Category: Uncorked Conversations
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Wine − Alcohol ≠ Wine
Is alcohol-free wine really just wine without the alcohol? In this Koos vs Octavius conversation, we unpack why that neat equation doesn’t quite hold. Alcohol isn’t just the buzz in wine — it’s part of the structure. Remove it, and what’s left may still be enjoyable, but it’s something else entirely.
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Semillon: The Grape That Found Its Voice Far From Home
Semillon is rooted in Europe but found its true identity in the New World. Discover why Australia and South Africa bottle it alone — and Europe rarely did.
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White Bordeaux: The Blend Everyone Forgets — and Why It Matters
Bordeaux is famous for red wine, but its white blends tell a quieter story. Discover how Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon create depth, balance, and longevity — from Bordeaux to South Africa.
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Pinotage: South Africa’s Most Argued-About Grape
Pinotage: South Africa’s most argued-about grape or how a professor’s experiment became a national talking point.
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Season’s Greetings from the Uncorked & Curious Crew
Octavius Pinot insists this message should be “dignified and academically rigorous.” Koos Grenache insists it should be “festive, fun, and possibly slightly chaotic.” Isabella Rioja has wisely taken charge — which is why you’re reading this instead of a 14-page lecture or a recipe for mulled Grenache. Together, we want to thank every reader who…
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Pinot Noir — The Heartbreak Grape with a Sense of Drama
There are few grapes that inspire such devotion, despair, poetry, bankruptcy, ecstasy, and lifelong obsession as Pinot Noir. For centuries, it has been whispered about like a rare treasure—temperamental, thin-skinned, prone to melodrama, yet capable of producing some of the most hauntingly beautiful wines known to humankind.
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Champagne & Cap Classique — Bubbles With a Story
A sparkling journey from the misty chalk hills of Champagne to the sun-drenched vineyards of South Africa — exploring méthode traditionnelle, colourful history (including why Champagne flutes replaced Marie Antoinette’s famous “coupe”), and how Cap Classique became a world-class rival. Three voices — Octavius, Isabella & Koos — share knowledge, reverence, humour, and a love…
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Rhône Blends: From the Rhône to the Swartland
From the granite hills of the Swartland to the sun-drenched vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône-style red blends are all about harmony — Syrah for spice, Grenache for fruit, Mourvèdre for depth. Join Koos, Isabella, and Octavius as they debate the roots, the revolution, and the irresistible charm of these blends that are reshaping South African wine.
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Crossing the Rubicon: The Story of Bordeaux-Style Red Blends
From Bordeaux’s storied châteaux and the Claret trade with Britain to South Africa’s pioneering Rubicon, Bordeaux-style red blends have reshaped the wine world. Meet the grapes, the history, and the pioneers who crossed the Rubicon to redefine red wine in South Africa.
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Rosé: Blush, Banter, and a Bottle of Sunshine
Rosé has become the wine of sunshine and summer — but what makes it special, and why is it so popular? Join Octavius, Isabella, and Koos in a playful debate about Provence, South Africa, colours, grapes, and whether “real men” drink pink.
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