Fifty-five years ago, South Africa produced its very first bottle of Cap Classique. Today, that once-young category has matured into one of the world’s most exciting sources of traditional-method sparkling wine. Made using the same painstaking bottle fermentation as Champagne, Cap Classique has evolved far beyond being simply an affordable alternative. With exceptional vineyards, longer…
Franschhoek has long been one of South Africa’s most celebrated wine valleys. From elegant Cabernet Sauvignon to age-worthy Bordeaux blends, its wines combine structure, freshness and remarkable longevity. We’ve spent more than two decades exploring the Cape, building relationships with the people behind its most exciting wines. This week, we’ve brought together three very different…
Stony Brook Vineyards 100% Tempranillo, Franschhoek 92 Points – Tim Atkin MW “A very rare sighting in the Cape of Tempranillo, Ovidius would put a smile on the face of a winemaker from Rioja or Ribera del Duero. Stylishly oaked in 65% new barrels, it has appealing bramble and blueberry fruit, plenty of supporting acidity…
Winshaw Vineyards “Smells a little like those tiny Parma Violet sweeties you get in tubes. I’m not terribly sure I would have identified this as Pinot Gris, but there is a bit of ginger in there giving it nip. Nashi pears, nice and fresh.” – Tamlyn Currin. Shop The Runaway Pinot Gris 2024 Earlier this week, we…
Pinotage has spent decades trying to prove it can be powerful. Alex Milner wondered whether it should instead be graceful. After all, Pinotage is the child of Pinot Noir and Cinsault, two naturally lighter, more aromatic grapes. So why make it like Cabernet Sauvignon? His answer is NAT. Light on its feet, fragrant, savoury and quietly…
Some wines are easy to find. Others are as rare as hoendertande, chicken teeth. De Kleine’s Hoendertande Grenache Noir 2023 belongs firmly in the latter camp. Produced in tiny quantities and recently awarded 94 Points by Greg Sherwood MW, this beautifully expressive Grenache comes from the producer behind not one, but two of Platter’s 2026 Wines of the…
“Hey You, take a photo of me!” That was the instruction shouted through a car window on the Cape Flats to the photographer whose image would eventually become the label for Jasper Raats’ Skebenga. In South Africa, Skebenga roughly translates to gangster, rogue or scoundrel, and somehow the name fits the wine perfectly. Wildly characterful and unmistakably Cape,…
It’s Bordeaux En Primeur season once again. Collectors, critics and merchants are busy debating barrel samples, chasing scores and securing allocations that won’t land in cellars for years to come. But while the fine wine world focuses on what might become tomorrow’s great Bordeaux, we prefer not to forget one important thing: Some Bordeaux is already drinking…
Some wines get sold on shelves. Others end up on the world’s best tables. Today, Spioenkop belongs firmly in the latter camp. From FYN in Cape Town to CORE by Clare Smyth and Ikoyi in London, Spioenkop has quietly become one of South Africa’s most sought-after fine wine producers. And once you taste them, it’s…
When we offered Axle Chenin Blanc 2025 on pre-arrival earlier this year, it was quickly secured by those who knew what to expect. It has now landed in the UK, and availability is already tightening. We began with an allocation of just over a quarter of the total 6,000-bottle production, and close to half has…
“I taste a renaissance. The ‘cool wines of the Cahors’?” – Tamlyn Currin. For years, Cahors was defined by its reputation: powerful, tannic Malbecs that demanded patience. But as Tamlyn Currin recently observed, a quiet revolution is underway — one that’s reshaping the identity of this historic region into something far more compelling: wines of…
“Our vineyard teaches us humility. The 2023 harvest made the truth of this lesson unmistakably clear.” – Mike Ratcliffe For Vilafonté, every vintage is a negotiation with nature, but rarely has a deal been so finely struck as it was in the lead-up to these newly released 2023 wines. A long, measured growing season, meticulous…
South Africa’s vineyards don’t just produce remarkable wines, they exist within one of the most extraordinary ecosystems on earth. The Cape Floral Kingdom, a biodiversity treasure found nowhere else, is both the backdrop and the responsibility of the country’s winemakers. As Tamlyn Currin highlights in her latest report for Jancis Robinson MW, this is a wine…
Few producers have reshaped the perception of a grape quite like Comando G. Founded by Daniel Landi and Fernando García in Spain’s Sierra de Gredos, the project set out to revive old Garnacha vines scattered across the region’s granite slopes, vineyards largely abandoned as the variety fell out of favour. Inspired by Burgundy’s reverence for…
