From historic gabled manor houses to contemporary wineries, quirky family-run farms to iconic estates, country picnics to world-class fine dining restaurants, this 3rd edition of Wineries Of The Cape profiles 58 of the very best visitor experiences in the winelands.

All are within easy reach of Cape Town, and a top-notch wine selection is at the core of each of the wineries chosen for inclusion in the book.

The Colour of Wine isn’t just another book about picturesque Cape vineyards. Instead, it tells the remarkable story of South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy through the personal journeys of black winemakers. Woven through their stories are interviews with wine producers and politicians, chefs and sommeliers, connoisseurs and teachers, drinkers and tasters.

The book, twinned with the documentary film The Colour of Wine (included on DVD), explores the turbulent history of winemaking in South Africa, and the varied careers the industry has to offer. Wine doyen John Platter offers insights into where South African wine is now, and where the industry needs to go. You’ll also discover a rich array of local recipes that complement South African wines.

The Colour of Wine gives a taste of the changing world of South African wine.

This book is what happens when two guys spend way too much time obsessing about beer and food around a fire pit. Ride along as brothers-in-law Greg and Karl explore South Africa’s craft beer culture and meet the passionate people behind a few of their favourite beers.

Then braai your way through a collection of ridiculously tasty recipes and discover the world of food and beer pairing. Learn new ways to use beer and beer ingredients in your cooking and do it all with a cold brew in hand. This is Beer Country’s Beer. Food. Fire.

The Platter’s by Diners Club South African Wine Guide 2017 was launched at Cape Town’s The Table Bay Hotel on 31 October 2016 with over 200 guests in attendance, the VIPs including wine producers who had achieved the maximum five star rating in the new edition – reserved for wines that are “South African classics”.

The guide’s ultimate accolade, Winery of the Year, this year was awarded to the iconic Nederburg Wines, making this the second time that they have won, the last time being six years ago in the 2011 edition. In this 2017 edition, they achieved no fewer than four Five Star results, the most of any producer.

The prestigious Red Wine of the Year accolade went to The Winery of Good Hope for the Radford Dale Black Rock 2014 and White Wine of the Year was awarded to Stellenrust for the 51 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2015. The Dessert Wine of the Year award again went to last year’s Dessert Wine winner, and 2016 Winery of Year, Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines, for their Straw Wine 2015.

A total of 94 Five Star wines, as well as one new Five Star brandy, are featured in the 2017 guide. Publisher of Platter’s by Diners Club, Jean-Pierre Rossouw, says: “As per last year, all wines that were scored 4.5 stars or higher in the primary assessment went into a second round of tasting, conducted blind (without sight of the label) by small panels including experienced palates from outside the team. It is testament to the exceptional quality of the highly regarded 2015 vintage that we saw a good run of results, particularly in the white wine categories. Hearty congratulations to all winners!”

Emerging from this thorough review process with their first ever Five Star ratings were the following 17 producers: Artisanal Boutique Winery, Bartinney Private Cellar, Bosman Family Vineyards, Diemersdal Estate, Donkiesbaai, La Vierge Private Cellar, Laibach Vineyards, Môreson, Mount Abora Vineyards, Olifantsberg Family Vineyards, Perdeberg Winery, Restless River, Ronnie B Wines, Skaap Wines, Stellar Winery, Thorne & Daughters Wines and Trizanne Signature Wines.

Also worthy of note are a fantastic run of three Five Star ratings for Cape Chamonix Wine Farm, David & Nadia, Kleine Zalze Wines, Newton Johnson Vineyards and Sadie Family Wines.

In this new edition of Wineries Of The Cape, Lindsaye McGregor – a long-time contributor to Platter’s wine guides and a regular writer in the world of South African wine – shares her extensive industry knowledge by profiling 56 independently selected, must-visit wineries.

From historic gabled manor houses to contemporary wineries, quirky family-run farms to iconic estates, country picnics to world-class fine dining restaurants, all within easy reach of Cape Town, Wineries Of The Cape guides you in experiencing the very best of the winelands.

