Time waits for no man and once again we find ourselves on the cusp of the 2002 London International Wine & Spirits Fair. Yes, that mad frenzied event that ensures over 30 000 sample bottles of wine will be uncorked by producers and producers’ agents, many in the hope of wooing new buyers or a potential national distributor.

On top of that, there can be no question of doubt that the world’s various wine regions are still continuing to evolve faster than ever before. After all, there is no shortage of small micro-wineries throughout Europe and the New World that are busying themselves with strategies to try and hit the big time. For most, this means cracking the UK market in a significant way.

One of the countries hoping to do this is South Africa, of course. And while the political revolution that once enabled the Cape to relaunch its wine industry to the international community is well and truly a phenomenon of the past, the mini-revolution that’s taking place in the South African wine world is continuing unabated. I’m talking new estates, new superstar wines, and new levels of quality on a broad scale not yet seen before.

And of course, as the wineanorak’s resident South African specialist, I am once again going to try and help potential visitors to the LIWSF, or even just avid followers of new and upcoming South African wines, negotiate their way through the long lists of wineries and wines, and fast track them to the exciting new releases that have cracked top grades in the past 6 months plus leading up to the show.

While my list of recommended wines and wineries is not based on a scientific analysis (and may have missed a few), it is a partial result of my many recent tastings and many long hours spent scouring scores and results from industry magazines and journals back home in South Africa, including WINE Magazine and the John Platter SA Wine Guide 2002, to mention but two local sources.

So here goes……print this article and use it as a ‘check list’ at the show!

(Key: DG – Veritas 2001 Double Gold, the highest award, and star ratings from either Wine magazine SA or John Platter SA Wine Guide 2002)

• Simonsvlei Hercules Paragon 2001 – 4 Stars Wine

• Vergelegen Reserve 2001 – 4 Stars Wine

• Morgenhof 2001 – 4 Stars Wine

• Cape Point Vineyards 2001

• Neil Ellis Groenekloof 2001

• Groote Post 2001

• Lands End 2001

• Waterford 2001 – 3 Stars Wine

• Alexanderfontein 2001

• Steenberg 2001

• Villiera Blanc Fume 2001 – 4 Stars Wine

• Nederburg 2001 – 4 Stars Wine

• Steenberg Reserve 2001 – DG, SAA Champion 2002, etc.

• Welmoed Reserve 2001

• Asara 2001 – 4 Stars Wine (Formerly Verdun Estate)

• Newton Johnson 2001 – 4 Stars Platter

• Havana Hills 2001 – 4 Stars Platter

• Morgenhof 2001

• De Trafford Keermont 2001 – 4.5 Stars Wine, Chenin Challenge Tie Winner

• Kanu Limited Release Wooded 2000 – 4.5 Stars, Tie Winner, Diners Club Winner

• Lammershoek Barrique 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Hazendal Wooded 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Kanu Wooded 2001 – 4 Stars Wine

• Kanu 2001 Unwooded - 3.5 Stars Wine

• Robusto 2001 – 4 Stars Wine

• Rijk’s 2000 - 3.5 Stars Wine

• Groot Constantia 2001

• Klein Constantia 2001

• Buitenverwachting 2001

• Villiera 2001

• Rupert & Rothschild Baroness Nadine 1999 – 4 Stars Wine

• Mulderbosch 2001 - 3.5 Stars Wine

• Avontuur Luna de Miel 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Vergelegen Reserve 1999 - DG

• Morgenhof 1999 – 4 Stars Wine

• Chamonix 1998 – 4 Stars Wine

• Rustenburg 2000 Five Soldiers

• Warwick 2001

• Meerlust 1998 – Decanter 4 Stars

• Groot Constantia 2001 Gouverneurs Reserve

• Glen Carlou 2000 – 4 Stars Platter

• De Meye 2001 – 4 Stars Platter

• Newton Johnson 2001 – 4 Stars Platter

• Vergelegen 1999 – 4.5 Stars Wine

• Contantia Uitsig 1999 – 4.5 Stars Wine

• Bloemendal 2001 – 4 Stars Wine

• Boschendal Jean Le Long 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Stellenzicht 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Diemersfontein 2001 - 3.5 Stars Wine

• Bilton 2000 – 4.5 Stars Wine

• De Trafford 2000 – 4.5 Stars Wine

• Bredell’s 1998 – 4 Stars Wine

• Meerlust 1997 – 4.5 Stars Platter

• Vergenoegd 1999 – 4 Stars Wine

• Thelema Reserve 1999 – 4 Stars Wine

• Warwick 1999 - 3.5 Stars Wine

• Veenwouden 1999 - 3.5 Stars Wine, 4.5 Stars Platter

• Slaley 2000 - 3.5 Stars Wine

• Havana Hills 2000 – 4 Stars Platter

• Rustenberg Peter Barlow 1999 – 4.5 Stars Wine, 92 Wine Spectator, 4.5 Stars Platter

