South Africa has a bigger presence than ever at Manchester Wine Festival this year, and honestly, we're thrilled. Some of the best-value, most exciting wines on the floor will be coming from the Cape, and Stellenbosch is its beating heart.
Just east of Cape Town, the region is ringed by dramatic mountains, with cool breezes rolling in off False Bay. Those breezes keep the grapes fresh under the Cape sunshine, so you get ripe, generous fruit with real energy and poise.
Simonsig is a family-run estate with a place in the history books. In 1971 it made Kaapse Vonkel, South Africa's first Cap Classique, the Cape's name for sparkling wine made the traditional way. Think fine bubbles, citrus and a gentle biscuity richness.
Bellevue is a guardian of Pinotage, South Africa's very own grape. Pinotage was created in the 1920s by crossing Pinot Noir with Cinsault, and one of the country's first commercial Pinotage vineyards was planted at Bellevue in 1953. At its best it's plush and dark-fruited, with mulberry, plum and a smoky, savoury edge.
Klein Graniet is a family-owned vineyard in the foothills of the Simonsberg, making reds, a certified old-vine Sauvignon Blanc and a dry Blanc de Noir. Old vines are one of the Cape's great treasures: deeper roots and a concentration younger vineyards just can't fake.
There's loads more Cape wine to find on our exhibitors page, from Redamancy, Schultz Family Wines and Eight Gates to Fuselage and Ahrens. And if you want to hear the stories straight from the people behind the bottles, there are six Meet the Winemaker masterclasses in Room 2, including Klein Graniet at 3.45pm, Ahrens Family Wine at 5.45pm and Redamancy Vineyards at 6.35pm.