Well Red Magazine & Co

20/11/2024

P L A T T E R S - L A U N C H - 2 0 2 5

It’s the one we all wait for—the moment when drops their highly anticipated list of top-scoring wines, highest performing wineries and the latest colour to claim a spot on my shelf. This year did not disappoint.

N E W C O M E R - W I N E R Y
The up-and-comers. TERRA LOCI makes its mark with a debut performance - their wines hit the palate with an intensity and finesse that’s really exciting.

E D I T O R ’ S - A W A R D - W I N E R Y
This one goes to the veteran, the winery that consistently delivers at the highest level. and Hamilton Russell Vineyards take the crown with wines that continue to set the bar for quality, elegance, and power.

T O P - P E R F O R M I N G - W I N E R Y
Is it ever a surprise? 😉 takes the top spot once again, proving that consistency is everything.

The list of names this year is stacked with excellence. It’s inspiring to see the calibre of wines coming out of South Africa and the incredible things they are achieving for the industry. Top across the various categories are:

, , , , , .schaal.wines, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , The Vioneers, Swartberg Wingerde and Nuy Winery

The future’s looking bright, and it’s all coming from our soil.

Catch the full video of today’s award ceremony tomorrow morning!

16/11/2024

SUMMER CRU ASSEMBLED - featuring .co and dress by .co.za 😍☀️

07/11/2024

If I were a hotel, I’d be the Mount Nelson – a true lady of timeless charm, refinement, and a touch of old-world elegance. And old 🤣.

31/10/2024

What. A. Lineup! 😍🍷👏

The second edition of the New Wave Producers event is just around the corner! Have you got your tickets yet?!

Date: Wednesday, 6th November
Time: From 5:30pm
Venue:
Wines: Legendary.
Cost: From R200 (link in bio to buy tickets)

We’ve got some of the hottest wine producers that are on our radar all in one spot - pouring some wines you’ve probably never heard of and some you hopefully haven’t tasted (yet).

Join us for a night to remember, with 16 phenomenal wine producers! We can’t wait to share these wines with you in glassware specially provided by Riedel.

28/10/2024

28/10/2024

Meet Franco 'Poenie' Lourens of Lourens Family Wines

A humble talent with a passion for expressing the South African terroir, Franco sources his grapes from the heart of Stellenbosch, Swartland, and especially Piekenierskloof.
Known for his love of Cape Chenin Blanc, Verdelho, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir, Cinsault, and Syrah, Franco believes these varieties best capture the character of the Cape.
Franco honed his skills alongside legends like Chris Alheit at Alheit Vineyards, gaining insights from global winemaking hotspots before establishing his own label. In a few short years, he's gone from crafting his first experimental batches to impressing critics worldwide.
Today, sharing a cellar with friend Lukas Van Loggerenberg, Franco’s wines are revered for their finesse, old-vine complexity, and incredible balance.

2023 Vintage 
Lourens couldn’t be happier with the 2023 vintage, a vintage which “just clicked”. "Open, accessible, and textured," he says, with more concentration than 2022 and a nuanced depth compared to previous years. This vintage also marks a shift in his iconic Lindi Carien blend, focusing more on Verdelho and Chenin Blanc, making it “more serious and complete.” Meanwhile, the Howard John blend maintains its classic Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah composition with added weight and purity—an absolute stunner! All wines have been met with high acclaim from critiques locally and internationally.
🍷‘Lindi Carien’ 2023
W.O. WESTERN CAPE
62% CHENIN BLANC - SWARTLAND ( 41 YEARS OLD ) + PIEKENIERSKLOOF ( 62 YEARS OLD )
30% VERDELHO - STELLENBOSCH
8% GRENACHE BLANC - PIEKENIERSKLOOF ( SKIN CONTACT 5 DAYS )
95 CE // 95 TA
🍷‘Skuinskap’ Steen 2023
W.O. PIEKENIERSKLOOF
100% CHENIN BLANC ( 47 YEAR OLD VINES )
94 CE // 96 TA
🍷‘Lua Ilse’ Grenache Noir 2023
W.O. PIEKENIERSKLOOF
94 CE // 95 TA
🍷‘Howard John’ 2023
W.O. SWARTLAND
42% GRENACHE NOIR
29% CINSAULT
29% SYRAH
95 CE // 93 TA

