Latest dispatches

Petite Sirah on the rise in Africa | RAAR Petite Sirah | S05.Ep31

hanTV EPISODE CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - Grape of the day: Petite Sirah 00:33 - What is The Riebeek Valley Winer Co. ? 00:51 - The History of Petite Sirah 02:54 - Why do winemakers love Petite Sirah? 04:23 - Tasting Notes for the RAAR Petite Sirah 06:27 - Video Links to more Petite Sirah content ===================== HanDrinksSolo is South Africa's most adventurous wine club. Each month subscribers receive a mixed case of 2, 4, or 6 bottles, packed with limited wines, undiscovered gems, natural wines, and weird cultivars (without neglecting the classics). Each bottle also comes with a QR code linked to an educational video on that wine. The videos are packed full of wine trivia, wine science, and fun facts. You know, for those awkward silences at dinner parties. Everyone loves a know-it-all! Subscribe now and join the community! http://handrinkssolo.com/wine-club/ #redwine, #petitesirah, #durif, #wineclub, #winegeek, #winemaking, #WSET, #wineeducation, #SouthA

Chenin Blanc's Civil War | Olifantsberg Old Vine Chenin | HANtv S05.Ep32

hanTV EPISODE CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - Intro 00:09 - The two sides in South Africa's Chenin Blanc War 01:23 - What should "premium" taste like? 03:00 - Meet winemakers Elizme & Ferdi Visser 03:26 - The Ying and Yan of Olifantsberg winemaking 04:33 - Tasting notes for the Olifantsberg Old Vine Chenin Blanc 07:06 - Video links for a deep dive into the history and future of Olifantsberg Wines ===================== HanDrinksSolo is South Africa's most adventurous wine club. Each month subscribers receive a mixed case of 2, 4, or 6 bottles, packed with limited wines, undiscovered gems, natural wines, and weird cultivars (without neglecting the classics). Each bottle also comes with a QR code linked to an educational video on that wine. The videos are packed full of wine trivia, wine science, and fun facts. You know, for those awkward silences at dinner parties. Everyone loves a know-it-all! Subscribe now and join the community! http://handrinkssolo.com/wine-club/

American Wine History Snapshot | Roodekrantz Sandy Slopes Blend | HanTV S05.Ep70

hanTV EPISODE CHAPTER INDEX: 00:00 - The Birth of American Wine 00:32 - Early attempts at American winemaking 00:52 - 1769 and the false start of American Viticulture 01:43 - 1930s to the modern era 02:26 - Intro to the wine of the day 02:57 - Meet the Roodekrantz Winemaking team 04:00 - Why Chenin Blanc Semillon Blends are so exciting 04:36 - South Africa's ULTIMATE heritage blend 05:34 - Marius Burger Jnr's thoughts the Sandy Slopes White Blend 06:30 - Tasting notes for the Roodekrantz Sandy Slopes White Blend 08:48 - A quick note on tasting saltiness in wine 08:59 - Links to more videos on Roodekrantz and Semillon-Chenin blends ============================= HanDrinksSolo is South Africa's most adventurous wine club. Each month subscribers receive a mixed case of 2, 4, or 6 bottles, packed with limited wines, undiscovered gems, natural wines, and weird cultivars (without neglecting the classics). Each bottle also comes with a QR code linked to an educational video on that wine. The

Why you MUST taste South African Mourvedre | Klein Amoskuil Mourvedre | HANtv S05.Ep29

HANtv CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - Mourvedre Fact File 01:52 - Learn about Charl du Plessi and Charles Back 02:50 - The History of Klein Amoskuil 03:20 - Info on the full Klein Amoskuil wine range 04:16 - Tasting Notes for the Klein Amoskuil Tarentaal Kwaal Mourvedre 06:17 - Video links for more content on influential Swartland winemakers =====================

The hypocrisy -& genius- of Super Tuscans (in 65 secs)

The rise and fall of the Super Tuscans!! One of our favorite chapters of global wine history, with a delicious twist in the tail.

