Icons of South Africa

A Leander Wine Club event, hosted by Remington Norman £85pp · Only 35 places · Open to all Leander Club members and their guests.

Taste 12 exceptional South African wines, shipped directly from the Cape by Leander Wine Club founder David Banford, and curated by Remington Norman. The tasting is followed by a two-course South African supper, offering bold flavours and generous hospitality.

Early booking is strongly advised.

South Africa is often described as the World in One Country. The vast Karoo veld, the dramatic mountains of the Western Cape and coastlines shaped by both the Indian and Atlantic oceans create a landscape of extraordinary variety. Its wines reflect this same diversity, from fizz to fortified, Sauvignon Blanc to Viognier, Pinot Noir to Petit Verdot, Syrah to Sangiovese and Chenin Blanc that rivals the Loire. The reds range from Stellenbosch Bordeaux blends to refined MCC from Franschhoek. These wines are expressive, ageworthy and remarkably good value.

With more than 600 estates, and with most domestic wine sold for under £5, selecting the best of the best is a genuine challenge. This is precisely where Remington’s expertise matters.

Our twelve bottle selection is intentionally focused. It offers a clear window into what South Africa does best.

About Remington Norman

Remington Norman is a distinguished wine merchant and author. He founded La Réserve on Walton Street in London and wrote The Great Domaines of Burgundy, Rhone Renaissance: The Finest Rhone and Rhone-Style wines from France and the New World, Grand Cru - A Guide to Burgundy’s Finest Vineyards and Sense and Semblance: An Anatomy of Superficiality in Modern Society. He became a Master of Wine in 1984 (resigned 2004), is a two-time winner of the André Simon Prize for wine writing and was elected to the Académie Internationale du Vin in 1996.

He was educated at Harrow and Hertford College, Oxford, where he received his doctorate in 1972. In 1982 he qualified as a BASI ski instructor, which adds another string to an already impressive bow. He has had a home in South Africa for many years, although he now spends most of the year in Wiltshire.

As Tim Atkin MW notes, South Africa’s past is ever present. Table Mountain is older than the Himalayas. Muratie has made wine since 1685, the same year the Edict of Nantes forced Huguenot winemakers to flee France and settle in the Cape, bringing rootstock that helped shape the country’s wine future.

We hope this tasting inspires you to explore one of the world’s most remarkable wine nations, the Rainbow Nation, and perhaps visit it yourself.

Leander Wine Club is an informal and friendly group for all of our Members. Please join us and enjoy an evening of wine, food and good conversation.