Lourens Family Wines represents a breathtakingly self-assured range that has solidified Franco as a top name in South Africa’s New Wave wine scene and one of my favourites.
Small quantities, big impact. All available via

22/10/2024

TICKETS ARE NOW LIVE 🍷💥

New Wave Producers Tasting Event - Second Edition.
Join us for another exciting evening of wine discovery, featuring some of the region’s producers that are hot on our radar!

After a sold-out first edition, we’re happy to announce the return of the New Wave Producers Tasting at Vue Rooftop Restaurant & Bar on Wednesday, 6th
November

This time we’ll have two ticketing options for guests - whether you prefer an intimate Guided Tasting (6 pm - 8 pm, R350) or a relaxed Walkaround Tasting (8 pm
onwards, R200)

Guided Tasting - Limited to just 40 people, dive deeper into the producers’ philosophy with personal insights from the wineries themselves — paired with deliciously crafted canapés. Guests attending the Guided Tasting are invited to stay afterwards and enjoy a second wine being showcased by the producers. Tasting starts promptly at 6 so be sure to arrive by 5:30pm for a glass of welcome bubbles!

Walkaround Tasting - Explore a wide variety of wines and chat one-on-one with the winemakers in a laid-back atmosphere once the Guided Tasting has finished.

🔗 Book directly through the link in bio or on website

20/10/2024

Making rainbows and fighting dragons.

*The rainbow was a glitch on the phone but I'm owning it.

18/10/2024

New Wave Producers Tasting Event – Second Edition

S A V E - T H E - D A T E

After a sold-out first edition, we’re happy to announce the return of the New Wave Producers Tasting at Vue Rooftop Restaurant & Bar on Wednesday, 6th November 🍷

Join us for another exciting evening of wine discovery, featuring some of the region’s producers that are hot on our radar!

This time we’ll have two ticketing options for guests - whether you prefer an intimate Guided Tasting (6 pm - 8 pm, R350) or a relaxed Walkaround Tasting (8 pm onwards, R200).

🍇 Guided Tasting - Limited to just 40 people, dive deeper into the producers’ philosophy with personal insights from the wineries themselves – paired with deliciously crafted canapés. Guests attending the Guided Tasting are invited to stay afterwards and enjoy a second wine being showcased by the producers.

🍷 Walkaround Tasting - Explore a wide variety of wines and chat one-on-one with the winemakers in a laid-back atmosphere once the Guided Tasting has finished.

Tickets will be limited – we’ll let you know once tickets are available for purchase!

11/10/2024

🎁 G I V E A W A Y 🎁

Together with - we are giving away TWO TICKETS to their Chardonnay & Pinot Noir Celebration next week, 17th October at

All you have to do is:

1. Follow &
2. Tag 2 of your partners in wine
3. Share this to your stories

Winner will be announced by 5pm on Monday, 14th October so get tagging! This event is not to be missed for any wine lovers out there

10/10/2024

Here are the statistics from the 40th Annual Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction. 🥂 We also raised a record amount of R2 320 850 for the Protégé Programme.

09/10/2024

Ready for a wine safari in Jozi with & .co

07/10/2024

With demand for premium wines rising in South Africa and producers striving to meet it, Cap Classique wines are more impressive than ever, writes Libby Brodie. The category caught the attention of the panel at a recent in-situ IWSC judging

30/09/2024

29/09/2024

N O B L E V I C E 2 0 2 4 is around the corner!

Have you bought your tickets yet? If not do you fancy a c h e e k y discount? Times are tough after a long hard winter, that's why and are giving you a chance to experience South Africa's favourite wine festival bursting at the seams with incredible wines, complimented by delicious food hosted at a winderful venue at a discounted price.

"Noble Vice is defined by the artistry of 60 of the most talented winemakers in South Africa and supported by 8 of the country's top chefs - all sharing the same philosophy of reverence and respect for the earth and its bounty. These are the true custodians of terroir and minimal intervention winemaking.

