It has probably happened to you too. You take the first savoury sip from the bottle of wine you have just opened, lean back contentedly and with the second or third sip you start to rave. The adjectives flow out of you as the wine flows in. You think "full-bodied, sweet, refreshing, crisp, racy, tangy, tart", your heart practically overflows. It feels like it reads: a declaration of love that could also be a description of a loved one. Wines from South Africa have this effect and ignite this passion - and initially this has nothing to do with the quantity you have consumed.

But since we are not all poets, there are - fortunately - people who are simply better at these descriptions and who also have a profound knowledge of terroir, style and age, wine varieties, wine estates and much more. KAPVINUM would like to briefly introduce you to the most renowned wine guides and awards for South African wines and at the same time encourage you to develop your passionate relationship with wine on a long-term, solid basis, so to speak. For example:

John Platter Wine Guide

An old hand among the wine connoisseurs who John Platter's South African Wine Guide has been published since 1980 and has twice been honoured as the "best wine guide in the world". With over two million copies sold, it is the eminence grise of wine experts and remains the undisputed favourite wine guide in South Africa. Every year, Platter awards the "best red wine of the year" and "best white wine of the year" and has its own rating system that recognises South African wines (from 1 to 5*).

Michelangelo International Wine Awards

The Michelangelo awards are somewhat different. This is about the perspective foreign wine judges on South African wines. The highly renowned wine experts from all over the world give the wines from South Africa much-needed international publicity with their judgement. Michelangelo winners are mentioned internationally in the relevant media and the evaluation system is based on the 100-point scale of the "International Organisation of Vine and Wine" or OIV for short, which is considered to be extremely precise.

Tim Atkin Wine Critic 

As one of the best-known wine critics in the world, the Briton publishes an annual South Africa report that goes into a little more depth due to his passion for the country and its people and shares a lot of interesting background knowledge with the reader. An absolute "must read" for fans of South African wines who would like to find out more about the wine country at the Cape of Good Hope. 

Veritas Awards

The South African National Wine Show Association organises the most prestigious and longest-running wine competition every year. The mandatory Veritas seal of approval (four levels, from bronze to double gold) is very important for the South African wine industry and brings fame and honour to both the wine cellar and the winemaker. As the Veritas Awards are not run for commercial gain by the organisers, as they are organised by the industry for the industry, they are a binding quality benchmark for both wine connoisseurs and wine lovers.

International Wine and Spirit Competition IWSC

On a five-level scale from Bronze to Gold Outstanding, spirits from almost 90 nations are not only assessed in blind tastings for external characteristics such as flavour, appearance and smell, but are also subjected to a chemical test. This helps to analyse the wine even more precisely and serves the sole purpose of recognising particular excellence.

For the love of wine

At KAPVINUM, we keep an eye out for the best and most unique wines from the Cape region. In keeping with the motto "quality not quantity", we offer you a selection of high-quality red wines, white wines, rosé wines and sparkling wines, which we have personally tasted and selected for you on site. Have a sip or two of South African pleasure delivered to your home, or to your friends and family. Cheers.