Approaching RHS Lindley Hall for Wines of South Africa’s ‘There’s Sunshine Inside’ trade tasting, you could feel the sunshine bursting through the walls and glass ceiling of the venue. The buzz and energy emanating from the tasting had the feel of Cape Town’s Newlands cricket stadium on the first morning of a Test Match.
When you consider that this venue can often feel a little stale and sad as it hosts yet another generic trade tasting, it was all the more thrilling to see Lindley Hall bursting at the seams with noise and southern hemisphere magic. It was packed, and with the stunning selection of wines on show it’s easy to understand why.
It probably helped that WOSA hasn’t hosted a trade tasting on this scale since 2023 and given South Africa's reputation of quality, variety and innovation, the entire wine trade seemingly turned out for this one.
Catching up with Siobhan Thompson, the CEO of Wines of South Africa, she was as thrilled as anyone, even if I could barely hear her over the noise. “We put a lot of time and effort into our tastings,” she says, and explains that the reason WOSA doesn’t host annual large tastings in the UK is down to ‘relevance, affordability and time’. The body regularly takes members of the UK trade to South Africa for the Cape Wine event, which is a large showcase in the heart of the city with myriad satellite events across the winelands.
The next Cape Wine is in 2028 so Thompson reckons that there will be another large-scale UK tasting ahead of that, possibly in February 2028. A case of whetting the appetite before bringing people out to Cape Wine to experience South Africa first-hand.
WOSA growing value share over volume share
Looking at the UK market, Thompson thinks that South Africa is performing well here despite raises in taxation and the fact that consumers are drinking less wine.
“We are very happy with what we've seen in terms of export, on the packaged wine side,” she says. “We have seen a drop in bulk wine, but I think that is a global aspect. I think what's great about the United Kingdom is that our value sheet is really healthy. We have always tried to make sure over the last 15 years, that we are growing value share over volume share.”
In terms of trends on the production side, white wines and white blends continue to be a strength for South Africa in the UK, but lighter styles of red wines like Pinot Noir and Grenache are starting to become very popular too as chillable summer styles. “That's something that's quite nice for South Africa, we are even seeing lighter styles of Pinotage being made in South Africa now too,” says Thompson.
There’s also a push for drought-resistant varieties as the growing season hots up. “We're putting a lot of time investment into looking at cultivars that are drought resistant,” says Thompson. “We've got plantings of things like Xinomavro and Assyrtiko, and we are also looking at which cultivars are best suited for each site and what performs best where, that’s what producers are starting to look at. Years ago, everything used to get planted everywhere, but now there is a lot more time and attention being put on what cultivars do better in which areas and climatic conditions.”
On the floor at the tasting you can start to see this trickle through, with a handful of wines made from Palomino and Touriga Nacional, but no Xinomavro just yet.
It was the classics that shone through – Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Grenache, red and white blends, Cap Classique – and the variety of styles on show was impressive. With hundreds of wines to taste, here are just some of the ones which grabbed my attention on the day, many from producers I was encountering for the first time.
Graham Beck, Cuvée Clive X, 2015
This is a souped-up version of the Cuvée Clive, Graham Beck’s top-end vintage Brut only produced in exceptional years. The ‘X’ stands for ten, as this is aged on the lees for a decade, and boy can you tell, it’s bready and tangy with notes of baked pear, set honey and roasted nuts. Lush and layered, this is serious stuff and shows just how good long-aged Cap Classique can be in the right hands.
Domaine des Dieux Claudia, 2021
This was being poured at the Cap Classique bar and was an immediate stand-out. Comprised of 76% Chardonnay and 24% Pinot Noir, and spending 40 months on the lees, this is pure class; long, rich and perfectly balanced with apricot and apple crumple notes, a zesty lemon peel acidity and fine, delicate bubbles. Who knew the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley was such a hot-spot for fizz?
Thistle and Weed, Khakibos White 2025
Siobhan Thompson talked about the need for more drought-resistant varieties such as Palomino in South Africa, and it’s this grape which makes up a decent chunk of this white blend, alongside Verdelho, Chenin, Alvarinho and Fernão Pires. Quite the super-group! The wine is fresh and punchy with bright clementine and dried mango, hay and smoky bacon. It jumps from the glass.
