2025 Ndubs Red Blend

2025 Ndubs Red BlendWhile her Stellenbosch winery is on the other side of the country from Ntsiki Biyela's home in KwaZulu Natal, the influence of her Zulu culture echoes throughout her winemaking. Short for the Xhosa word Indubela, a common drink in Zulu communities, Ndubs pays tribute to simplicity and everyday refreshment, reimagined through a modern winemaking lens. Pinotage is South Africa's signature red grape, a crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault developed in

We think this is consistently one of the best values in sparkling wine

but made into an orange wine

Light-bodied and herbal

This is his second vintage of certified organic (and biodynamically farmed) Sauvignon Blanc from the Vecino Vineyard in Potter Valley

Try it with a tomato and feta salad

and draw inspiration from Burgundian winemaking techniques

Spending $25 on Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc that's over-ripe and tastes like biting into a pineapple seems ridiculous when stuff like this exists

watermelon

young Merlot vines along the upper reaches of these steep slopes maintain enough acidity to be perfectly suited for Champagne-method sparkling wine

and Lucía Cerdán of Bodega Cerrón are making some of the most compelling

Matthieu Barret was my favorite winemaker of 2016

but there’s a firm backbone underneath that gives it depth and aging potential