In the mid-1990s Hennie, Bussell, Phillip and Neil Retief – famously known as the Four Cousins – joined the family business and today run the company side by side, having made it South Africa’s leading family-owned winery.

From the cousins in the Cape to my rack in Joburg came the Retief Reserve, another brand under the Van Loveren family of wines. The labeling has classic colours with a unique bright red highlighting which sets the tone for the flavours inside. The red blend to take the ‘deliciousness’ of the pinotage, cabernet sauvignon and shiraz varietals and combines together into this easy drinking wine with a pop of flavour and a smooth finish.

As I just mentioned, the contents of the bottle – a carefully assembled Cape Blend – are no less special. A Cape Blend is unique to South Africa as it requires at least 30% Pinotage as one of the components. The 2016 vintage comprises 37% Pinotage and an equal amount of Cabernet Sauvignon, with 26% Shiraz. It spent 12 months in oak barrels.

This wine just hit the spot for the cold winter nights we’ve been having. And the served as the perfect complement for supper I served of a warm quinoa salad with smoked paprika quinoa

Definitely, one for people who hate what tannins feel like in your mouth.

Definitely for people who want something to warm them up while sitting in front of the fireplace afeer a long day.

I did a quick Google search and found that you can get a case of the Retief Reserve 2016 at Makro for R690 as well as Checkers and Ultra Liquors for between R115 and R120 per bottle.