Clairette Blanche Revival??!! | Bruce Jack GITM Clairette Blanche |

HANtv CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - XX 01:12 - xx 02:21 - xx 04:39 - xx ===================== #BruceJack, #whitewine, #clairette, #breedekloofwine, #clairetteblanche, #winehistory, #wineclub, #winegeek, #winemaking, #WSET, #wineeducation, #SouthAfricanwine, #winescience, #winetasting, #specialtycoffee, #thirdwavecoffee, #foodie, winetasting

Elgin's End of an Era Chardonnay | JH Meyer Palmiet Chardonnay 2022 | HANtv S05.Ep26

HANtv CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - Intro 00:36 - The recent history of cool climate wines in South Africa 02:03 - Wine Hacks with Han - how to buy a vineyard 02:44 - Why did Stompie leave Elgin? 03:49 - Stompie and magical Swartland Chardonnay 04:16 - Tasting notes for the JH Meyer Palmiet Chardonnay 05:53 - Links to more videos on the future of Piket Bo-Berg wine ===================== #chardonnay, #whitewine, #wineclub, #winegeek, #winemaking, #WSET, #wineeducation, #SouthAfricanwine, #winescience, #winetasting, #specialtycoffee, #thirdwavecoffee, #foodie, #winetasting, #elginwines #elginwineroute

Sangiovese lovers! This #winehack is for you.

What do Mendoza, Stellenbosch, and Washington State all have in common with Bolgheri? They all have Sangio treasure waiting for you to discover!

Winemaking: Whole berry vs crushed berry

We all talk a big game about terroir, but many of us mistakenly believe that that refers purely to the vineyard location. An enormous part of, in inverted commas, "terroir", are the decisions made by the winemaker. Here is just one example.

South Africa's Shiraz of the Year TWICE! | RAAR Carbonic Maceration Syrah | HANtv S05.Ep27

HANtv CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - Intro 00:20 - What is Carbonic Maceration? 02:56 - What makes winemaker Sheree Nothnagel so special? 03:46 - Tasting notes for the RAAR Carbonic Maceration Syrah 04:38 - Why the RAAR Shiraz defies expectations 05:46 - Links to more videos on the RAAR range of wines =====================

Where did Napoleon get his communion wine from?

Historian Joanne Gibson has done some incredible work to bring to light an unusual piece of global wine history, which changes the lens of how we view "wine heritage".

How to find great Sangiovese OUTSIDE of Italy | Koelenbosch Sangiovese | HANtv S05.Ep25

HANtv CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - Intro 00:20 - WINE HACK: how to find great Sangio outside of Italy. 01:21 - Intro to Koelenhof Wine Cellar 02:10 - The history of the Koelenbosch Sangiovese 02:57 - How was the wine made? 04:06 - Tasting Notes for the Koelenhof Sangiovese 2022 06:06 - Links to more videos on Sangiovese in South Africa =====================

Top Five Wines from the WineMag.co.za Minority Report 2025

A short explanation of the WineMag Minority Report concept and a list of some of the top scoring red wines in the competition for the year 2025.

How baboons improve wine quality (Wildlife in Viticulture) | Dornier Malbec 2022 | HANtv S05.Ep21

======================= hanTV EPISODE CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - Intro 00:26 - Exciting new wine wards in Stellenbosch 01:17 - A few facts about the Dornier Malbec 2022 02:06 - Where is the Dornier Malbec Vineyard? 02:50 - Wildlife Viticulture: how baboons improve wine quality 04:20 - Tasting Notes for the Dornier Malbec 2022 05:20 - Dornier's unique winemaking approach to crazy cultivars 06:20 - Video links for further learning ===================== HanDrinksSolo is South Africa's most adventurous wine club. Each month subscribers receive a mixed case of 2, 4, or 6 bottles, packed with limited wines, undiscovered gems, natural wines, and weird cultivars (without neglecting the classics). Each bottle also comes with a QR code linked to an educational video on that wine. The videos are packed full of wine trivia, wine science, and fun facts. You know, for those awkward silences at dinner parties. Everyone loves a know-it-all! Subscribe now and join the community!