The festival takes place over two days with different winemakers and chefs on each respective day. You can buy a ticket for Saturday or Sunday or both!

Each daily ticket is inclusive of all of the wine tastings poured from the 30 wine producers attending each day. You will receive a complimentary branded wine glass for tasting and a booklet indexing all the wines and producers of the day. You can also purchase wines on the day for on-site consumption or order for home delivery.

On both days, our signature line-up of 4 established and up-and-coming local chefs will be selling exciting street-food-style meals for additional purchase at your own expense. Chefs to be announced in September.

Join us once again for a day (or two!) of liberated exploration into the Noble Vices of food and wine, tasting new vintages and releases from the cream of the crop of South Africa's wine industry."

Buy tickets via Quicket and use the discount code WELLRED100 and receive R100 off your ticket price.

See you there!

More info via Noble Vice

📆 SATURDAY 12th OCTOBER & SUNDAY 13th OCTOBER
📍Kaapzicht Wine Estate
💵 R895 per day (R795 with WRWM discount)
Weekend Tickets: R1, 590 (Sat + Sun) via

19/09/2024

Thamnus Wines is thrilled to announce the release of the Chardonnay 2022, the follow-up to our widely praised 2021 vintage.

Sourced from our north-facing vineyards on the slopes of the Klein River Mountain range in the Overberg, this second release exemplifies the trademark lively acidity and balance that define Thamnus Chardonnay.
2022 proved a challenging year for some, but our high-altitude vineyards allowed us to harvest at optimal ripeness. All fruit was picked just before heavy rains in late February, resulting in a wine with crisp acidity and a low pH, key hallmarks of our Chardonnay. This vintage also allowed for more flexibility in barrel selection, with a mix of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fill French oak barrels contributing to the final blend. After two weeks of fermentation, the wine aged for nine months in barrel—38% of which were first fill—adding to its complexity and structure.
We are honored that our Thamnus Chardonnay continues to receive high acclaim. Tim Atkin MW recently awarded the 2022 vintage a notable 95 points in his 2024 report, remarking, “The Thamnus Chardonnay was one of the discoveries of my 2023 report, so I’m delighted that it’s every bit as good this year. Sourced from a single vineyard on Shaw’s Mountain, it’s light on its feet yet very well structured, with stylish 38% new wood, effortless minerality, and a medley of citrus, pear, vanilla, and clementine.”
At Thamnus, we pride ourselves on our meticulous vineyard and barrel selection, ensuring that only the finest fruit makes it into each bottle. This 2022 vintage presents a kaleidoscope of citrus aromas, dried orange peel, and orange blossom, with subtle hints of ginger root, vanilla pod, and white pepper. The maritime influence imparts a flinty minerality with notes of crushed stone, while richer nuances of foie gras and salted caramel create a beautifully balanced wine.

15/09/2024

WORKING NINE TO WINE – even on weekends! ;)

A little over a year ago, I made the daunting decision to leave a role where I was successful, time rich and comfortable, but feeling stagnant and uninspired, to launching my own venture. Enter —a specialist wine marketing agency helping small brands reach their full potential through tailored marketing, sales, and PR strategies.

Our mission is to invigorate brands at cost-effective rates. Once the strategies are in place and the brand is on the right path, we hand the reins back to the producer, empowering them to take control. This short-term model keeps costs low for producers while maintaining the authenticity and personality of their brand.

On my side, it's been a rollercoaster! The doors are constantly open with a flow of producers seeking help. As a single mum running my own company, it’s challenging, I've never worked harder, but it's incredibly rewarding and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

A huge shout-out to my right-hand woman, my work wife, and since September 1st, my full-time Marketing Coordinator and social media guru, .

So, while you enjoy your lazy Sunday, think of me juggling client needs, writing strategies, sending out invitations, crafting press releases, and keeping an 11-year-old entertained (without too much screen time!).

13/09/2024

https://www.quicket.co.za/events/276044-noble-vice-farm-feast-2024-new-barrel-cellar-tasting-room-at-kaapzicht/ #/