WINE, FOOD, AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOOD!

If you’ve ever wanted to taste South Africa’s top red wines all under one roof, as well as meet the passionate people behind these wines, there’s one event that should be marked in bold on your calendar, Caroline’s Red Wine Review 2025!

Hosted by Caroline Rillema, the entrepreneurial heart and soul behind Caroline’s Fine Wine Cellar, this incredible yearly wine fiasco returns on Thursday 24 July, taking place in the glass-fronted Members’ Lounge of DHL Stadium in Cape Town.  From 5pm – 9pm, guests will enjoy a walk-around tasting experience that brings together 100 of the Cape’s most highly awarded red wines, each poured by the winemakers or viticulturists themselves – giving people an opportunity to hear stories, straight from the “horse’s mouth”!  Tickets are R495 p/p and can be purchased here.

Caroline’s career in wine began in a five-star, silver-service restaurant environment where she worked as a wine steward.  What started as a casual job quickly became a life-long passion.  After a decade in liquor retail in Johannesburg, she became intrigued by how much people were willing to spend on quality, and how interested people were in wine investment.  This ultimately inspired her to open her very own wine store (in 1997), Caroline’s Fine Wine Cellar, originally located in Long Street, Cape Town.  Today, you’ll find her shops in Sea Point and Tokai.  Both are iconic destinations for wine lovers, known for offering some of the most curated selections in the country – covering both local and international wines!

Not many people know this, but the Red Wine Review has been going since 1985!  That’s seriously incredible.  Longevity within this industry isn’t praised enough.  Caroline bought the event many years ago from a business woman who emigrated to Australia.  Since then, she’s completely reshaped the event’s purpose and format.  Back then, the Red Wine Review hosted only 50 producers. Gone are the days of showcasing only “friends” and familiar favourites! Caroline has shifted the spotlight to South Africa’s most awarded red wine producers, both big and small (those with 5-star Platter ratings, double golds, trophy awards, international accolades etc.).  Over the years, the lineup has grown to 100 wines, opening the floor to exciting newcomers, such as Anysbos, giving smaller producers the kind of visibility they rarely receive.

“This event was never meant to be a clique,” Caroline explains. “It’s about celebrating excellence across the board”.

When asking Caroline about South African wine, and what sets us apart from other winemaking countries around the world, she highlighted our predictable climate saying that,  “In the Western Cape we have winter rains and dry summers, lots of sunshine, many different microclimates, and pockets of unique terroir – giving us many incredible winemaking possibilities”.  I believe that this, along with minimal rules regulating our winemaking choices, really helps South African producers in their search for respect, and recognition on the worldwide winemaking stage.  “Our winemakers have learnt to be loyal to their brands, taking the necessary time to understand terroir – they are also well travelled”, Caroline added.

Getting back to the Red Wine Review. Caroline’s highly regarded wines for this years event include (to name a few):

• Anwilka, offering a Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz blend (Bordelais owners), which in its own right lets you know you’re in for something spectacular, and of superior quality!

• Le Grand Domaine, whose Grand Vin de Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon recently won both the SA and international Cabernet trophies at IWC.

• Restless River’s “Main Road & Dignity” Cabernet Sauvignon, a cult favourite.

• Nico van der Merwe’s Cabernet Sauvignon.

• Porseleinberg Syrah (winemaker Callie Louw will be exiting the project after 15 years) which is rather big news.  It’ll be interesting to see how Marc Kent and Boekenhoutskloof navigate themselves through this testing time.

“I’m a bit of a Cab fanatic,” Caroline laughed, after listing a few of her top picks – which seemed to be super Cabernet Sauvignon heavy!  “But obviously there’s so much more up for tasting!  Pinot Noir from Matthew van Heerden, the Writer’s Block Pinotage from Flagstone, and blends like the Bacco Estate red and the Vilafonté Series C 2012 (where she says she’ll most likely be spending the entirety of her evening).  

While the event attracts seasoned sommeliers, collectors and wine professionals, Caroline is passionate about making wine more approachable, and accessible to all.  “It’s easy to feel overwhelmed,” she admits, recalling her first visit to VinItaly.  “But the trick is to plan.  Use the tasting list, explore unfamiliar varietals, and skip the wines you already know.  Let the event push your palate into finding your new favourite wine”. I agree with her. I often attend tastings where I see people sticking to what they know and like.  Sticking to brands their friends support.  Why rob yourself of the opportunity to try wines that are hardly ever available to the trade?  Challenge yourself.  Be daring.  Come and expose yourself to new wines, cultivars, regions and stories!  Your palate will thank you for it. If you’re still feeling somewhat intimidated, come find me at the event, I’ll give you the support you need to take that “tasty” leap of faith!

For those who are at the beginning of their professional/personal wine journey, Caroline’s advice is simple but invaluable.  “Taste as much as you can.  Don’t just promote the popular labels.  Find the wines that speak to you, the ones that make you feel something.  Form your own opinions, and enjoy being part this beautiful culture of wine”.

Above all, what makes this event so memorable is the atmosphere.  “It’s electric,” Caroline says.  “Yes, it’s filled with pride and ego, but it’s also filled with friendship, intrigue, discovery, and most importantly, world-class wine”.  While chatting to her I could sense that still, after all these years, she’s in it for the love of wine.  It was inspiring.

The setting for the Red Wine Review encourages deep conversations, not only between guests and winemakers, but between industry professionals, collectors, and curious newcomers.  It’s a one-of-a-kind gathering where expertise meets enthusiasm and genuine connection.

Caroline remains deeply invested in the development of the South African wine industry.  While she appreciates the so-called “classics”, she’s fascinated by newly introduced cultivars such Assyrtiko and Albariño, and is still deeply moved by initiatives such as the Old Vine Project.  She then goes on a short, passionate rant about Chenin Blanc, which I found both humorous and engaging.  From what I could gather, Sophie Schaal’s Born of Fire Chenin Blanc apparently has the ability to change your life!

In conclusion, if you really needed further encouragement/reason to attend this year’s event, here it is…THERE IS NO OTHER TASTING EVENT QUITE LIKE THIS IN SOUTH AFRICA! You’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation for local wine, and the quality thereof, this I am certain about! Also, held on the DHL stadium’s 4th floor, the Members’ Lounge boasts panoramic views and a stylish, spacious setting. Upon arrival, you’ll receive a crystal tasting glass, and a comprehensive list of the wines/producers on show.  You’ll also have the opportunity to order wines on the night at a 15% discount, making it a rare opportunity to stock up on favourites and explore new wines unbeknown to you!

“This event is my pride and joy,” says Caroline.  “If I could, I’d fly in international journalists just to show the world what we can do”.

So, whether you’re a collector, a wine newbie, or simply curious, Caroline’s Red Wine Review 2025 is the ultimate red wine extravaganza for you. An event I’d highly recommend you attend. If you miss out, the only thing you’ll be tasting is the stale taste of disappointment! So, get your ticket ASAP!

Ending the interview, I asked what her go-to wine is after a long day.  The wine is her very own, Celestina, a crisp, sophisticated Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend from Agulhas. “Of course,” she laughs, “I have to believe in what I put my name on”! Classic!

On a separate note: Caroline continues to support the industry through her Wine Club, a carefully curated subscription service that sees Caroline and her team tasting over 100 wines per quarter – making a real effort to keep things interesting and affordable for you.  “It’s not just an online platform,” explains Sheri, who helps run it.  “It’s personal, and it’s special.  The concept is smart, and it’s driven by a respected industry leader.  There is a location, and a real face behind it.  It really is a labour of love”. 

Learn more about their wine club offerings here.