Caroline’s Red Wine Review is one of the leading tasting events on the South African wine calendar. This year it takes place on Thursday, 27 July, in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront.
On the evening, wine doyen Caroline Rillema shows off the Western Cape’s most celebrated reds.
South Africa is no slouch in the red wine department, producing some of the finest you can find. Of course, the Western Cape is also the home of Pinotage.
There are 89 384 hectares under vine in South Africa, down from 92 067 in 2019. Of this, 45% of the country’s vineyards are planted to red varietals, with the highest number, 11%, given over to Cabernet Sauvignon; Pinotage comes third, after Shiraz/Syrah (10%), at 7%.
Also read: A classy pub crawl: 5 wine Bars in Stellenbosch
The best South African red wines are an intriguing blend of New World and Old World, according to IWSC, the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
They offer bright, vibrant New World fruit, but with Old World complexity. This is due in part to the dazzling array of flora in the Western Cape, and this earthy, herbal character is often found in South Africa’s reds.
Caroline’s Red Wine Review aims to give wine lovers the rare opportunity to taste the Western Cape’s best flagship red wines all under one roof. Only 90 accolade-achieving winemakers are invited to present just one wine – their best of the best – on the evening.
‘We are delighted to bring the Cape’s finest producers of red wines together once again, giving lovers of fine wines the incredible opportunity to taste, meet and engage with the passionate people behind these phenomenal labels,’ says Caroline.
Her stores, Caroline’s Fine Wine Cellar, can be found in Sea Point and Tokai.
On the evening, you can join Caroline and the Cape’s leading masters of red wines for a walk-around wine tasting with fellow wine lovers, collectors, sommeliers and producers.
Caroline’s Red Wine Review takes place at The Lookout in the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town from 5pm to 9pm. Tickets are R450 per person and are available on Quicket
