Savanna Wows The Brits While Outpacing Competitors At Home (15 June 2006) Savanna, the “dry but you can drink it” South African cider advertised with a uniquely quirky humour, looks set to become another major export brand in the Distell stable. In doing so, it could join products like South Africa’s biggest spirit brand on international markets Amarula Cream and leading wines, Nederburg and Durbanville Hills.

Van Ryn's Luxury Brandies Acquire Further Gleam Abroad (1 June 2006) Van Ryn’s 10 Year Old, a 10 year old vintage brandy, as well as the 100% potstilled Van Ryn’s Collection Reserve 12 Year Old and 15 Year Old brought home gold, while the Collection Reserve 20 Year Old, also a pure potstilled product, won a silver on the event, considered a leading international showcase for the liquor industry.

Fleur du Cap Launches Unique Sauvignon Blan (4 April 2006) Fleur du Cap has released an exclusive collection of Unfiltered Sauvignon Blancs made of grapes from five different wine producing areas, offering wine connoisseurs the unique opportunity to experience how terroir influences the character of the wine.

Zonnebloem Appoints New Winemaker (14 December 2005) Zonnebloem, a leader in the time-honoured art of winemaking, has appointed Deon Boshoff as winemaker of the white wines in this established range.

Plaisir de Merle Gains Membership of Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (2 December 2005) Plaisir de Merle, the historic wine farm in Simondium, has been granted membership of the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI) in recognition of its efforts to re-establish the natural habitat on large areas of the 985 ha farm of which almost 400 ha are planted to vines.

JC Scintilla Scoops SAA Cap Classique Trophy (10 November 2005) J.C. Le Roux Scintilla, the signature Méthode Cap Classique from The House of J.C. Le Roux, has clinched the esteemed Cap Classique Trophy at the 19th annual South African Airways (SAA) Wine Awards.

Durbanville Hills Newsletter (2 November 2005) Winemaker Martin Moore's missive from Durbanville Hills

Pongrácz Crowned With Gold At 2005 Veritas (24 October 2005) Pongrácz, the distinctive noble Cap Classique favoured by discerning lovers of fine bubbly, has clinched Gold at the 2005 Veritas Wine Awards.

Veritas Success For Fleur du Cap (11 October 2005) Fleur du Cap wines continued their winning streak at this year’s prestigious Veritas Awards - South Africa’s largest wine competition – with the premier Unfiltered as well as the regular range clinching 15 medals in total - one double gold, one gold, six silver and seven bronze medals.

Nederburg Rhine Riesling 2005 - A New Favourite (11 October 2005) The perfect entertaining wine, Nederburg’s Rhine Riesling is one of a handful of locally wines made from this celebrated varietal.

Cape Legends' Exports And Reputations Rise (6 October 2005) Co-inciding with the rising exports of the boutique portfolio of Cape Legends that markets and distributes the wines of 10 leading Cape brands, is a cache of awards earned on three major international wine contests across eight of its labels.

Tukulu Chenin A Winner (4 October 2005) With a circulation of over 100 000 readers, the US Wine Enthusiast Magazine definitely has clout in the American wine world. If your wine scores well in their magazine, you have reason to celebrate.

Nederburg Takes Only SA Trophy In Tri-Nations Wine Contest (29 August 2005) South Africa’s only trophy in this year’s Tri-Nations Wine Challenge has gone to the 2004 Nederburg Noble Late Harvest, described by the panellists, all prominent international wine critics, as a “stand-out wine”.

Van Ryn's Winning Streak Continues (28 July 2005) In the space of two months, the Van Ryn’s Collection Reserve range of handcrafted, single-potstilled brandies has earned four international gold medals and a trophy for the world’s best brandy.

The Sweet Smell Of Success (26 July 2005) The news last month that Nederburg’s 2004 Noble Late Harvest had won both the class trophy and gold medal on the Fairbairn Capital Wine Trophy Show has just been matched by news of the brand’s latest international success, with its 2002 Eminence, also a noble late harvest wine, bagging a gold medal on the highly prestigious international forum for Muscat wines, Muscats du Monde.

Durbanville Hills Reds A Favourite On Antarctica (12 July 2005) Red wines from Durbanville Hills are these days regularly called for at Sastrugi, the southernmost pub in the world frequented by South Africans. They also help provide warmth for the nine members of the South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) at dinner time.

New Elegant Fleur du Cap Natural Light Released (1 July 2005) Fleur du Cap has released the 2004 vintage of its ever popular Natural Light wine complete with a chic new look.

Van Ryn's Collection Reserve 12 Judged Best In the World - Again (23 June 2005) As trends forecasters predicted to the international liquor fraternity that consumers would be spending more on luxury goods worldwide, the attention of those at the biennial trade show Vinexpo, was turned to the Van Ryn’s Collection Reserve range when it was announced that the 12 Year Old Single Potstilled Brandy had been declared “Best Worldwide Brandy”.