John Platter returns! With the same simple approach to wine which made him a household name in South Africa, he tells the stories of wines and winemakers; taste the wines himself; writes about them in language everyone can understand. Today’s winelands are another country. Young revolutionaries are leading a charge. Old campaigners are rising to the challenge. New areas, new varieties are being explored, ancient vineyards revived. Never has the wine scene been so exciting, so ready for this new book by an old hand. A writer who has also grown and made wine himself. This is not another Platter wine guide. It is not a list of the ‘best’ wines blind-tasted and scored by a panel. It is no more, no less, than John Platter’s purely personal picks of the wines he enjoys drinking. And why. It is completely different from any other wine book on the market. The stunning images are by photographer Clinton Friedman.

• Ever felt patronised by a waiter because of your wine choice?
• Been on the sharp end of comments about your taste in wine: “Pink wine, really?”
• Had your pronunciation of wine terms corrected?
• Confused about whether it’s OK to drink red wine with pasta?
• Had that uncomfortable feeling you’ve been conned into paying too much for a bottle of wine in a restaurant?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, then you need to read this book.

Cathy Marston takes you on a wine appreciation journey from easy drinking sweets, through the popular sauvignon blancs (sew-vin-yon blonks), bubblies, dessert wines and on to the fuller reds, with the sole aim of giving you confidence in your wine choices. The confidence to enjoy drinking wine; to see it as a pleasure, not a potential source of embarrassment; and above all, to help you become confidently curious about trying something new.

Because the real secret of wine success is that the more you drink, the more you know. Admittedly, the less you probably remember, but hey – you can’t have everything.

Following the success of African Brew, the first ever book to showcase the South African craft beer scene, beer-centric author Lucy Corne is back with a second homage to hops and grain. Beer Safari takes readers on a journey through the microbreweries of South Africa, stopping to chat to each brewer along the way.

The book is laid out geographically to assist the reader in planning his or her own beer safari. Look out for the 'Big Five Pints' – the author’s pick of the very best South African craft beers. There is also space for beer aficionados to scribble their own tasting notes alongside each brewery’s beer menu.

Beer Safari is the only South African beer book whose author has, in person, visited every one of the 100-plus breweries to get the brewers’ stories, photograph their often quirky brewing setups and of course, to taste their beers. Peppered between the inspiring tales of passionate brewers, are snippets of essential beer knowledge – ideal for the 'beerginner' – alongside checklists that will appeal to newbie beer drinkers and veterans alike. Whether readers are looking for family-friendly beery weekends away, the cutest brewpubs with the finest views or a list of where to go for South Africa’s hoppiest ales, Beer Safari is a comprehensive and user-friendly guide.

The directory showcases everything needed to continue the beer journey – for those who prefer to enjoy other people’s wares, there are recommendations for liquor stores and bars offering a supreme selection of beer. Those who yearn to brew their own will find information on homebrewing stores, courses and clubs throughout the country. Written in Corne’s signature light-hearted style, and with a fresh, vibrant design, Beer Safari perfectly captures the exciting and unpretentious nature that characterises the South African craft beer scene.

The best - and most enjoyable - way to find out about whiskies is by drinking them. This truly hands-on handbook takes you on a tasting journey to discover your own personal whisky style, and helps you to expand your horizons so you can find a world of new whiskies to enjoy. Through a series of guided at-home tastings, you'll get familiar with the full spectrum of whisky aromas and flavours on offer - from the smoky tang of Islay peat to the aromatic scent of Japanese oak. Find out how to engage all your senses to navigate the range of malts, grains and blended whiskies and get to grips with different whisky styles. Take a tasting tour of the world's finest makers, including iconic Scottish distilleries and small-scale artisan producers all over the globe. And as you become more whisky-confident, you can break out of your whisky comfort zone. Do you love the honeyed sweetness of a Kentucky Bourbon? If so, why not try a smooth malt that's been aged in ex-Bourbon barrels? Or a creamy, oat-infused Irish craft whiskey? Guides to whisky prices and ages will help you to make smart buys. Discover how to pour, store and serve whiskies and match them with foods. Learn to mix cocktails, from a classic whiskey sour to your own signature creation. With 20 step-by-step whisky tastings, clear infographics and jargon-busting advice - taste your way to whisky wisdom.

