Following its digital transformation and consumer-centric strategy launched three years ago, SodaStream, the world’s leading sparkling water brand, is tapping into its consumers’ growing interest in design, innovation, mixology, and user-experience fields. As the trend of making fresh sparkling water at home continues to grow, and as consumers seek more approachable premium products, especially in the food and beverage sector[1], SodaStream is introducing a full top-to-bottom redesign of the company’s symbol, color palette, websites, as well as introducing a new tier of elevated products.

Picture:

Trophy winners at the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge:

From left: Danie Keulder (Constantia Uitsig: Best Blanc de Blancs), Anton Smal (Newstead: Best Extended Aging), Megan Mullis (Domaine des Dieux: Best Brut and Best Producer), Charl Schoeman (Simonsig: Best Nectar and Best Rosé) and Shane Mullis, also from Domaine des Dieux.

Top image: Paul Clüver

Paul Clüver Family Wines, the winery that pioneered viticulture and winemaking in Elgin 35 years ago, reaffirmed its status as a leading South African producer with First Growth status in the latest Tim Atkin South Africa Report, as well as having three wines scoring 95pts and above. The 96pts scores went to Paul Clüver’s Seven Flags Chardonnay 2021 and to the Noble Late Harvest Riesling 2021, with the icon Seven Flags Pinot Noir 2018 attracting 95pts. This year Atkin judged over 2 200 wines, critically reviewing them with scores on the 100pt scale.

Boplaas whisky has received a Platinum medal for a second time at the Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards, whose winners for 2022 were announced in recent days. Only 19 entries received the sought-after accolade this year, putting Boplaas in the top 1.15% of all wine and spirit entries. Furthermore, the whisky was one of only two that received Platinum status. 

Parents of pooches can treat their pups to Cape Town’s first-of-its-kind doggy high tea at The President Hotel in Bantry Bay. On Saturday, 8 October 2022, four-legged friends are invited to enjoy a locally inspired pup-friendly afternoon tea featuring carrot pupcakes, meatloaf, pawtato fritters and a selection of sweet and savoury treats.

The onset of spring this year marks two significant milestones in the 158-year existence of the Burger family wine farm – where time is naturally measured in tune with the seasonal rhythm of the vintages and their highlights.

The verdict is out and the experts have spoken. All South African Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs) entered into the 2022 SA Olive Awards have been judged and awarded at the 2022 SA Olive Awards.

Top image: Andries Burger

Andries Burger did not, perchance, find Pinot noir. The grape found, enchanted and overwhelmed him. The first and only cellarmaster at Paul Clüver Family Wines in Elgin, who has been at the helm for 26 vintages this year, not only pioneered Pinot noir in the cool-climate Elgin appellation but has become one of the leading voices propagating the merits of South Africa’s Pinot noir sector through his array of singularly expressive wines made from arguably the world’s most revered red grape.

Caption: Team Diemersdal with the Genl Smuts Trophy.
Back from left: Juandré Bruwer (winemaker) and Gerhard Visser (farm manager)
Front: Mari Branders (winemaker), Thys Louw (owner-winemaker) and Janeke Beck (winemaker).

Continuing a wave of competition triumphs in recent years, this Robertson wine estate was crowned as Top Terroir Wine Estate for the second year in a row at the 17th annual SA Terroir Wine Awards, while also winning two coveted trophies for national winners in the Cabernet Franc and Cinsaut categories.