Following the remarkable response to our two 96-point pre-arrival wines, we are delighted to introduce three more standout bottles from the Decanter report, all available now and exclusive to Museum Wines in the UK. From the refined elegance of Swartland’s Swerwer Red Blend, to the structured Helderberg power of Uva Mira’s Fox’s Lair, and the bold Rhône-inspired Cinravèdre from De Kleine…
Kann ich mehr Riesling bitte? Our first encounter with a well-aged Riesling – that unmistakable citrus lift, racy acidity and faint whisper of petrol – sparked something close to Torschlusspanik (the fear that time is running out). If it had taken us this long to realise how complex, layered and compelling Riesling can be, what else might we be…
South Africa’s red blends are enjoying a remarkable moment in the global spotlight, and a recent Decanter panel tasting confirmed exactly why. In a comprehensive blind tasting of 90 wines, an extraordinary 60% scored 90 points or higher, underscoring the Cape’s reputation as one of the world’s most exciting sources of character, quality and value. Leading the pack…
Few estates in Stellenbosch have defined modern Cabernet Sauvignon with such quiet authority as Stark-Condé Wines. From their dramatic vineyards in the Jonkershoek Valley, owner José Condé and his team have built a reputation as one of South Africa’s most focused premium Cabernet producers — and nowhere is that ambition more evident than in their…
Two of our most popular Bordeaux have just landed back in stock, and they’re available both online and in-store while they last. (Our 10% off any 6 bottle order discount also applies in store.) From the sixth-generation Meyre family in the heart of the Médoc comes Château Julien 2020 (£19.99) and its immensely drinkable sibling Petit Julien 2022 (£14.99) , wines that…
Few winemakers in the Cape command the quiet authority of Adam Mason. From shaping the legacy of Klein Constantia to consulting for heritage names like Vriesenhof and now steering the wines of Terre Paisible, Mason’s touch is unmistakable, precise, polished and profoundly expressive. Nowhere is that mastery clearer than in the 2021 Vigne d’Or Red Blend.…
We are proud to introduce Eisen & Viljoen, a striking new Franschhoek estate brand rooted in one of the Cape’s most historic properties: Normandie Est. 1693, one of the original 29 French Huguenot farms in the valley. Now in the hands of internationally acclaimed fashion designer Mark Eisen and former Vinpro viticultural consultant turned winemaker Johan Viljoen,…
Some wines are born of place. Others are born of a journey. Paserene Wines is both. Founded in 2013 by third-generation winemaker Martin Smith and businessman Ndavhe Mareda, Paserene represents the culmination of a remarkable global apprenticeship. From a cork factory in Portugal to flying vintages across America, five years at Newton Winery in Saint Helena, and…
Time is running out to make your glass count. Franschhoek — a valley defined by old vines, mountain drama and centuries of reinvention, is rebuilding after devastating wildfires. For the entire month, we’ve pledged to donate 50% of all profits from Franschhoek wine sales to fire recovery initiatives. Now, with just two weeks remaining until 28 February,…
We’ve just secured a special parcel of Cotes de Provence rosé at a significantly reduced price meaning we can pass that discount onto our customers. Chapoutier are one of the most well known and respected names in French wine production and this Cotes de Provence would ordinarily retail at around £20 per bottle but we’re…
Franschhoek does many things beautifully, dramatic mountain backdrops, world-class hospitality, culinary brilliance, but increasingly, it does Semillon better than almost anywhere else in the Southern Hemisphere. Once overlooked, now revered, Semillon has emerged as the quiet hero of this storied valley. Home to four of South Africa’s ten centenarian vineyards (three of them Semillon – one recently threatened by…
Some wines feel even more meaningful at the right moment. We’ve just received the 2021 vintage of Stony Brook Vineyards’ The Max Red Blend, a proven top seller and a true expression of Franschhoek. With the valley still reeling from recent wildfires, we’re donating 50% of profits from all Franschhoek wine sales to fire recovery efforts helping estates and…
In Case You Missed It… Over the past weeks, Franschhoek has faced one of the most devastating fire seasons in its history. Estates, vineyards, homes and working cellars, many woven into the fabric of South African wine, have suffered damage that will take years, not months, to repair. At Museum Wines, Franschhoek is not just a name…