Winemaking is as old as civilization itself and wine has always been more than just a drink. For thousands of years, from its origins in ancient Mesopotamia to its current status as a vast global industry, the history of wine has been directly related to major social, cultural, religious and economic changes. This fascinating and entertaining book takes a look at 100 bottles that mark a significant change in the evolution of wine and winemaking and captures the innovations and discoveries that have had the biggest impact on the history of `bottled poetry'. From goatskin to the German Ratskeller casks and invention of the glass wine bottle, from the short onion-shaped bottles of the 1720s to the tall cylindrical bottles of the 1780s, why Bordeaux, Burgundy and Hoch have their own distinctive bottle shape to the distinctive Paul Masson carafe of the 1970s. Other stories cover the first cork-topped bottles to screw caps, bag-in-box, cans and cartons, early wine labels once glue was strong enough, the first wine labels to be produced by a vineyard (and not a merchant as previously) and commissioned artwork by the 20th century's most iconic artists for labels on high-end bottles; historically important and unique bottles: the oldest unopened, the most expensive sold at auction, the rarest; wines from the oldest vineyard in production, from the driest place on earth, from the highest and lowest vineyards and the most northern and southern. Oz Clarke also writes about the people who have influenced wine through the centuries, from the medieval Cistercian monks of Burgundy who first thought of place as an important aspect of wine's identity, through scientists like Pasteur and Peynaud who improved key technical aspects of winemaking, to 20th-century giants like Robert Mondavi and Robert Parker Jr. Oz also talks about famous vintages, from the 1727 Rudesheimer Apostelwein to the first Montana Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in 1979 and today's cult wines from Bordeaux and California. Word Count - 55,000

2016 was officially the "year of gin" in the UK, with sales topping GBP1 billion! The brilliantly botanical spirit is much more than tonic's sidekick, it's sophisticatedly sippable, and adds depth and flavour to any drink. This beautifully illustrated book will introduce you to a host of cocktails from the classic to the cutting edge, and showcase the versatile potential of gin. In Gin Made Me Do It, gin aficionado and cocktail maven Jassy Davis explains everything you need to know: how to choose the perfect blend, mix the ultimate martini, and deliver delicious cocktails for every occasion. From the perfect G&T and updates on classics like the Aviator and the Vesper, to a wide range of herbaceous cocktails, the recipes in this book are fresh, flavourful, and fun. 60 delicious recipes are illustrated with bright and beautiful original artwork in a book that makes a lovely gift for your friends-or yourself!

Join the craft beer revolution and brew your own beer at home! Home Brew Beer is a comprehensive guide to brewing beer, with clear, illustrated instructions on the simplest brewing technique - beer kits - to the most customizable - full mash. Detailed information on ingredients helps you choose your malt, yeast, hops and flavourings, and lets you know which equipment you need to get started. With more than 100 recipes to choose from, you can brew beer of almost any style from across the world, such as London bitter, American IPA, Mexican cerveza, Munich helles, or Japanese rice lager. Each is suitable for the full-mash technique, while many also contain malt extract variations. Updated to include new techniques (such as kettle souring), and new recipes (such as Brett IPA and Peach and green tea kettle sour), you'll have all the information you need to brew your perfect beer.

Laura Thompson's grandmother Violet was one of the great landladies. Born in a London pub, she became the first woman to be given a publican's licence in her own name and, just as pubs defined her life, she seemed in many ways to embody their essence. Laura spent part of her childhood in Violet's Home Counties establishment, mesmerised by her gift for cultivating the mix of cosiness and glamour that defined the pub's atmosphere, making it a unique reflection of the national character. Her memories of this time are just as intoxicating: beer and ash on the carpets in the morning, the deepening rhythms of mirth at night, the magical brightness of glass behind the bar... Through them Laura traces the story of the English pub, asking why it has occupied such a treasured position in our culture. But even Violet, as she grew older, recognised that places like hers were a dying breed, and Laura also considers the precarious future they face. Part memoir, part social history, part elegy, The Last Landlady pays tribute to an extraordinary woman and the world she epitomised.

Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book is the essential reference book for everyone who buys wine - in shops, restaurants, or on the internet. Now in its 43rd year of publication, it has no rival as the comprehensive, up-to-the-minute annual guide. Hugh Johnson provides clear succinct facts and commentary on the wines, growers and wine regions of the whole world. He reveals which vintages to buy, which to drink and which to cellar, which growers to look for and why. Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book gives clear information on grape varieties, local specialities and how to match food with wines that will bring out the best in both. This latest edition of Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book includes a colour supplement on 'Wine Flavour: How, What, Why?'

This title presents a fascinating array of wineries focussing primarily on their architectural approach and photographed in the context of the awe inspiring backdrop of the winelands of the Western Cape in South Africa. In 2002 there were 202 wineries in SA in 2010 there are 585 farms producing wine, the industry is mushrooming. Wine making techniques change and technology evolves and with the introduction of new capital into this industry people are doing everything they can to capture a niche in the highly competitive

Few wine books can be called classic, but the first edition of The World Atlas of Wine made publishing history when it appeared in 1971. It is recognized by critics as the essential and most authoritative wine reference work available. This eighth edition will bring readers, both old and new, up to date with the world of wine. To reflect all the changes in the global wine scene over the past six years, the Atlas has grown in size to 416 pages and 22 new maps have been added to the wealth of superb cartography in the book. The text has been given a complete overhaul to address the topics of most vital interest to today's wine-growers and drinkers. With beautiful photography throughout, Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson, the world's most respected wine-writing duo, have once again joined forces to create a classic that no wine lover can afford to be without. "The World Atlas of Wine is the single most important reference book on the shelf of any wine student." - Eric Asimov, New York Times "The most useful single volume on wine ever published... If I owned only one wine book, it would be this one." - Andrew Jefford, Decanter "Like a good bottle of wine, you'll find yourself going back to it again and again... Perfect for anyone who has a thirst for greater wine knowledge." - Edward Deitch, NBC/today.com "The World Atlas of Wine belongs on your shelf... The essential rootstock of any true wine lover's library. A multi-layered snapshot of wine and how it has evolved." - Dave McIntyre, Washington Post

Italian Wines is the English-language version of Gambero Rosso's Vini d'Italia, the world's best-selling guide to Italian wine, now in its 30th edition. It is the result of a year's work by over 60 tasters, coordinated by three curators. They travel around the entire country to taste 45,000 wines, only half of which make it into the guide. About 2,400 producers are selected. Each entry brings together useful information about a winery, including a description of its most important labels and price levels in Italian wine shops. Each wine is evaluated according to the Gambero Rosso bicchieri rating, with Tre Bicchieri awarded to the top labels. This guide acts as an essential reference tool for both wine professionals and passionate amateurs around the globe: it provides the instruments for finding one's way in the complex panorama of Italy's wine world.

In this paperback edition of his classic book The Winemasters, Nicholas Faith tells the story of the wines of Bordeaux - the most glamorous in the world. It is the history of a group of merchant families, mostly from Ireland and Germany, who for two centuries controlled the sales of the finest clarets and Sautemes. It is the tale of the way the owners of the region's greatest estates and chateaux freed themselves from the merchants' grip. Above all it is a story of the fascinating men and women involved - from the Rothschilds to dozens of eccentric chateau owners. The Winemasters of Bordeaux brings the story up to date, including the way that Bordeaux repelled the intrusion of the major international drinks groups. More successful newcomers have been the French nouveaux riches who have bought many of the famous chateaux.

