The festive season is upon us, which means that shops around the country are adorning their windows with fake snow and playing brain-numbing Christmas carols on repeat. Now, I’m not the Grinch, but the last-minute shopping lists, distinct lack of parking bays and schmaltzy decor can get a teeny bit tiresome.
Make your festive season infinitely more enjoyable by a) simply buying everyone wine as a gift and b) consuming more wine to cope with all the stress.
Here are some of my tips for getting your wine fix this December, or simply for finding a few gifts along the way.
If you want something special

Capetonians are spoilt to have Caroline’s Fine Wine Cellar on their doorstep. It’s an excellent spot to find a liquid gem for a special meal. Pop into one of their stores (either in town or Tokai) and peruse their selection of fine wines. You can order from their website too.
Wine Concepts is another great store with a branch in Joburg too. The staff are very friendly and will give you great tips. Don’t miss the daily tastings!
When in doubt, buy any wine from Springfield. If you’re feeling grand, go for the impeccably cultivated and rather trendy Sadie Family wines.

If you need some bargains

Getwine.co.za is a great place to pick up some cray cray deals. Sign up to their newsletter to get a first look at their specials.
Makro is also worth checking out. All their wines can be ordered online, which will spare you a nightmarish shopping session with hordes of zombies looking for Verimark products and bulk toilet paper specials.
For those who like to take a gamble, visit Mooiberge Farmstall on the R44 between Stellenbosch and Somerset West (it’s the one with all the scarecrows). Their wine emporium is a real labyrinth of wines, where you can either find an absolute masterpiece or something that’s horribly corked and tastes like old cardboard.

If you’re feeling stingy

Planning on going out for a meal? The Hussar Grill charges no corkage. Zilch. Zip. Nada.
The Perdeberg Chenin is a fresh, tropical, easy-drinking white that goes for R216.00 a case from the estate.
One of my favourite bargains: The Woolies Italian Red, which sells for R 54.95 for a one litre bottle. The perfect thing to down when the turkey still isn’t cooked and Uncle Marvin starts offering his opinions on politics and religion.