Do you want to learn a bit more about wine this year to talk the talk in the tasting room? 

Here are 20 facts every lover of South African wine should know. Armed with this checklist you’ll bluff anyone into believing you are an authority.

The South African winelands are not only home to some of the world’s finest vintages and award-winning estates, but also incredible adventure experiences. From mountain biking to quad biking, zip-lining to trail running and sky diving to abseiling, for those seeking adrenaline-fueled adventures, those brave souls willing to tackle the extreme, you will get your fix in the winelands.

Wine producers are already gearing up to host festivals in 2019. Many of the dates are available online, but we've done the surfing (and checking!) for you. Get ahead of your busy schedule and diarize 2019’s food and wine festivals now. From large, family friendly shows to intimate, black-tie affairs – there’s plenty to get excited about.

South African wines are lauded globally for their outstanding quality and distinctive character. Remarkably, they not only taste good, but make a significant contribution to the economy and provide thousands of jobs. 

South Africa is famous for its long coastal stretches and world class vineyards. Pristine white-sand beaches, epic surf spots and row-upon-row of vineyards are all calling cards for the country, and visitors come in the thousands, drawn by the vast diversity of varietals and the endless stretches of coastline. The only question is which do you do first? Sample an award-winning vintage or soak up the sun on a Blue Flag beach? The good news is that you can do both with a number of the country’s winelands within a stone’s throw of the beach. 

‘Tis the season for festive markets, carols by candlelight, sparkling decorations and all the magic that a warm South African summer Christmas can bring.

To make sure you and your family have a merry memorable time in the winelands, here’s a round-up of 15 of the 2018 holiday season events and attractions in the different wine routes you can’t miss.

The country's best restaurant rated by Eat Out is located on a wine farm. When coupled with the prominence of local wines, the achievement again re-affirms the excellence inherent in South Africa's culinary landscape. In fact, wineland venues in the final Top 10 dominated in the Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards this year.

The Cape winelands are home to not only leading wine farms, but some of the country's best restaurants too, a fact highlighted once again with the announcement this week of winners in the annual Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards.

When you cannot visit the magical wine farms of the Cape Winelands, do not despair: South Africa’s innovative wine bars creates wonderful settings to enjoy the fruit of the grape in a stylish fashion.

Whether you want to sit with your feet in the sand overlooking the ocean or sip ice cold MCC in the heart of Stellenbosch or even have dinner in a wine cellar with a glass ceiling in Umhlanga, there is something for everyone.

There are many things that South Africa can boast about, but arguably, there are two things that sit on top of that impressively large list of bragging rights: wine and safari. Few other destination can match up in terms of diversity and quality, so why not combine them? Next time you visit the SA winelands, be sure to pair the world class vintages with the might and beauty of the Big 6 and more.

We interview Nkululeko Mkhwanazi, brand ambassador in his home town of Johannesburg and Kwa-Zulu Natal for a number of wine brands - a job that has earned him the moniker of 'Durban's Minister of Wine' - on how his wine story started. 

It’s that time again. Another year has passed and you have to organise a special event to celebrate your company’s achievements or incentivise team members. Perhaps you have to organise someone’s birthday, your anniversary, a team building or actually any fun occasion for that matter.

The South African winelands offers incredible experiences that will ensure that you host an occasion that is unique, memorable and in a postcard-pretty setting, ensuring that perfect #selfie.