Rocket science is complicated, wine doesn't have to be. With information presented in an easy, illustrated style, and bursting with fool-proof and reliable advice, Wine: It's Not Rocket Science is the guide that answers the sentence: I wish I knew more about wine. From how grapes are grown, harvested and turned into wine, to judging the colour, aroma and taste of the world's most popular varietals, to understanding terroir and feeling confident serving and ordering wine at any occasion, this book explains it all in the simplest way possible. Every page, every piece of information, and every detail is illustrated in charming and informative colour drawings and infographics.

* The first wine book to breakdown wine by by weight and body rather than varietal and region, which makes exploring and understanding wine much easier. * Offers 50 recipes and food pairings from a nationally recognized chef making the drink progressively concept easier to understand and apply. * Revolutionary and patented method for shelving wines by weight and body has made the Urban Grape wildly popular and a top destination for wine enthusiasts. Audience * Wine enthusiasts * Novice wine drinkers * Food and Cooking enthusiasts * Anyone who enjoys entertaining

This beautifully presented Little Book is an excellent introduction to the world of Scotch whiskies. It includes the major Scotch whiskies and the distilleries that produce them. The book includes details of the very best of Scottish single malts and deluxe whiskies, covering Speyside (Cardhu, Glenfarclas, Glenfiddich) the Highlands and Islands (Blair Athol, Glenmorangie, Talisker), to Islay (Ardbeg, Laphroaig), the Lowlands (Auchentoshan, Glenkinchie) and Campbeltown (Glen Scotia). It is completely up-to-date, including new Scottish distilleries which have yet to bottle spirit or establish a core product. What's more, an introduction exploring the current whisky boom and how distilleries are coping with this surge in demand makes this attractive Little Book a great introduction for anyone looking to learn about whisky.

Buckle up and join bestselling author and whiskey connoisseur Tristan Stephenson on a Stateside tour and learn all there is to know about the finest whiskey and bourbon America has to offer. Whiskey in America is a regional product that has evolved in different ways and at a differing pace depending on where you go. Tristan Stephenson's road trip enabled him to visit 50 unique distilleries, from long-established makers in the states that are the spiritual home of the industry - Kentucky and Tennessee - to newer craft-distillers in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and even California and Texas. In his own unique style, which is both fiercely entertaining and meticulously well-researched, Tristan weaves together the full and fascinating story of American whiskey, from its history and production methods to the origins of iconic cocktails still enjoyed in bars around the world today.

The Gaelic word for whisky is Uisge beatha, translated literally as "water of life." That is as a good a starting place as any to enjoy whisky, as a connoisseur, taster or just an occasional tippler. This beautifully produced volume, The Story of Scotch Whisky goes on an incredible journey around Scotland and back in time too. Written by a Scotsman who considers it a blessing to grow up with Scotch whisky, you will learn about the history of whisky distillation, the famous men whose passion can be found in their special malts, and take tours of the main whisky regions, including the Western Isles, Speyside, Highlands, Lowlands, and Campbeltown, visiting some of the greatest names in the production of Scotch, The Glenlivet, Ardbeg, Glenmorangie, Balvenie, Talisker - other brands (more than 100 of them) are available. Written with a passion and love for the subject The Story of Scotch Whisky is complemented by stunning photographs, maps and artworks. It make this superb book a unique insight into Scotch whisky, one of the world's most loved drinks.

Whisky enthusiasts all over the world look forward to the Malt Whisky Yearbook every autumn. This 13th edition is again fully revised and packed with new and up-to-date information on more than 400 whisky distilleries from all over the world. Distinguished whisky experts contribute with new features written exclusively for this new edition along with details of hundreds of whisky shops, whisky sites and new bottlings. The Independent Bottlers chapter gives you all the details about the world's most successful blenders and bottlers complete with tasting notes. A comprehensive summary of the whisky year that was and all the latest statistics is also included. Malt Whisky Yearbook 2018 includes more than 250 tasting notes describing the flavour of single malts from all working distilleries in Scotland and Japan. Finally, with more than 500 colour photographs, Malt Whisky Yearbook 2018 is as much an essential reference guide as a book to read for pleasure.