Another Vat of Wine

Ian and Jane Smorthwaite have created, what the American Express Dining Awards call, "the country's best kept secret" through a combination of exceptional wine and food in the rolling hills of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. What surprises most wine enthusiasts is that the wines are all of origin, Lions River, and hold their own among their peers in the Western Cape. There is, however, a unique expression in each bottle that communicates this climate, altitude, distinctive soil and the extraordinary amount of hard work it takes to make wine in this area. You might also get a sense, as you nose and taste the wine, of a family that just loves what they do.

A micro journey through the Stellenbosch Wine Routes on a cricket field at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg with Lanzerac, Villiera, Neil Ellis Wines, Cavalli and Neethlingshof and some insight into the region from Chairman Mike Ratcliffe.

A true boutique winery in an area better known for its equestrian pursuits that for its wine. Catherine Lacey and her husband Peter Roeloffze have created the first Hout Bay wines of origin, high on the slopes bordering Constantia in the Cape.

Urban Brewery lies in the harbour of Hout Bay in the Cape. It's a brewery and tap room with a commitment to true craft in beer making, using the finest ingredients and a true hands-on approach. Its proprietor Geoff Roeloffze oversees each step in the process and perfects each brew through experimentation, at the same time aiming for consistency in every glass. Also, it's a really cool place to hang out and enjoy some of the finest craft beer available in South Africa.

Norman Goodfellows Fine Wine and Spirit Merchants is exactly that. It's no ordinary liquor store but considered the home of the widest range of wines, spirits, beer and related merchandise in South Africa. This where the connoisseur finds their favourite brand and is introduced to something they might never have seen before. Carrie Adams is the director who curates the diverse selection of alcohol brands that define the Norman Goodfellows experience. She knows a thing or two about wine..........