South African Red Wines
South Africa has a wonderful vibrant red wine industry. It is considered “new world” by many although actually dates back to the mid 17th century when French Huguenots settled there and planted vines. Historic centres like the beautiful Franschoek valley still bear many French names for the properties and wine farms. It is stunningly beautiful and a fabulous place for a holiday if you are fortunate enough to visit.
The South African red wine industry has gone through something of a revolution since apartheid ended when most wine production was bulk wine run by the state. Now there are many artisan wineries producing excellent wines, with around 600 wineries in Stellenbosch alone. Some are pretty big operations running accomodation and restaurants, some are tiny, literally husband and wife teams.
We import wines directly from some of these tiny artisan family wineries. They are great quality and exceptional value for money. With the South African Rand remaining weak, South African red wine is currently unbeatable value for money.
We strongly recommend you try some of our boutique wines from these small artisan wineries such as Grangehurst, Joubert Tradauw, Frledge & Co, Boplaas and Rainbow’s End. They all have something special to offer.
Audacia Codebreaker is a fantastic no added sulphur blend from this artisan producer.
Dep purple with ruby edges. A powerful natural nose followed by big deep flavours.
There is a balance of initial restrained fruit, then the oak followed by a lighter fruit lift as with Rhone reds blending in some Viognier. It’s very smooth, full and round with power and a long finish.
In my opinion this is superb. Sulphite free wine South African style!
£13.99
Audacia Codebreaker is a fantastic no added sulphur blend from this artisan producer.
Dep purple with ruby edges. A powerful natural nose followed by big deep flavours.
There is a balance of initial restrained fruit, then the oak followed by a lighter fruit lift as with Rhone reds blending in some Viognier. It’s very smooth, full and round with power and a long finish.
In my opinion this is superb. Sulphite free wine South African style!
£13.99
Gilbert & Gilliard International Challenge – Gold Medal
Deep ruby. Big black fruit flavours on entry, powerful yet super smooth. Medium bodied with dark chocolate and black cherry with subtle oak showing on the long finish.
An excellent example of premium sulphite free Cabernet Sauvignon.
£16.99
Gilbert & Gilliard International Challenge – Gold Medal
Deep ruby. Big black fruit flavours on entry, powerful yet super smooth. Medium bodied with dark chocolate and black cherry with subtle oak showing on the long finish.
An excellent example of premium sulphite free Cabernet Sauvignon.
£16.99
Gilbert & Gilliard International Challenge – Gold Medal
Deep ruby with big legs. Fantastic balance of dark fruit and oak, full in the mouth but not heavy.
Very smooth and well balanced with both elegance and power. This wine is very good.
£16.99
Gilbert & Gilliard International Challenge – Gold Medal
Deep ruby with big legs. Fantastic balance of dark fruit and oak, full in the mouth but not heavy.
Very smooth and well balanced with both elegance and power. This wine is very good.
£16.99
Gilbert & Gilliard International Challenge – Gold Medal
Old Mutual Wine Show – Bronze Medal
A delicious sulphite free red again. Very deep ruby in colour with big initial flavours and some spice.
Very smooth, round and balanced with a dry finish.
£16.99
Gilbert & Gilliard International Challenge – Gold Medal
Old Mutual Wine Show – Bronze Medal
A delicious sulphite free red again. Very deep ruby in colour with big initial flavours and some spice.
Very smooth, round and balanced with a dry finish.
£16.99
Audacia no sulphur added Premium Blend
Very deep ruby with a chocolate and plum nose.
Big opulent fruit balanced with some spice, round and full in the mouth, very smooth and beautifully balanced.
This is a cracker!
£16.00
Audacia no sulphur added Premium Blend
Very deep ruby with a chocolate and plum nose.
Big opulent fruit balanced with some spice, round and full in the mouth, very smooth and beautifully balanced.
This is a cracker!
£16.00
Premium artisan no added sulphur Cabernet Malbec blend from Stellenbosch South Africa
This wine is another cracker and right up there with the very best of our sulphite free reds.
Deep ruby with a powerful natural earthy nose. Big, juicy and powerful with concentrated dark fruit flavours and a very long finish.
Full and round in the mouth, velvet smooth.
This wine is something special. Very impressive presentation too in a heavyweight embossed bottle sealed with wax.
£25.00
Premium artisan no added sulphur Cabernet Malbec blend from Stellenbosch South Africa
This wine is another cracker and right up there with the very best of our sulphite free reds.
Deep ruby with a powerful natural earthy nose. Big, juicy and powerful with concentrated dark fruit flavours and a very long finish.