An update on Chenin in South Africa | City on a Hill Chenin Blanc | HANtv S05.Ep.20

Swartland Red blends are UNIQUE | COAH Red Blend 2020 | HANtv S05.Ep19

Video chapter index ===================== 00:00 - Intro 00:19 - Who is Andre Bruyns? 00:55 - What's in the COAH Red Blend 01:20 - Context Detour: the BLIC technique for wine analysis 02:23 - What is a Swartland Red Blend? 03:19 - Tasting Notes for the City on a Hill Red Blend 04:41 - Questions about ageability of Syrah vs Grenache 05:18 - Video Links to deepen your knowledge =====================

MYTHBUSTER: The Sideways Effect | Van Loggerenberg Break a Leg Merlot | HANtv S05.Ep17

======================= hanTV EPISODE CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - Intro to "the sideways effect" 01:20 - What does the sales data say? 01:44 - The sideways effect is NOT about Merlot 02:58 - Intro to the Van Loggerenberg Break a Leg Merlot 03:15 - Meet Winemaker Lukas Van Loggerenberg 03:58 - The "Break a Leg" wine range explained 05:09 - Tasting Notes for the Van Loggerenberg Break a Leg Merlot 05:52 - What is a "classic South African Merlot" - if there is such a thing ===================== HanDrinksSolo is South Africa's most adventurous wine club. Each month subscribers receive a mixed case of 2, 4, or 6 bottles, packed with limited wines, undiscovered gems, natural wines, and weird cultivars (without neglecting the classics). Each bottle also comes with a QR code linked to an educational video on that wine. The videos are packed full of wine trivia, wine science, and fun facts. You know, for those awkward silences at dinner parties. Everyone loves a know-it-all!

The World's Oldest Chenin Blanc Vines | Force Celeste Chenin Blanc 2024 | HANtv S05.Ep16

======================= hanTV EPISODE CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - Who owns Chenin Blanc?! 01:02 - But what about the Loire's thousands of years of wine history? 02:00 - Who has the world's oldest Chenin Blanc vines? 03:05 - What you should know about Chenin Blanc in the new world 03:46 - Chile's sneaky retrofitted Chenin Blanc vineyards 04:15 - Intro to the Wine of the Day - Force Celeste Chenin Blanc 04:46 - Where does the fruit all come from? 05:10 - The lowdown on South Africa's Natural winemaking scene 06:09 - Tasting Notes for the Force Celeste Chenin Blanc 06:31 - The best sort of oxidation in wines 07:25 - Serving temperature recommendations 07:42 - Links to more videos on Winemaker Johan Stompie Meyer ===================== HanDrinksSolo is South Africa's most adventurous wine club. Each month subscribers receive a mixed case of 2, 4, or 6 bottles, packed with limited wines, undiscovered gems, natural wines, and weird cultivars (without neglecting the classic

Proof that Pinot Noir can grow on MARS! | Mother Rock Carbonic Pinot 2023 | HANtv S05.Ep15

======================= hanTV EPISODE CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - XX 01:12 - xx 02:21 - xx 04:39 - xx ===================== HanDrinksSolo is South Africa's most adventurous wine club. Each month subscribers receive a mixed case of 2, 4, or 6 bottles, packed with limited wines, undiscovered gems, natural wines, and weird cultivars (without neglecting the classics). Each bottle also comes with a QR code linked to an educational video on that wine. The videos are packed full of wine trivia, wine science, and fun facts. You know, for those awkward silences at dinner parties. Everyone loves a know-it-all! Subscribe now and join the community! http://handrinkssolo.com/wine-club/ ====================

Napoleon Bonaparte and South African Grenache | Kat se Snor Grenache Noir | HANtv S05.Ep13

======================= hanTV EPISODE CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - XX 01:12 - xx 02:21 - xx 04:39 - xx ===================== HanDrinksSolo is South Africa's most adventurous wine club. Each month subscribers receive a mixed case of 2, 4, or 6 bottles, packed with limited wines, undiscovered gems, natural wines, and weird cultivars (without neglecting the classics). Each bottle also comes with a QR code linked to an educational video on that wine. The videos are packed full of wine trivia, wine science, and fun facts. You know, for those awkward silences at dinner parties. Everyone loves a know-it-all! Subscribe now and join the community! http://handrinkssolo.com/wine-club/ ==================== #redwine , #grenache , #botriverwine, #wineclub, #winegeek, #winemaking, #WSET, #wineeducation, #southafricanwine , #winescience, #winetasting , #specialtycoffee , #thirdwavecoffee , #foodie

