South Africa - through its Food and Wine
Time & Location
28 Oct 2025, 18:30 – 22:30
High Timber Restaurant - Private Room, Broken Wharf House, 8 High Timber St, London EC4V 3PA, UK
About
The rainbow nation of South Africa is known for rugged landscapes that inspire and shape a rich culture, people, food and wines. With a 400-year history of winemaking, South Africa's producers bridge old world styles with contemporary innovation, attracting enthusiasts and connoisseurs across the globe.
For one night only, we invited members to join a special evening featuring Capital Branch member Mikey Clark’s cellar, spotlighting South African wine history in seven unforgettable glasses – from some of today’s Western Cape icons to Napoleon’s favourite sweet wine. This event was hosted by London’s highly reputed High Timber, where Neleen Strauss and her team complemented the wines with an outstanding three-course meal. With its riverside location, the restaurant was perfect for those craving a dose of South African attitude, a little taste of home and a great steak or halibut!
The wine line-up below was generously provided by Mikey at deep discounts to current prices, or are not available in the market:
2019 Graham Beck Premier Cuvée Blanc de Blancs (Methode Cap Classique)
2020 Tesselaarsdal Chardonnay (Hemel-en-Aarde)
2023 David & Nadia Chenin Blanc Skaliekop (Swartland)
2015 Tesselaarsdal Pinot Noir (Hemel-en-Aarde)
2016 Vilafonté Seriously Old Dirt (Cape Bordeaux blend)
2017 Boekenhoutskloof Syrah (Swartland)
2016 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance
The wines from Tesselaarsdal were testimony to the amazing life journey of its winemaker Berene Saul from au pair to celebrated producer. The 2015 pinot noir is her maiden vintage, and 'rarer than hen's teeth'. Tasting it was a truly unique opportunity.
The Klein Constantia is legendary - it's the Tokaji and Chateau d’Yquem of South Africa. It was a favourite of Napoleon, Louis XVI and Jane Austen’s heroines.
And no evening of South African wine would have been complete without a pinotage. The line-up was supplemented with a 2021 Kanonkop Pinotage, which showcased how the varietal wine has evolved into something distinctive, modern and very tasty.
While there wasn't a stand out Wine of the Night, participants tended to show preference for the chenin blanc and the syrah. So kudos to Swartland!
