Restaurant legend brings out Rare & Fine Cape Wines website in the UK

Gerrie Knoetze, a well-known South African restaurateur based in London, has recently launched a website specialising in rare and vintage South African wines, featuring names like Kanonkop, Meerlust, Boekenhoutskloof, and many more. 

We spoke with Gerrie to discuss his vision for Rare & Fine Cape Wines. 

You’ve been selling fine Cape wines in London for years. What are the core missions behind your new business?

After more than 40 years in the restaurant industry—20 of those with Vivat Bacchus—continuing my involvement with South African wine felt natural. I strongly believe that most red wines are consumed too young, so I’ve built up a sizable stock of vintage South African wine. Over the years, I’ve also cultivated a large database following of loyal and enthusiastic South African wine lovers, which made it easy to map out the future of this venture.

With decades of experience and a fine wine collection, what makes your business and passion unique?

In our restaurants, we’ve always maintained extensive maturation cellars. When we identified a good vintage, we bought in bulk, aged the wines under ideal conditions, and sold them when we believed they were ready to be enjoyed. Our discerning diners shared this philosophy. The principles behind Rare & Fine Cape Wines are exactly the same.

There’s always a balance between collecting fine wines as an investment and buying great wines to drink. How do you strike that balance?

An investment typically offers a monetary return. While you can buy good wines, age them for several years, and then sell them, most true wine lovers prefer to gaze at that bottle in their cellar for years, eagerly anticipating the moment they can finally uncork it. I think wine is a unique type of investment that brings something far beyond money into the equation. The joy of opening a bottle after many years and finding it as good as you’d hoped for is hard to describe.

Many of your London readers support fine South African wine but often just grab a bottle from Waitrose or Sainsbury’s. What might convince them to buy from businesses like yours?

There are wines for every occasion. Supermarkets certainly offer plenty of good wines for easy drinking, but for special occasions, a bottle of reputable wine from a great vintage can significantly enhance the enjoyment of a meal or gathering. It’s something you need to experience to fully appreciate. In our restaurants, our mission was to offer the best bottle of wine for the occasion—always within the customer’s budget—to demonstrate what ageing can do for the profile of a wine.

Without disappointing any winemakers (who you likely know personally!), which wines are the best in your opinion?

I would hesitate to create an artificial hierarchy, as South Africa offers a wide spectrum of outstanding wines. Our wines have improved enormously over the past three decades. Our white and sparkling wines provide incredible value for money, while our red Bordeaux, Burgundian, and Rhône varieties can compete with almost anything globally. When matured for the right length of time, they only get better. However, I can share a few specific red wines that our customers love and that are always a good choice:

Bordeaux Varieties

• Meerlust Rubicon 2017 is a standout wine from a fantastic vintage.
• Kanonkop Paul Sauer from 2015 to 2019 are superb and deserve the iconic status they have.
• Boekenhoutskloof Syrah and Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon are both leaders in their category.

Burgundian Varieties

• Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir is traditionally the go-to Pinot Noir from South Africa and maintains that very high standard.
• Bouchard Finlayson Pinot Noir is a very worthy competitor.
• Paul Cluver Seven Flags Pinot Noir is a stunning wine, and Paul Cluver Estate Pinot Noir offers fantastic value for money.
• Cap Maritime Pinot Noir (by Boekenhoutskloof) is a wonderful newcomer to this category.

What is your unique selling point?

We have significant vintage depth in several South African red wines, with some dating back to the early 1990s. Many of these wines are extremely scarce, which makes them valuable additions to any cellar. Importantly, not all older and rare wines are expensive. For example, the highly sought-after Meerlust Rubicon 2017, from a fantastic vintage, currently sells for £35.95 on our site, which is only marginally above the price of the later vintages.

What are the best deals you offer?

I like to create wine selections that cater to a variety of tastes. For instance, my wife mainly drinks Chardonnay and bubbly, while I prefer Pinot Noir and Bordeaux varieties. Many of my customers order mixed cases that reflect their different preferences. I often receive emails requesting recommendations, and I suggest selections based on their tastes and budget. Once agreed upon, the wine is delivered the next day if ordered Monday to Thursday and Tuesday if ordered Friday to Sunday.

Any final thoughts?

Wine as a Gift: Wine is a fantastic gift. For most wine enthusiasts and collectors, receiving a good bottle is as good as it gets. There’s no need to wonder what to give for Christmas or a birthday anymore—a quality bottle of wine does the job every time. Just email us with your budget or select a bottle on the website, and we’ll make sure it arrives quickly. To take advantage of Gerrie’s bespoke wine case creations or to buy fine wines, visit capewines.uk or contact Gerrie via email at info@capewines.uk.