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Platters Guide 40th Edition

I was looking for some information on a wine the other day, so dug out my collection of John Platter guides. A few have gone missing over the years, but I was able to find what I was looking for.

Even though there are well over 200 South African wines available to choose from on our website, most buyers know what they like and generally stick to that. But if you’re not sure, or would like to try something different, then the John Platter guides would be a good point of reference. A worthwhile investment at around £20 or so.

John Platter Guides

The 2020 edition celebrates the 40th anniversary of the guide. This is the ultimate guide to South African Wines.

The book is available on Amazon and you can buy it by following this link

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Chenin Blanc, Bain’s Way, Wellington, South Africa

Named after a legendary South African pioneer, Andrew Bain, who built the road that connected the Cape to the north of the country and ran through the Wamakersvallei (valley of the wagons) where in 1941 a group of like-minded grape growers founded a central cellar for the pressing of their grapes. The cellar grew its members and boasted a variety of fine wine brands for an even wider variety of wine lovers. Their Chenin is made from grapes that come from bush vine vineyard, picked at optimum ripeness from about 24°B (Brix – a measurement of sugar). After the crush, the juice was left on the skins for 3 to 5 hours to encourage aromas and flavours and then pressed.

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Viognier, Saronsberg Estate, Tulbagh, South Africa

Nestled at the foot of the mountain after which it is named, Saronsberg wine estate is a contemporary addition to the rich heritage of Tulbagh valley ? an ancient wine region situated 120 kms north-east of Cape Town. It was formed late in 2002, with the aim of producing exceptional wines that express the character and quality of their unique origin. In October 2003, Dewaldt Heyns joined as winemaker ? just in time to witness the final construction of Saronsberg?s cutting edge cellar and avant-garde tasting room. Harvest of the maiden vintage began on 25 January 2004 at 06:01 (Dewaldt misjudged the one minute walk from his house to the cellar), when the farm?s first Sauvignon Blanc grapes were gathered.

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Shiraz Rosé, Provenance, Tulbagh, South Africa

Nestled at the foot of the mountain after wich it is named, Saronsberg wine estate is a contemporary addition to the rich heritage of Tulbagh Valley – an ancient wine region situated 120 kms north-east of Capetown. It was formed late in 2002, with the aim of producing exceptional wines that express the character and quality of their unique origin. In October 2003, Dewaldt Heyns joined as winemaker -just in time to witness the final construction of Saronsberg’s cutting edge cellar and avant -garde tasting room. Harvest of the maiden vintage began on 25 January 2004 at 06:01(Dewaldt misjudged the one minute walk from his house to the cellar), when the farm’s first Sauvignon Blanc grapes were gathered.