Testalonga - Swartland Darlings | Testalonga Mielie Chenin Blanc 2024 | #HANtv S05.Ep14

======================= hanTV EPISODE CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - XX 01:12 - xx 02:21 - xx 04:39 - xx ===================== TECHNICAL SPECS 🔬The wine is a blend of three vineyards from the the Swartland. The koffieklip/granite soils near Malmesbury giving bush vines planted in 1981. Bush vines on the foothills of the Piketberg mountains in Moutons Hoek planted in 1961 on deep sandstone soils. The second vineyard planted in 1998 is close to Redelinghuys and 18km from the cold Atlantic ocean on the West Coast. The vineyard is also dry land farmed and gives a specific saltiness to the grapes. All organically and dry land farmed. The fruit was hand harvested and whole bunch pressed. The wine is a blend of three vineyards which were co fermented in a 5000L concrete tank for 6 months then racked off its gross lees and placed back into the concrete tank. No yeast (or other) inoculation or additives apart from a small amount of SO2 shortly before bottling were added ====

Swartland Chenin under Flor | Vine Venom Silence NV | HanTV S05.Ep66

======================= hanTV EPISODE CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - Intro to the wine of the day 00:24 - The stuff we spoke about last time. 01:54 - Why the Vine Venom Silence is such a big deal 02:30 - What inspired Samantha Suddons to make the Vine Venom Silence? 02:53 - Background info on Flor wine making 04:18 - How was the wine made? 06:08 - Things you should know about the vineyard 07:34 - Vineyard vs. Winemaker: who's the real hero? 08:26 - Tasting notes for the Vine Venom Silence version 4 11:21 - Links to more videos on the wonderful Vine Venom wines. ===================== HanDrinksSolo is South Africa's most adventurous wine club. Each month subscribers receive a mixed case of 2, 4, or 6 bottles, packed with limited wines, undiscovered gems, natural wines, and weird cultivars (without neglecting the classics). Each bottle also comes with a QR code linked to an educational video on that wine. The videos are packed full of wine trivia, wine science, and fun

How ROUSSILLON became the cool kid | Kleine Wijn Posman Grenache Blanc 2024 | #HANtv S05.Ep10

hanTV EPISODE CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - XX 01:12 - xx 02:21 - xx 04:39 - xx ===================== HanDrinksSolo is South Africa's most adventurous wine club. Each month subscribers receive a mixed case of 2, 4, or 6 bottles, packed with limited wines, undiscovered gems, natural wines, and weird cultivars (without neglecting the classics). Each bottle also comes with a QR code linked to an educational video on that wine. The videos are packed full of wine trivia, wine science, and fun facts. You know, for those awkward silences at dinner parties. Everyone loves a know-it-all! Subscribe now and join the community! http://handrinkssolo.com/wine-club/

Meet the Father of Stellenbosch Cabernet | Vriesenhof Reserve Cab Sauv | HanTV S05.Ep65

======================= hanTV EPISODE CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - The Rugby Wine Connection 00:30 - Five wine-mad rugby hooligans 01:52 - The greatest of them all? 02:34 - Intro to the Wine of the Day 03:39 - Turning back the clock on Jan Boland Coetzee 04:05 - Four things you should know about Jan Boland Coetzee 07:29 - Tasting notes for the Vriesenhof Reserve Cabernet 2023 09:47 - Two more fascinating South African Cabernet Sauvignons ===================== HanDrinksSolo is South Africa's most adventurous wine club. Each month subscribers receive a mixed case of 2, 4, or 6 bottles, packed with limited wines, undiscovered gems, natural wines, and weird cultivars (without neglecting the classics). Each bottle also comes with a QR code linked to an educational video on that wine. The videos are packed full of wine trivia, wine science, and fun facts. You know, for those awkward silences at dinner parties. Everyone loves a know-it-all! Subscribe now and join the comm