Full and round in the mouth, velvet smooth.
This wine is something special. Very impressive presentation too in a heavyweight embossed bottle sealed with wax.
£25.00
We have a limited quantity of the 2019 vintage arriving first week of December
All the Fledge wines are low sulphite, but we also wanted to mention that all the free SO2 readings were at bottling which will have reduced significantly since, so they will in fact be even lower than stated now.£17.50
We have a limited quantity of the 2019 vintage arriving first week of December
All the Fledge wines are low sulphite, but we also wanted to mention that all the free SO2 readings were at bottling which will have reduced significantly since, so they will in fact be even lower than stated now.£17.50
Fresh stock of the 2021 is arriving first week of December.
Please note Leon has changed this wine and it is now made from all Elgin fruit, and I expect it to be superb as always!
£19.99
Fresh stock of the 2021 is arriving first week of December.
Please note Leon has changed this wine and it is now made from all Elgin fruit, and I expect it to be superb as always!
£19.99
This is the maiden release of this new artisan wine which Leon just launched in Johannesburg at the end of August. He produced just 1880 bottles.
Leon says it is still tight so will benefit from decanting.
Delicious! Deep ruby opaque. Black fruit initially with some lighter red fruit toward the finish and integrated but noticeable oak. Good weight on the palate and super smooth. I decanted it to give it some air but I reckon it’d be a great wine to savour throughout an evening from freshly opened to fully aerated. Ideal in front of a log fire!
All the Fledge wines are low sulphite, but we also wanted to mention that all the free SO2 readings were at bottling which will have reduced significantly since, so they will in fact be even lower than stated now.
£22.99
This is the maiden release of this new artisan wine which Leon just launched in Johannesburg at the end of August. He produced just 1880 bottles.
Leon says it is still tight so will benefit from decanting.
Delicious! Deep ruby opaque. Black fruit initially with some lighter red fruit toward the finish and integrated but noticeable oak. Good weight on the palate and super smooth. I decanted it to give it some air but I reckon it’d be a great wine to savour throughout an evening from freshly opened to fully aerated. Ideal in front of a log fire!
All the Fledge wines are low sulphite, but we also wanted to mention that all the free SO2 readings were at bottling which will have reduced significantly since, so they will in fact be even lower than stated now.
£22.99
Platter 4.5 Stars
Hand harvested grapes, traditionally fermented in lagars then aged in oak for 30 months.
This is a beauty. Big and powerful with red and black fruit flavours, wonderfully smooth with well integrated oak and natural acidity. Delicious on it’s own or would pair well with red meats or casseroles.
Highly recommended!
All the Fledge wines are low sulphite, but we also wanted to mention that all the free SO2 readings were at bottling which will have reduced significantly since, so they will in fact be even lower than stated now.
£22.99
Platter 4.5 Stars
Hand harvested grapes, traditionally fermented in lagars then aged in oak for 30 months.
This is a beauty. Big and powerful with red and black fruit flavours, wonderfully smooth with well integrated oak and natural acidity. Delicious on it’s own or would pair well with red meats or casseroles.
Highly recommended!
All the Fledge wines are low sulphite, but we also wanted to mention that all the free SO2 readings were at bottling which will have reduced significantly since, so they will in fact be even lower than stated now.
£22.99
4 1/2 stars Platter Wine Guide
Michaelangelo Double Gold
National NWC Double Gold
Double Gold @ SA Top 100 Wines
James Suckling – 90 points
Tim Atkins – 91 points
Only 7000 bottles produced.
Lovely wine. Still young of course, with racy acidity and firm tannins. This wine will certainly reward some cellaring but can be enjoyed now if you give it time to breathe and open up. I recommend decanting, ideally for a couple of hours or more to get the best out of it as it really opens up to become super smooth with flavours of plum and damson. I would partner this with barbequed meats or a roast.
£27.50
4 1/2 stars Platter Wine Guide
Michaelangelo Double Gold
National NWC Double Gold
Double Gold @ SA Top 100 Wines
James Suckling – 90 points
Tim Atkins – 91 points
Only 7000 bottles produced.
Lovely wine. Still young of course, with racy acidity and firm tannins. This wine will certainly reward some cellaring but can be enjoyed now if you give it time to breathe and open up. I recommend decanting, ideally for a couple of hours or more to get the best out of it as it really opens up to become super smooth with flavours of plum and damson. I would partner this with barbequed meats or a roast.
