Dan Really Likes Wine

Backed by big name judges like Oz Clarke and Cathy van Zyl, Investec Trophy Wine Show chair Michael Fridjhon has named this year’s star performers - and joins the show to celebrate the class of 2026.

From the gathering of industry heavyweights that made up the room at WineTalk Joburg, a special edition of the show featuring Nedbank’s Kensi Nobanda and the Alchemy project, plus winemakers Shawn Mathyse from Ken Forrester, and Delheim’s Nongcebo Langa.

As arguably the world’s most famous champagne house, Moët et Chandon carries enormous prestige - which makes Benoît Gouez, the resident chef de cave, one of the most influential people in French wine.

The Barton family occupy a special place in Bordeaux’s wine story, keeping a multi-generational family property firmly amongst the most revered producers in France. As the latest in a long line of family members to have stood watch over two iconic Bordeaux properties, Damien Barton Sartorius has French wine firmly in his DNA - but also has a very particular love for South Africa.

As the global capital of South African wine sales, Johannesburg has a huge say in the future of the industry - and with the second edition of WineTalk focused on exactly that, Andrew Shelly and Pamela Makhubele set the scene. Andrew Shelly is one of South Africa’s great wine teachers, Pamela Makhubele one of our most passionate supporters - and both will play in a big part in the second edition of...

It’s been shopping season at Van Loveren in recent years, as the Robertson powerhouse added Zandvliet, Neil Ellis, Landskroon and Survivor to the Retief family’s portfolio; Philip Retief talks through the past, the present and a very exciting future.

They’re best known in South Africa for having launched Vilafonté with partner Mike Ratcliffe, but Phil Freese and Zelma Long have a compelling wine story that extends across both South Africa and California.

As he and his brother Frederic hand over the reins of Vieux Télégraphe to a sixth generation, Daniel Brunier reflects on the success of an icon of Chateauneuf du Pape.

Like his celebrity chef brother Ton, sommelier Tam Chaisiri Tassanakajohn started life in the finance world, but is now happily running Michelin star restaurant Nusara, where marquee champagne leads the fine wine offering.

Overseeing wine at a three Michelin star restaurant, celebrating a love of riesling, and appraising a fine dining scene in Bangkok that’s soaring: sommelier Guillaume Perdigues checks in from Restaurant Sühring.

A chance visit to Michelin-starred restaurant Potong inspired Thai sommelier Phuengthum Khathhiphathee to join the (almost) all-woman team, and join Bangkok’s fine food and wine revolution.

Serbian sommerlier Vladimir Kojic swapped idyllic island life for a high octane chaos of Gaggan, Asia’s number one ranked restaurant - and it’s proved to be the greatest adventure of his life.

Former England cricket captain Sir Andrew Strauss was born in Johannesburg, and reignited his love of the country he was born in through the joys of South African wine.

A lifelong devotion to bubbles has made Sweden’s Fredrik Schelin one of the world’s most acclaimed experts on the world of champagne.

As another year of the South African wine industry’s marquee weekend of philanthropy plays out at Nederburg, Cape Wine Auction trustees Wendy Appelbaum of De Morgenzon, De Villiers Graaff of De Grendel and Ken Forrester celebrate a triumphant platform.

How a chance encounter online led to actor and comedian Schalk Bezuidenhout becoming Kempton Park’s most famous wine proprietor.

Podcaster, wine authority, and massive fan of South Africa - it’s the (very cool) Janina Doyle wine

The global success of The Chocolate Block, a sprawling range of brands, and new adventures in Portual: the story of Marc Kent, one of South African wine’s great visionaries.

JUNE RODIL: HOUSTON'S FINE WINE CHAMPION: passionate champion in Texas, as June Rodil stocks fine wine lists with great bottles from the Cape.

Giant former Springbok Schalk Burger Senior swapped the scrum for the cellar, and his Wellington wine estate Welbedacht - home to standout red blend No. 6, with a rich rugby story.

Changing harvest times, experimenting with varietals, shifts in style: as climate change impacts wine around the world, the definitive expert on the subject is Canadian Michelle Bouffard.

Is China really South African wine’s greatest opportunity? Dan Siebers runs an expert eye over the market that could be a game changer for the industry.

The accent might not be South African, but everything else is: Andy Woolgar explains his deep love of South African wine - and the challenges of conquering the American market.

Glorious views, lovely people - and now, award-winning pizza. The delightful story behind Ballito’s Al Pescatore

Dutch culture has a longstanding presence in South Africa - and thanks to wine, we’re returning the favour. Wine expert Lars Daniëls from PERSWIJN in the Netherlands joins this week’s #DRLW​ podcast.