Years of tasting, travelling and trusting his instincts have taught Museum Wines’ Managing Director Daniel Grigg one simple truth: exceptional wines announce themselves quietly, if you know how to listen. This month’s Wined-Up Merchant pick is a textbook example. Domaine La Bosque is a little-known (for now), fiercely principled estate tucked into the oak-lined slopes of Saint-Chinian…
Over the past weeks, Franschhoek has faced one of the most devastating fire seasons in its history. Estates, vineyards, homes and working cellars, many woven into the fabric of South African wine, have suffered damage that will take years, not months, to repair. At Museum Wines, Franschhoek is not just a name on a label. It’s a…
When winter tightens its grip, we naturally gravitate toward deeper, heartier wines. But every so often, a truly great rosé reminds us why this category conquered the world in the first place, offering not just refreshment, but comfort, texture, and pure drinking pleasure. Enter M by Famille Sumeire, Provençal Rosé 2024, one of our all-time best sellers, back…
For more than a week now, wildfires have raged through the Franschhoek Valley, a place as spellbinding as it is vulnerable. With the Chamonix Manor House and offices tragically lost, and fires still out of control, old vine vineyards, historic farm structures and livelihoods remain under very real threat. At this stage, the full extent of…
Some wines are designed for market. Others are made simply because someone wanted a glass of something good at home. Axle Chenin Blanc began as the latter. In 2018, Alex Milner made a small amount of Chenin Blanc at Natte Valleij for his wife — his only white wine, from a single old, ocean-facing Darling…
From now on, we’ll be open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, making it easier than ever for the wine lovers we’ve cultivated over the years to drop in, collect, browse, or enjoy a proper conversation about what’s drinking well now, and what’s worth laying down. Our doors are open, the shelves are stocked, and our commitment…
The festive countdown is officially on. To make sure your wines arrive in time for Christmas celebrations, please place your orders by midday on Thursday, 18 December, for guaranteed delivery by 24 December. As always, Museum Wines is here to make the season easy, with extended festive trading hours, expert recommendations, and 10% off any six bottles, pick &…
With Christmas just around the corner, this is your gentle nudge (and friendly warning) that our festive delivery cut-off is midday, Wednesday 18 December 2025, to ensure your wines arrive safely in time for Christmas Eve, 24 December. If you’re planning a well-stocked table, a few thoughtful gifts, or simply don’t want to face the holidays without…
Some estates don’t just make wine — they make history. Overgaauw is one of them. As the producer of South Africa’s very first bottled single-varietal Merlot, Overgaauw helped shape the modern Cape fine wine story long before Merlot was fashionable. After years of quiet rebuilding, the historic Stellenbosch estate has returned to the UK export…
This festive season, forget socks, soap sets and novelty Santa boxers, the ultimate stocking stuffer for your favourite wine-geek (or, let’s be honest, for yourself) is finally here. We’ve just unpacked a treasure trove from Equipo Navazos, the cult Sherry collective that has turned the forgotten corners of Andalusia’s great bodegas into liquid gold. Born from a group…
Exceptional wine shouldn’t be an annual indulgence, and with our New Best Everyday Deals—10% off any 6 bottles—it doesn’t have to be. And there’s no better place to start than with two extraordinary new arrivals from Spioenkop, one of Elgin’s most compelling and conversation-worthy producers. Belgian-born Koen Roose has been crafting some of South Africa’s most distinctive cool-climate wines…
From Portugal’s clay amphorae to Hungary’s volcanic slopes, four new arrivals that fill the gaps and expand your glass. Museum Wines has always been about finding bottles with a story, wines that connect place, history, and character. Our latest arrivals from Hungary and Portugal do just that, offering you a guided tour through regions that have shaped European winemaking…
Yesterday saw the launch of the 2026 Platter’s by Diners Club SA Wine Guide — the 46th edition of South Africa’s most trusted wine compass, unveiled once again at Eben Sadie’s shrine to Swartland terroir in the Aprilskloof. And among the thousands of wines assessed by Platter’s 15-strong tasting panel (nearly 8,000 each year!), one name rang out twice…