The Western Cape is known for its wine production but it now also offers countless beer craft and gin-making options.
“Craft gin and beer are certainly a hot topic,” comments Renier Friis, General Manager: Procurement and Product Development at Thompsons Africa. “There are almost 100 artisanal gins available in South Africa and the number is steadily growing. Craft beer is even bigger and covers all nine provinces.” He says breweries are still opening up every year, making the market competitive. “This puts South Africa as one of the leading countries in Africa pioneering craft beer.”
On the gin side, Friis recommends that guests visit Inverroche, as it has become one of the best-known South African gins. “I can highly recommend it due to its well-known reputation. They offer a combination of a distillery tour, gin tasting and a fascinating gin school.”
Second on Friis’s list is the Woodstock Gin Company, which produces a fynbos-infused South African gin. “You can also do tastings, although bookings are essential.”
He says the most popular gins with international visitors include Musgrave Pink Gin, Clemengold Gin, Wilderer Fynbos Gin, High Tea Gin and Inverroche Amber gin.
For beer, Friis suggests Stellenbrau, one of the first and best-known craft beer experiences in the Cape Winelands. He has found the following products to be most popular with international guests: Devil’s Peak King’s Blockhouse IPA, Darling Brew Bone Crusher, Cockpit Brewhouse Black Forest Stout, Cape Brewing Company Amber Weiss and Boston Breweries Van Hunks Pumpkin Ale.
As for wine, Friis says: “This is a difficult one, as wine is so well known and we have really popular international brands.” Most popular among international clientele, he says, are Rupert & Rothschild, Delaire Graff, Kanonkop, La Motte and Meerlust vintages.
Western Cape Operations Director for aha Hotels & Lodges, Darron Moore, says one out of ten guests ask about the craft options available in Cape Town. While first-time visitors to the Cape head for wine farms, those returning explore craft beer.
He says the three most popular wine regions are Stellenbosch, followed by Paarl and Franschhoek where guest do the wine routes and are also afforded the opportunity to see some of the historic museums in the towns.
Wendy Rutherfoord, Director at Gondwana Game Reserve near Mossel Bay, says it has implemented a craft gin and tonic speciality drinks menu, which is offered at lunch and high tea, as well as on game drives, utilising Old Packhouse Gin Distillery and Inverroche, both local gins.
Gondwana Game Reserve recently revamped its wine lists, featuring many wines of the Cape, supplied through Meridian Wines. Rutherfoord adds: “My husband and I also added hand-written notes to Gondwana’s wine menu – after recently travelling to France and trying to navigate a foreign wine menu – to assist guests in making a selection that is right for their taste and mood.”