Zonnebloem Releases Crisp 2005 Sauvignon Blanc (13 June 2005) Zonnebloem, a leader in the time-honoured art of winemaking since the early 18th century, has released its first wine of the 2005 harvest – a powerful yet refreshing Sauvignon Blanc.

'Beautifully Balanced' Nederburg Noble Late Scoops Dessert Cup (10 June 2005) Nederburg, South Africa’s most decorated winery is maintaining its reputation, this time winning the trophy for best dessert wine on the 2005 Fairbairn Capital Wine Trophy Show and earning fourth place in the ranking of top producer.

Lord Neethling Laurentius' Two Trophy Haul At Top Wine Show (9 June 2005) Lord Neethling Laurentius 2001 has scored a double trophy win on this year’s Fairbairn Capital Wine Trophy Show, impressing the palates of what is probably the most demanding judging panel on the South African wine show circuit.

Durbanville Hills Joins Brown-Forman's UK Portfolio (11 May 2005) The Brown-Forman Corporation, a leading international distributor of wines and spirits, is to distribute Distell’s Durbanville Hills range in the UK, through its Brown-Forman Wines Europe operation, that last year sold over 1 million cases of wine in Britain.

Nederburg Voted Readers' Favourite In Top German Trade Mag (6 February 2005) Nederburg has come out tops in the 2004 Readers’ Choice list of Germany’s leading wine trade magazine Weinwirtschaft in the publication’s category for New World wines.

Cape Legends Expands Its Boutique Wine Portfolio (31 January 2005) Cape Legends, the portfolio of specialist boutique wine brands, established in mid-2004, is expanding its marketing and sales operations to meet the growing demand for luxury and niche labels in both retail and on-consumption channels in the UK, Europe, North America and other burgeoning markets.

Fleur du Cap Releases Marvellous Merlot Vintage (18 January 2005) Followers of Fleur du Cap Merlot have a marvellous new vintage to look forward to with the release of the 2003 vintage.

Nederburg Wins 'Best Of' Wine Award (25 November 2004) Nederburg Wines has won the prestigious “Best Of” International Wine Tourism Award for Cape Town as its leading example of wine tourism.

Fleur du Cap Releases Long Awaited Noble Late Harvest (5 November 2004) The long awaited Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest 2003 has just been released, following a seven-year search for the ideal vineyard with the elusive botrytis character.

Durbanville Hills Newsletter - October 2004 (27 October 2004) Martin Moore's monthly missive from the winery in the Tygerberg hills

Veritas Hat Trick For Fleur du Cap Chenin Blanc (14 October 2004) Fleur du Cap Chenin Blanc scored a hat trick at this year’s prestigious Veritas Awards with three consecutive vintages scooping two Double Gold and one Gold medal. Overall, Fleur du Cap was ranked third best achiever with two Double Gold and four Gold medals.

Stellenzicht's Magic Aura Widens Internationally (13 September 2004) Stellenzicht’s iconic status has been affirmed once again, this time in Germany, where three wines have been singled out for excellence at the annual MUNDUSvin Great International Wine Award.

Fleur du Cap Releases Stunning Trio Of New Unfiltered Wines (10 September 2004) Fleur du Cap has just released three superb new white vintages in their premier range of Unfiltered wines.

Bergkelder Vinotèque Scoops Sappi Award (5 August 2004) The Bergkelder Vinotèque’s 2003/2004 Wine Maturation Report has been awarded the prestigious Sappi Award for design and printing excellence.

Van Ryn’s 12-Year-Old Brandy Judged Best In The World (3 August 2004) Proving that the art of distilling fine spirits in South Africa is comparable with any the world over, Distell’s Van Ryn’s 12-Year Old Special Reserve Potstill Brandy has won the trophy for the ‘Worldwide Best Brandy’ at the 2004 International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), which is held annually in London. This officially confirms its status as the best brandy in the world.

Zonnebloem Releases New Red Vintages (30 July 2004) Zonnebloem, a leader in the time-honoured art of winemaking since the early 18th century, has launched two new vintages in its range of red wines – the flagship Zonnebloem Laureat 2002 and the ever popular Zonnebloem Pinotage 2002.

Neethlingshof's International Acclaim Grows (21 July 2004) Neethlingshof has won a gold medal on this year’s International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) in London, as well as three bronzes and a commendation for excellence.

Nederburg Scoops Five Medals At London Show (19 July 2004) Nederburg has won five medals on this year’s International Wine & Spirits Competition in London, as well as three commendations for excellence.

Fleur du Cap Releases Prized 2003 Chenin Blanc (14 July 2004) Fleur du Cap Chenin Blanc 2003 just released with a string of awards in tow, has followed in the footsteps of its predecessor as a recognised international “Super Chenin”.