De Kleine Wijn, Pieke Steen, 2025
Bold label, even bolder wine. This old-vine, un-grafted Chenin is broad-shouldered with tremendous weight and a crisp freshness which adds balance to the melon and paw-paw fruit, herbs and peach tea perfume.
Paul Wallace, Little Flirt Sauvignon Blanc, 2025
Pure new world Sauvignon Blanc; confident, explosive and bright without being confected or green. The fruit here is tropical (guava, dried pineapple) and there’s spice too to back it up, jalapeno and white pepper. The grapes come from high terraced vineyards in the cool-climate Elgin region.
Beau Constantia, Cecily, 2025
Cool-climate Viognier from high up in Constantia, a stone’s throw from the City of Cape Town. The elevated vineyards shave off some of the more voluptuous notes of the variety, leaving a floral and waxy wine with great acidity, lovely tinned pear and nectarine notes and an almond-skin pithiness.
Boland Cellar, Reserve White, 2026
Fresh out of the blocks this 2026 white blend is made up of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Roussanne. It’s creamy and full with lovely tropical notes, a lick of garden herbs and a flinty, chalky bite on the finish. Refreshing and lithe now, this has the potential to age beautifully as those grapes get to know each other even better in the bottle.
Lismore Estate, Reserve Chardonnay, 2023
A stone cold classic; it’s hard not to taste the Lismore Chardonnay, do a mic drop and leave the tasting immediately. As with all Samantha O’Keefe’s wines this has power and grace, with everything in the right place; the rich fruit, the focused acidity and the long, creamy finish. Just banging.
Boekenhoutskloof, Goldmine, 2024
“Essentially this is the white Chocolate Block,” explains winemaker Marc Kent, which means that parcels of grapes from across the Western Cape are fermented in a variety of vessels (egg, amphora, foudre) then blended into a punchy, savoury and smoky white blend. The 2024 comprises Chenin Blanc (53%), Chardonnay (24%), Semillon (19%) and Viognier and it’s a joy; easy drinking with bags of attitude, texture and abundant notes of baked apples, mandarin and white flowers.
Kasteelberg, Craft Carbonic Syrah, 2025
All the Kasteelberg wines impressed, as did the new label designs, dragging the brand into the modern era. They looked sharp and interesting, as for the wines the Carbonic Syrah was just brilliant; shot through with ripe raspberry, blueberry and bubblegum notes. It’s breezy but far from throwaway, there’s guts and body, earthiness and classic varietal spice. Just lovely.
Swartberg Wingarde, HOLISM Garnacha, 2023
On the table next to Kasteelberg Rudiger Gretschel pours an excellent trio of wines all from the high-altitude Piekenierskloof region of the Swartland. The HOLISM Garnacha is a brilliant example of cool-climate Garnacha, lean and rustic with red berry fruit and notes of dark chocolate and black pepper. It’s light of foot and ethereal on the finish, disappearing with a slow satisfaction.
Waterkloof Estate, Circumstance Mourvèdre, 2023
Waterkloof founder Paul Boutinot is on hand to pour and chat, and it’s the 2023 Circumstance Mourvèdre that really shines. An elegant and chewy wine with redcurrant and black cherry fruit, pencil shavings and dried herbs. There’s a delicious bitter note which adds a savoury edge making this so refreshing and crunchy.
Wildeberg, Coterie Grenache-Syrah, 2025
60% Grenache and 40% Syrah make up this naturally fermented red blend, which is aged in large format French and Austrian oak for up to a year. The red fruit hits you first then it gets all smoky and herby with notes of green pepper, juniper and thyme. This is classy and elegant, a real find.
Hartenberg, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022
This Stellenbosch Cabernet hits hard; there’s a lot going on here and what makes it work is that everything’s in tune. Graphite, plum, blackcurrant, rose petal, coffee grounds and rolling tobacco all come to the party in this smooth, ripe and powerful wine. Refreshingly old school.
Hazendal, Estate Collection Carignan, 2025
Just 460 bottles of this are made from less than a quarter of a hectare of Carignan vines in Stellenbosch’s Bottelary Hills. The grapes are partially whole bunch fermented (15%) with the majority destemmed and crushed. The wine itself bursts with violet and red hedgerow fruit, delicate spice and woodsmoke. Deliciously complex.
