Category Archives: South Africa

New Releases from South Africa’s Tokara Winery

Posted on January 26, 2023 by don

Located on the crest of the Helshoogte pass outside Stellenbosch, Tokara is one of South Africa’s most beautiful wineries with views of mountain vineyards from its tasting room.  Established in the early 1990s by financier GT Ferreira, Tokara cultivates 62 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Countries and Regions, Red Wine, South Africa, Uncategorized, White Wine, Wine Type | Leave a comment

Good Value, Quality Sparkling Wines from Alsace to the Russian River Valley

Posted on December 26, 2022 by don

Sparkling wines from around the world are better than ever. They may not have the cachet of Champagne, but they’re priced lower, and the best ones are very good indeed. In this article, we review a selection of quality sparkling … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Countries and Regions, France, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Spain, Sparkling Wine, Uncategorized, Wine Type | Comments Off on Good Value, Quality Sparkling Wines from Alsace to the Russian River Valley

Champagnes and Sparkling Wines for the Holidays

Posted on December 13, 2022 by don

Champagnes and sparkling wines are especially popular during the winter Holidays. Families and friends toast their friendship and welcome the New Year with the bubbles that convey a sense of celebration and joy.  To help guide your purchases of Champagne and … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Champagne, Countries and Regions, France, Italy, South Africa, Spain, Sparkling Wine, Uncategorized, Wine Type | Comments Off on Champagnes and Sparkling Wines for the Holidays

Fine Wine Books for the Holidays

Posted on December 2, 2022 by don

Connoisseurs of fine wines love to read about wine and where it comes from. And when they travel, they like exploring new wines.  Here are a few suggested books on traditional and less well known wine regions like England, Georgia, … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Countries and Regions, France, Georgia, Greece, South Africa, Uncategorized, Wine Articles | Comments Off on Fine Wine Books for the Holidays

South African Rosé: Selections from the 2021 Vintage

Posted on June 9, 2022 by don

Today’s excellent South African rosé wines reflect the many improvements in rosé winemaking over the last decade or two. They’re usually direct pressed from vineyards harvested early and specifically farmed for rosé, as opposed to being the saignée byproduct of … Continue reading →

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South Africa’s Cool Climate Wines from Richard Kershaw

Posted on February 23, 2022 by don

Although the Western Cape’s closest southern neighbor is Antarctica, it’s not usually thought of as being a cool climate wine region. Enter Richard Kershaw MW, who established his eponymous winery in Elgin in 2012 with the goal of creating site-specific, … Continue reading →

Posted in Chardonnay, Countries and Regions, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, South Africa, Uncategorized, White Wine, Wine Type | Tagged , | Comments Off on South Africa’s Cool Climate Wines from Richard Kershaw

Special Holiday Gifts for Wine Lovers: Selections from the Finest Wines Reviewed in 2021

Posted on December 14, 2021 by don

What to give a friend who appreciates and is knowledgeable about wine?  In this article, we give our recommendations based on the many fine wines we’ve tasted this year.  The list includes Champagne, Sparkling Rosé, California Pinot Noir, Napa Cabernet … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Champagne, Chardonnay, Countries and Regions, Dessert Wine, France, Italy, Oregon, Portugal, Portuguese, Red Wine, South Africa, Spain, Sparkling Wine, Uncategorized, White Wine, Wine Type | Comments Off on Special Holiday Gifts for Wine Lovers: Selections from the Finest Wines Reviewed in 2021

Chinato and Quinquina from Italy’s Piedmont, South Africa’s Swartlands, and the Columbia Valley

Posted on October 23, 2021 by don

While technically not a Vermouth, Chinato is similar in its infusion of herbs and spices. What’s different is the addition of Cinchona. Cinchona is the dried bark of the South American tree that is a source of quinine and used … Continue reading →

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Wines to Brighten Up Your Thanksgiving

Posted on November 10, 2020 by don

For most of us 2020’s Thanksgiving will be different.    Because of the COVID pandemic,  family and friends will not be gathering in  large numbers to celebrate.   Instead,  we’ll keep it smaller for the sake of everyone’s heath. Although we’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in Argentina, California, Champagne, Countries and Regions, France, New York, Oregon, Portugal, Red Wine, Rosé, South Africa, Spain, White Wine, Wine Type | Tagged , | Comments Off on Wines to Brighten Up Your Thanksgiving

2019 Vintage Rosés from Around the World

Posted on June 19, 2020 by don

Today, good quality rosé wines are made all over the world. In this article we focus on some of the most popular 2019 rosés on the market in the US.  The wines reviewed here are from Provence and other areas … Continue reading →

Posted in Argentina, Chile, Countries and Regions, France, Friuli, Italy, Rosé, South Africa, Spain, Uncategorized, Virginia, Wine Type | Tagged | Comments Off on 2019 Vintage Rosés from Around the World