£27.50
Premium artisan Shiraz which has beaten many big names in competitions including the wonderful Eagles Nest.
Only 1600 bottles produced of which we could only get 120.
This wine is stunningly good! And presented in a big heavyweight embossed bottle sealed with a wax top.
Very deep ruby colour with a big nose. Huge concentrated flavours with just a little South African heat, some white pepper, then the oak comes through with subtle vanilla on the very long finish.
Beautiful mouthfeel and silky smooth. South African “Rhone”. This is right up there with the very best wines we sell.
£30.00
Premium artisan Shiraz which has beaten many big names in competitions including the wonderful Eagles Nest.
Only 1600 bottles produced of which we could only get 120.
This wine is stunningly good! And presented in a big heavyweight embossed bottle sealed with a wax top.
Very deep ruby colour with a big nose. Huge concentrated flavours with just a little South African heat, some white pepper, then the oak comes through with subtle vanilla on the very long finish.
Beautiful mouthfeel and silky smooth. South African “Rhone”. This is right up there with the very best wines we sell.
£30.00
We are on the 2011 vintage then moving on to the 2014. This is a firm favourite with many of our regular customers and a great wine for the money.
Below is the info for the 2014. This is a seriously good wine (despite the presentation!).
Cabernet Sauvignon (54%) Merlot (19%) Shiraz (16%) Pinotage (9%) Petit Verdot (2%) with 18 months in oak.
£13.99
We are on the 2011 vintage then moving on to the 2014. This is a firm favourite with many of our regular customers and a great wine for the money.
Below is the info for the 2014. This is a seriously good wine (despite the presentation!).
Cabernet Sauvignon (54%) Merlot (19%) Shiraz (16%) Pinotage (9%) Petit Verdot (2%) with 18 months in oak.
£13.99
Just received a few cases of the 2009
£24.00
Just received a few cases of the 2009
£24.00
The Grangehurst 2009 Bordeaux Blend is the flagship wine of the estate. Superb South African “Bordeaux” aged in oak for 35 months. No awards info as yet but usually scores a minimum of Platter 4.5 Stars every year.
£36.00
The Grangehurst 2009 Bordeaux Blend is the flagship wine of the estate. Superb South African “Bordeaux” aged in oak for 35 months. No awards info as yet but usually scores a minimum of Platter 4.5 Stars every year.
£36.00
Pinotage 89% & Cabernet Sauvignon 11% with 21 months in oak.
This is regarded consistently as one of the finest Pinotages available and has something of a cult following. Jeremy is very proud of this wine and rightly so!
£21.00
Pinotage 89% & Cabernet Sauvignon 11% with 21 months in oak.
This is regarded consistently as one of the finest Pinotages available and has something of a cult following. Jeremy is very proud of this wine and rightly so!
£21.00
Cabernet Sauvignon (93%) Merlot (7%) aged in oak for 34 months.
We are on the 2009 which is a fabulous wine
£24.00
Out of stock
Cabernet Sauvignon (93%) Merlot (7%) aged in oak for 34 months.
We are on the 2009 which is a fabulous wine
£24.00
Out of stock
A new wine from Meyer. Although he started producing this a couple of years ago as an entry level introduction to his superb wines, this is the first time we’ve been able to get any as it is extremely popular.
It’s a natural wine fermented with it’s own yeasts, unfined and unfiltered leaving the natural antioxidants in there. Sealed with a wax top. The free SO2 has remained free so while it’s a healthy wine we don’t recommend it for anybody with a sulphite allergy. Opt for one of the fantastic wines from Audacia instead.
Deep ruby. Mouth filling and round with initial red fruits turning to black fruits on the dry finish. Enjoy it with a roast or BBQ.
£11.99
A new wine from Meyer. Although he started producing this a couple of years ago as an entry level introduction to his superb wines, this is the first time we’ve been able to get any as it is extremely popular.
It’s a natural wine fermented with it’s own yeasts, unfined and unfiltered leaving the natural antioxidants in there. Sealed with a wax top. The free SO2 has remained free so while it’s a healthy wine we don’t recommend it for anybody with a sulphite allergy. Opt for one of the fantastic wines from Audacia instead.
Deep ruby. Mouth filling and round with initial red fruits turning to black fruits on the dry finish. Enjoy it with a roast or BBQ.
£11.99
Joubert Tradauw Redfin Pinot Noir is a top South African Pinot Noir made in a very French style! Ruby in colour. Savoury in style, very “Burgundian” old world. I’ve never before found a South African Pinot Noir made in such a convincing old world style.
