It really comes as no surprise to report that excellent fortified wines (Muscadels, Sherries and Ports) come from Paarl as the town in 33°S while Jerez de la Frontera in Spain is 33°N. Fortifieds comprise less than 3% of SA production and a tasting of the Monis range at Odyssey in the Bo Kaap on Friday confirmed that Paarl does them exceedingly well.

The Frontera at Jerez refers to the border between Moorish and Christian Spain while Odyssey is on the border of the Muslim Bo Kaap, which made the venue most appropriate. My pick of the soetes is the Muscadel 2001 being modelled by the Odyssey mixologist (above) which at 229 g/l sugar, is still drier than Coke. Well the liquid version, at least. With a slice of lemon over crushed ice and some spicy salami they serve at breakfast at Rijk’s Country Lodge in Tulbagh, I can’t think of a nicer Father’s Day present this Sunday if your dad is not an Imam nor an Ayatollah.

The Monis Port, made from Touriga Naçional, Tinta Barroca and Souzao grown in Calitzdorp, is Christmas in winter and great with blue cheese. Another idea for Dad’s Day is the Monis Pale Dry Sherry at 18g/l sugar if he’s Type II diabetic or sweet enough already or you’re Portuguese, in which case chorizo is called for.

Monis Full Cream will do if he lives in Pretoria where koeksusters are common (a cheesecake from New York Bagel in Sea Point if Cape Town based) while Monis Medium Cream with salty Camembert works in the rest of the country. Monis is truly the one-stop Father’s Day gift shop and priced between R70 and R100 a bottle, they won’t break the bank either.