have been inspired to browse our South African wines and give these showstoppers a try, as well as uncover the rest of the range, then hit the red button below.