Southern Sun Wine list concept

Southern Sun Wine list concept


As Africa’s Leading Hotel group we are committed to showcase the very best of South Africa.

Welcome to our world of fine wines. Let us take you on a journey of discovery of South Africa’s finest, complemented by some of the world’s benchmark wines without which the vinous journey would not be complete.

South Africa through its unique Terroir has the world’s oldest soil structure.
A legacy of the pre-historic Gondwana continent.

February 2, 1659 Jan van Riebeeck, the first commander of the Cape of Good Hope, wrote in his diary: “Today, praise is to God, wine was made for the first time from Cape grapes”.

350 years later, South Africa is the world’s 9th largest producer by volume, contributing 3.1 percent of the world’s wines, from 102 146 hectares of Vitis vinifera, of which 505 are active co-ops, estates and private cellars, as well as a host of smaller producers making 1 or 2 barrel only.

Our focus is not on brands or grape variety, as we all know the world’s greatest wines have no mention of any grape(s) whatsoever on their label. Our quest is to showcase to you our discerning clientele the best possible wine South Africa can produce, as well as the origin of what is in your glass, all traceable due to the unique wine of origin system, established in 1972, which makes South Africa the most advanced wine legislation in the Southern hemisphere. Our selections will reflect the truth of the vintage as well as working with and respecting Mother Nature.

Our wine list is designed to showcase the intricacies and the amazing biodiversity, which makes the wine lands unique.

South Africa’s most interesting, captivating and compelling wines made in the last 5 years are from the dedicated, and widely travelled young generations of wine makers, making distinct wines of character and pedigree, reflecting site and vintage conditions.

All our listing goes through a blind screening process using an internationally accepted 100 points scoring system, commonly used by major international hotel chains for fair listing as it does not allow for the influence of branding.

The minimum criteria for listing is 85 points, rewarding quality that can be comparable to the world’s best wines, as well as an affinity to be enjoyed on its own and to complement a broad style of food, with the structure to improve with cellaring.

Freshness, cleanliness, minimal spoilage and long term cellaring, is very important in order for us to offer you a world class wine experience, hence our preference for screw cap as a means of closure.

Our wine list is a continuous work in progress, and we hope you will find a wine to your taste.
We apologise if your favourite wine is not listed or featured.

Wine List compiled by Certified Sommelier Miguel Chan, Group Sommelier for Southern Sun Hotels