Wines I Like: Finding gems

In partnership with Johann Biermann, we will be exploring the universe of wine. Starting off with some great value for money wines

Let’s be real, we all want to drink delicious wine without emptying our wallets. I mean, who doesn’t? I’m frequently asked, “what are the best value wines out there?” And I totally get it – with inflation on the rise and daily expenses piling up, it’s crucial to find affordable yet high-quality wines that won’t break the bank.

Many people might assume that “value wines” are synonymous with “cheap wines,” but that’s not necessarily true. In fact, a value wine is one that offers more than what you’d expect given its price point. Take, for example, the Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc 2019, which was recently named one of the top 50 wines in the world by the highly respected international publication, Decanter. Its younger cousin can be purchased for around R175 a bottle, while many of its French peers trade at R500 or more for the same quality. To me, that’s a fantastic value wine! And it’s worth noting that South Africa scored not one, but two of the top 50 wines globally at the Decanter awards ceremony, with the KWV The Mentors Cabernet Franc 2019 also making the cut.

Of course, most of us aren’t just looking for value wines – we want something that’s both a great value and affordable. That’s where the real magic happens – I call these wines “gems.” Gems are easy-drinking wines that strike the perfect balance between quality and affordability with enough structure to complement some dishes. They’re the kind of wines you can pop open on a school night or serve to friends at a weekend dinner party. They’re well-rounded, respectable, and won’t put a dent in your wallet.

You may be wondering, where can we find these elusive gems? Well, it’s not always easy, but one of the best ways is to get out there and taste different wines at a price point you’re comfortable with. This will help you determine where the best value lies for your taste buds. Personally, I like to start with well-respected wine producers and search for any second label wines they may offer. These wines are made from grapes that didn’t make it into the producer’s premium range and are instead used in their more commercial offerings – usually at a much better price point! Some of my favourite producers with famous second labels include Boekenhoutskloof with Chocolate Block (a Syrah-led red blend), Vilafonté with Seriously Old Dirt (a Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux blend), and Kanonkop with their Kadette range (which includes a straight Cabernet Sauvignon, straight Pinotage, Pinotage red blend, and even a rosé). These are all well-respected producers that make serious wines, so you can trust that their second labels will also be of quality, but closer to that gem status you’re looking for.

Luckily for us, South Africa has plenty of wines that fall into the gem category. For the purpose of this article, I’m going to focus on wines that are below the R120 mark (at the time of writing and as per the producer’s website). You can find these wines directly from the producers themselves, and I urge you to support them directly as many of them are small businesses.

First up, we have the Rascallion 45 RMP Red Blend. With its prominent red fruit flavors and Cinsault-led blend, this wine is both affordable and super tasty. Rascallion doesn’t own any vineyards, but they know how to pick the best grapes from Stellenbosch, Swartland, Darling, Robertson, and Piekenierskloof. The wine blending is done by Rianie Strydom and at R100 per bottle, it’s a steal.

From the hot slopes of Piekenierskloof, comes a wine that I’ve dubbed one of my favourite braai wines, the Marras Piekenierskloof Grenache. The wine is light in style, loaded with red fruit flavours, and very accessible. It’s as perfect around the fire as it is while binging a series. Made by Martin Lamprecht, this wine is only R95 a bottle.

Now for a value wine of note, the Saxenburg Guinea Fowl Red Blend. The Guinea Fowl is a Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux blend (i.e. a red blend consisting of some of the French Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec) and has won numerous value wine awards. The wine is much fuller and drier than what you’d get from the Rascallion and Marras and would surprise many in a blind tasting when they hear it’s only R91 a bottle.

Now what about the white wines? I’d like to start with a super Sauvignon Blanc by Rianie Strydom (incidentally the wine blender of the abovementioned Rascallion). The Strydom Family Wines Freshman Sauvignon Blanc is exactly the style of Sauvignon Blanc that I look for. While many Sauvignon Blancs are usually loaded with flavours of green pepper and cut grass and has an overload of acidity, this wine is much more balanced and leans towards the yellow fruit spectrum (think tropical fruits like pineapple). At R105 a bottle, this is a great summer wine.

If you’re feeling adventurous and ready to explore new horizons, then let’s talk about the Fledge & Co Jikken Barrels Steen. Made by Leon Coetzee and Margaux Nel, the Fledge & Co Jikken Barrels Steen, is a Chenin Blanc from old Swartland bush vines. From the first time I had this wine, I knew this is the kind of Chenin I’d like to drink. At around R95 a bottle, this wine is definitely worthwhile.

One more to go, another Swartland gem is the AA Badenhorst Secateurs Chenin Blanc. Made by the legendary Adi Badenhorst, this wine comes from old bush vines that were planted in the late 1960s to mid-1970s. The wine has decent body, layered with flavour and complexities. And at R100 a bottle, it’s a no-brainer.

If you are new to wine, the wines above are a great starting point to your wine journey. My advice would be to engage with wine lovers who want to share their passion and stories, and to continue exploring different wine styles until you find the ones you most enjoy. For those that are more familiar with the wine scene, do try and seek out gems – it makes wine much more exciting! Wine is this great product that can over deliver and, in the correct setting, take you to a whole different place (even while enjoyed responsibly!).

Got any wines we may have missed out on? Be sure to reach out to us at info@altvestcapital.co.za