• Plaisir de Merle Reserve 1999 – 4 Stars Wine

• Neil Ellis Vineyard Selection 1999 – 4 Stars Wine

• Warwick 1999 - 3.5 Stars Wine

• Le Riche Reserve 1999 – 4.5 Stars Platter

• Le Riche Reserve 2000 – 4.5 Stars Platter

• Hidden Valley 1999 - 3.5 Stars Wine

• Morganhof 1999 - 3.5 Stars Wine

• Mischa Eventide 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Bilton 2000 4 Stars Wine

• Altydgedacht 1998 – 4 Stars Wine

• Starke 1998 – 4 Stars Wine

• Havana Hills 1999 – 4.5 Stars Platter

• Boekenhoutskloof 1999 – 4 Stars Wine

• Rust en Vrede 1998 – 4.5 Stars Wine

• Seidelberg Roland’s Reserve Shiraz 2000 – 4.5 Stars Wine

• Graham Beck Coastal Shiraz 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• De Trafford 2000 – 4.5 Stars Wine

• Durbanville Hills 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Stellenzicht Golden Triangle 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Coleraine 1999 – 4.5 Stars Platter

• Havana Hills 2000 – 4 Stars Wine, DG

• Groenekloof Reserve 1999 – 4 Stars Wine

• Mooiplaas 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Reebokskloof 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 1999 – 4 Stars Wine

• Bon Courage 2001 – 4 Stars Wine

• Diemersfontein 2001 – 4 Stars Wine

• Barefoot 2001 – 4 Stars Wine

• Glen Carlou 2001 – 4 Stars Wine

• Ashanti 2000 – 4.5 Stars Platter

• Muratie 2000 – 5 Stars Platter

• Gilga 2000 – 5 Stars Platter

• Flagstone The Poetry Collection 2000 – 3.5 Stars Wine

• Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak 2000 - 3.5 Stars Wine

• Hamilton Russell 2000 – 3 Stars Wine, DG

• De Trafford CWG 2000 - 3 Stars Wine

• Barefoot 2001 – 4 Stars Platter

• Bellevue 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Delheim 2000 – ABSA Top 10

• Ashanti 1999 – 4 Stars Platter

• Diemersfontein 2001 - ABSA Top 10

• Kanonkop 2000 - ABSA Top 10

• L’Avenir 2000 - ABSA Top 10, 4 Stars Wine

• Pinehurst 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Cederberg 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Moreson 2000 - ABSA Top 10

• Steytler 2000 – 5 Stars Platter

• Lord Neethling 1998 - ABSA Top 10

• Rijk’s 2000 - ABSA Top 10

• Simonsig Red Hill 1999 - ABSA Top 10

• Tukulu 2000 - ABSA Top 10

• Uiterwyk ‘Top of the Hill’ 2000 - ABSA Top 10

• Fairview Primo 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Bellevue 2000 – 4.5 Stars Platter

• Bellevue Tumara 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Bellevue Tumara 1999 – 4.5 Stars Platter

• Nitida Calligraphy 2000 – Wine 4 Stars

• Steenberg 2000 – 4 Stars Wine

• Rupert & Rothschild 1999 – 4 Stars Wine

• KWV Cathedral Cellars Triptych 1998 - 3.5 Stars Wine

• De Toren Fusion V 2000 – 4.5 Stars Wine

• Vergelegen 1999 – 4.5 Stars Wine

• Havana Hills Cabernet / Merlot 2000 – 5 Stars Platter

• Glen Carlou Grande Classique 1999 – 4 Stars Platter

• Jean Daneel Cabernet / Merlot 1998 – 4 Stars Platter

• Veenwouden Classic 1999 – 4.5 Stars Platter

• Cordoba Crescendo 1998/9

• Veenwouden Vivat Bachus 1999 – 4 Stars Platter

• Kanonkop Paul Sauer 1998 – DG

• Steytler Vision 2000 – DG

• Warwick 1999 Three Cape Ladies

• Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve 2000

• Meerlust Rubicon 1997 – 4.5 Stars Platter

• Morgenhof Premiere Selection 1997/8

• Rust en Vrede Estate Red 1998 – 5 Stars Platter

• Rustenburg John X Merriman 1999 – 90 Wine Spectator, 4 Stars Platter

• Boland White Muscadel 1995 – DG

• Graham Beck Blanc de Blanc Brut 1996 – 4 Stars Wine

• Laborie Brut 1996 – 4.5 Stars Wine

• Morgenhof Brut Reserve Centenaire 1997

• Bakenskop Red Muscadel 1999 – DG

• Bredell’s Cape Vintage Reserve 1998 – DG

• Klein Constantia Noble Late Harvest 1998 – DG

• Klein Contantia Vin de Constance 1997 – 5 Stars Platter

Enjoy them if you can find them!