£21.95
Joubert Tradauw Redfin Pinot Noir is a top South African Pinot Noir made in a very French style! Ruby in colour. Savoury in style, very “Burgundian” old world. I’ve never before found a South African Pinot Noir made in such a convincing old world style.
£21.95
Tim Atkin 90 Points
Platter 4.5 Stars 93 Points
Rainbows End Cabernet Sauvignon is a fabulous Cabernet. Rainbows End is one of the finest artisan red wine producers in Stellenbosch, and now also makes some very good Chenin Blanc too. Anton Malan’s winemaking is exceptional. He puts in a lot of hard work such as handpicking at dawn and manually punching down of the ferment several times a day, which is richly rewarded when you taste his wines. This Cabernet Sauvignon is excellent – powerful and opulent, with weight on the palate balanced by good acidity and a purity that comes from absolute minimal use of additives.
£19.99
Out of stock
Tim Atkin 90 Points
Platter 4.5 Stars 93 Points
Rainbows End Cabernet Sauvignon is a fabulous Cabernet. Rainbows End is one of the finest artisan red wine producers in Stellenbosch, and now also makes some very good Chenin Blanc too. Anton Malan’s winemaking is exceptional. He puts in a lot of hard work such as handpicking at dawn and manually punching down of the ferment several times a day, which is richly rewarded when you taste his wines. This Cabernet Sauvignon is excellent – powerful and opulent, with weight on the palate balanced by good acidity and a purity that comes from absolute minimal use of additives.
£19.99
Out of stock
Platter 4.5 Stars, NWC National Champion – Double Gold, Robert Parker 90+
Every vintage wins best Shiraz in Stellenbosch.
Rainbows End Shiraz has very quickly set the benchmark for quality Shiraz in Stellenbosch and indeed for South Africa. It’s a winning combination of top quality wine at a reasonable price. Many of the best and most famous South African red wines fetch a real premium, so for Anton at Rainbows End being a relative newcomer, he has introduced his wines at affodable prices. Not only has his Shiraz won multiple awards each vintage but so has his Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and his blends. Without doubt Rainbows End is one of the best and best value wineries in Stellenbosch.
£19.99
Platter 4.5 Stars, NWC National Champion – Double Gold, Robert Parker 90+
Every vintage wins best Shiraz in Stellenbosch.
Rainbows End Shiraz has very quickly set the benchmark for quality Shiraz in Stellenbosch and indeed for South Africa. It’s a winning combination of top quality wine at a reasonable price. Many of the best and most famous South African red wines fetch a real premium, so for Anton at Rainbows End being a relative newcomer, he has introduced his wines at affodable prices. Not only has his Shiraz won multiple awards each vintage but so has his Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and his blends. Without doubt Rainbows End is one of the best and best value wineries in Stellenbosch.
£19.99
Artisan no added sulphur Merlot from Stellenbosch South Africa
Deep ruby with red fruit on the nose. Soft in the mouth and very smooth with red berry flavours.
Medium bodied with medium weight on the palate, great balance between the fruit, natural acidity and the light oak.
Great wine in a lighter elegant style rather than the typical South African powerhouse.
£13.99
Out of stock
Artisan no added sulphur Merlot from Stellenbosch South Africa
Deep ruby with red fruit on the nose. Soft in the mouth and very smooth with red berry flavours.
Medium bodied with medium weight on the palate, great balance between the fruit, natural acidity and the light oak.
Great wine in a lighter elegant style rather than the typical South African powerhouse.
£13.99
Out of stock
Grangehurst Cabernet Merlot is a great aged Bordeaux blend from Jeremy Walker. Jeremy ages all his wines on site at the winery for many years, and typically only releases them once they’re at least ten years old! He is the only South African I know of making wines like this. The results are excellent. Big powerful wines, super smooth and fully integrated as the blend has had years to settle. Grangehurst wines are quite an experience and highly recommended. This Grangehurst Cabernet Merlot is full bodied and super smooth, drinking beautifully.
We are on the 2007.
£21.00
Out of stock
Grangehurst Cabernet Merlot is a great aged Bordeaux blend from Jeremy Walker. Jeremy ages all his wines on site at the winery for many years, and typically only releases them once they’re at least ten years old! He is the only South African I know of making wines like this. The results are excellent. Big powerful wines, super smooth and fully integrated as the blend has had years to settle. Grangehurst wines are quite an experience and highly recommended. This Grangehurst Cabernet Merlot is full bodied and super smooth, drinking beautifully.
We are on the 2007.
£21.00
Out of stock
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