Stars of South Africa

South African wines can trace their heritage back 370 years when Jan van Riebeeck, the first governor of the Cape, planted a vineyard.  Four years later, he made the first wine and, as Huguenots arrived from France towards the end of that century, a wine industry began.  It has flourished ever since, annually exporting today over 300m litres with the UK its largest market.

Victoria Mason MW

It takes a specialist to find the finest value and the Club is delighted that our star speaker is Victoria Mason, who qualified as a Master of Wine just two years ago.  She is a Wine Buyer for The IEC Wine Society, which was founded in 1874. Victoria was formerly the Senior Wine Buyer for Bordeaux Index and previously worked for Waitrose.  Her tasting notes have been published in Decanter Magazine (such as on South African blends in its March issue).  She is a South African wine specialist and her MW research paper was on Stellenbosch.

Iona winery

Iona Sauvignon Blanc 2025 opens our tasting.  This refreshing wine comes from the cool Elgin plateau overlooking the Atlantic.  Sauvignon Blanc first established Iona’s reputation as one of the country’s benchmark properties.  Four per cent oaked Semillon was added to give extra richness and weight.  Expect lots of ripe peach and pear on the nose combined with a crisp citrus palate and impressive length.

Chris and Suzaan Alheit

South Africa grows more Chenin Blanc (locally known as Steen) than even France’s  Loire valley.  Winemakers Chris and Suzaan Alheit are known for their dry-farmed bushvines, notably Chenin Blanc which is an authentic expression of the Cape.  They delight in sourcing vines from different sites.  The couple created The Society’s Exhibition Chenin Blanc 2023 which includes grapes from a terraced vineyard on the Oudam farm in Skurfberg.  It is part barrel-fermented and kept on its yeast lees to bring extra breadth and some toasty richness to the final wine.

Zwartwater Estate White Paardeberg 2024 is a fascinating blend of 73% Chenin Blanc, 13% Viognier, 10% Hárslevelü and 4% Marsanne (a Rhône vine).  Very little of the Hungarian grape Hárslevelü is grown in South Africa

Rustenberg

Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay 2023 comes from an exquisite estate on the Simonsberg slopes, owned by the Barlow family since 1941 but actually established in 1682!  72% was matured for 15 months in new oak, resulting in notes of hazelnut and butterscotch.  The authoritative Platter’s 2026 South African Wine Guide says this wine is “sumptuous, dense lime and marmalade fruit .... rich, leesy and lingering for thoughtful enjoyment.”.

Lukas and Roxanne van Loggerenberg

Lukas and Roxanne van Loggerenberg are relative newcomers but are already widely followed for their skilful winemaking in Stellenbosch.  Victoria has sourced Van Loggerenberg Geronimo Cinsault 2023.  This drought-resistant vine yields lighter, softer and more aromatic qualities in its youth than most reds.  Historically South Africa called the wine Hermitage.

Donovan Rall

Working from a cellar on Kasteelberg in the heart of Swartland, internationally hailed Donovan Rall crafts tiny batches that “speak of the site and are fresh and ageworthy, not overly ripe, bold or alcoholic” (Platter).  He believes in minimum intervention, using neutral or older oak and wood alternatives like concrete and clay.  Syrah is his red speciality and so we shall show Rall Syrah 2023.  The grapes were picked early and wild-fermented.  Expect evocative scents of fynbos, violets and rhubarb with a cherry and plum taste and crunchy tannins.

Kanonkop vineyards

Two Kanonkop estate wines complete the reds.  Considered (like Alheit) a “first growth” in the Cape classification created by Tim Atkin, Master of Wine, Kanonkop is an iconic Stellenbosch estate founded in 1910.  It lies on the western slopes of Simonsberg within the Stellenbosch region.  Owned by the Krige family, it is renowned for the exceptional quality of its wines that use traditional cement fermentation tanks

Kanonkop estate Pinotage 2015 is from South Africa’s flagship red vine: a 1925 crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault.  The farm holds some of the vine’s earliest commercial plantings.   This is an “outstanding Pinotage from the masters of the grape. Rich, powerful, and packed with oak flavour,” says the IEC Wine Society.

