Showcasing best of wine world’s lesser known gems

AIF anyone needed proof that wine culture is alive and kicking in PE, they need look no further than Stanley Street, where the city’s only pukka wine bar, For the Love of Wine, offers a bird’s eye view of the bustling restaurant scene below.

Owner Robyn Martin has made it her mission to introduce wine lovers to lesser-known gems and boutique estates, with a wine list that changes monthly, regular tastings with visiting winemakers, and twice-yearly wine shows.

The latest edition of her Indie Wine Show was near sold-out as visitors thronged to sample the likes of Beaumont, Cronier and Windfall, among more well-known brands like Paul Cluver, Graham Beck and Jordan.

The show proved a great opportunity to seek out some different summer wine options.

Beaumont is a small family-owned farm in the Bot River area, where they pride themselves on hand-crafting wines by traditional methods. Winemaker Sebastian Beaumont’s pride and joy is the Hope Marguerite wooded Chenin Blanc, named after his late grandmother.

It’s a juicy mouthful of ripe fruit, with hints of citrus and creaminess from well-balanced oak – a really outstanding example of Chenin. His unwooded Chenin is a lovely summer choice, with shades of lime and honey, while the Goutte d’Or is a delicious dessert wine made from Chenin. With honey, fruit and spice, it’s not overly sweet, and would be great served chilled with either dessert or a rich chicken liver paté.

De Meye from Stellenbosch offers an elegant unwooded Chenin made from old bush vines, balancing fruit and minerality to deliver a dry white ideal for salads, fish and sushi.

Weltevrede’s Lindelize MCC is a dry but happy, fruity pink bubbly with hints of strawberries and lemons, while Entheos is a dry, lemony MCC with classic biscuit taste.

Joostenberg winemaker Tyrrel Myburgh presented his organically farmed wines, including the accessible and well-priced Family Blend White and Rosé. The white is a crisp blend of Chenin, Viognier and Rousanne, while the dry pink offers complex fruit from its blend of Shiraz and Merlot. Lovely summer wine picks.

From Robertson, Windfall Wines have a tiny output, available only in restaurants and wine bars. Their Sauvignon Blanc is lightly tropical, crisp and fresh, flinty with a lime finish – a must for oysters! E-mail Robyn on

for news of tastings and special offers.