“Intense, creamy nose that smells like a much more expensive wine.” - Jancis Robinson MW

I met up with Adi Badenhorst recently and he confided sotto voce that I had always been a huge inspiration to him. “Huge,” he repeated, for the avoidance of doubt. I accepted the compliment with tremendous humility, knowing full well that he was taking the absolute mickey, because with Adi, you take him at face value at your peril and that is one of the many reasons why he’s my favourite winemaker on the planet.

Born into extreme silliness, Adi has done more to raise the profile of South African wine than my cousin, Paul, a paramedic from Aberdeen. But don't let appearances deceive you, Adi may look like the secret lovechild of a freight-hopper and an Appalachian Elvis impersonator, but he's actually incredibly odd and his wines are beautifully imperfect expressions of the Swartland, its vines, its people and their dungarees.

Press reviews:

Tim Atkin MW: “Aged in foudres, it has a stony top note, deftly judged flavours of peach, pear and pink grapefruit, good palate weight and a bright, tangy finish. Hugely drinkable. Drink now-2028.” 90 points

The Wine Advocate: “The 2025 shows bright freshness, with honey and yellow flower layered over clean orchard fruit aromatics. Drink now-2029.” 91 points