Kanonkop cellars

To break the bank, the Club has secured some rare bottles of Kanonkop estate Paul Sauer 2022.  This acclaimed Cape Bordeaux comes from vines grown on low-lying shallow soils.  It shows the skill of the wine alchemist: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot.  Platter notes “Cedar, graphite and perfumed spice followed by succulent red fruit and trademark dark cherry and cassis core, blood-orange lift.”  The wine is aged for two years in new oak.  It is named after Paul Sauer, founder of Kanonkop and a South African MP for 41 years.

Panter & Hall

Our Gallery Venue

We are delighted to return to the attractive gallery of Panter & Hall at 21-22 Pall Mall SW1Y 5LP, run by Matthew Hall and Tiffany Panter, who are Red Herring members!  They have curated a stunning collection of contemporary landscapes by Charles Simpson, which depict Scotland closest to the artist's heart.  The subjects range from deserted beaches on the west coast to snow-filled fields in the Borders where he lives.  Charles Simpson studied at the Glasgow School of Art and then worked as a graphic designer before becoming a freelance designer and artist.  He has had solo shows in Edinburgh and London on a regular basis.

The exhibition is entitled Sky, Sea, Sand and Snow; 16^th – 26^th June.

Big Sands South

Oil on Canvas

Unframed size : 17 x 23 ins (42 x 58 cms)

Framed size : 20 x 26 ins (51 x 66 cms)

£3,500

Late Afternoon, Big Sands

Oil on Canvas

Unframed size : 16 x 20 ins (41 x 50 cms)

Framed size : 19 x 23 ins (48 x 58 cms)

£3,000

Borders Winter

Oil on Canvas

Unframed size : 10 x 10 ins (25 x 25 cms)

Framed size : 13 x 13 ins (33 x 33 cms)

£1,200

Book Offer

The Club has secured six special wine books for members - all at discount prices.  The books available are listed on the Book Offer page available via this link:  Book Offer.  When ordering, please remember to advise which tasting you would like to collect at - 22^nd June or 21^st July.

Doors open at 6.30pm; please do NOT arrive earlier (as the Committee needs time to set up).  If you arrive before, there are many wine bars/coffee shops in the vicinity.  The tasting ends at 8.30pm

Dress code: Jacket and tie for men; please advise your guests.

For admission, please first check availability (info below), NOT please to the Membership Secretary.  Once confirmed and paid, either print off the numbered ticket or have it available on a mobile telephone for entry.

Seating is very limited; if specifically required, please request it.

EVENT SUMMARY

Date:      Monday 22^nd June 2026

Time:      6:30pm

Venue:    Panter & Hall,  21-22 Pall Mall,  SW1Y 5LP

Dress:     Jacket and tie for gentlemen

TASTING COSTS

Tasting Application

Please check availability first by emailing tastings@redherringwineclub.co.uk

HOW TO BOOK

Essential first step: Please check availability by either

• Via the on-line form above  (preferred method)

​           or

• E-mail your tasting application to tastings@redherringwineclub.co.uk

Please do not reply to the Membership Secretary or pay until confirmation of a place is received.

Second stage: Once confirmation has been received, please pay online to The Red Herring Wine Club at Barclays Bank plc:

The payment reference to use is:

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 020 8947 5082 or by e-mail to tastings@redherringwineclub.co.uk  (NB: NOT please to membership@redherringwineclub.co.uk)

Your booking is secure once payment has been received at which point your numbered ticket will be issued as confirmation.

Unfortunately the Club is only able to reimburse if advised at least seven days before an event.  If you are likely to be late, please ring or text 07754 108662.

Tastings take place approximately monthly and can usually be booked the day after a tasting has taken place.  Payments outside this schedule are discouraged and do not guarantee a place.

Please remember to notify any home or email address changes by emailing details to membership@redherringwineclub.co.uk.

Diary Dates: