As the days get shorter and the chill begins to nip at the edges of late afternoons, there’s something about autumn that calls for slow sips, comforting flavours, and soulful stories in every glass. Whether you’re layering up for a golden-hour garden stroll or curling up by the fireplace in your coziest slippers, together with sommelier, Moses Magwaza, I’ve rounded up the perfect bottles to accompany your autumn rituals. From the bold and nostalgic to the affordable, yet elegant.
Here are Moses and my top autumn wines to celebrate the season – all with personality, provenance and purpose:
Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon – The Heartbeat of Autumn
Le Riche is synonymous with classic, Cabernet-driven brilliance. Their Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon is bold, layered and structured – just like autumn itself. It’s the kind of wine that begs to be savoured slowly, with roasted lamb or mushroom risotto on a crisp Sunday afternoon. Each sip of Le Riche’s wines tells a story of terroir and time.
READ ABOUT MY FIRST LE RICHE EXPERIENCE HERE.
Illimis Cinsault – The Light Red for Crisp Autumn Days
Illimis Cinsault brings a delicate dance of red berries and subtle earthiness, making it the ideal choice for those in-between autumn days. It’s fresh, pretty and made with a gentle hand. Plus, the label itself will look lovely on any autumn table!
Gabriëlskloof – Elegant Wines for Soulful Moments
From the misty hills of Bot River comes Gabriëlskloof, a winery that effortlessly bottles some of autumn’s most beautiful poems. Their Syrah or The Blend is perfect for deep conversations, aged cheese boards and countryside getaways. These wines are textured, beautifully balanced and undeniably thoughtful.
Stellenrust – Comfort in a Glass
Stellenrust’s wines come with a special kind of depth, with reds and whites that warm both the heart and the palate. Their Chenin Blanc and Shiraz consistently overdeliver, making them autumn staples – ideal for hearty meals or slow sunset sips.
Stellenzicht – Exceptional Quality at a Friendly Price
From the podcast, Stellenzicht Cabernet Sauvignon Red is one of Moses’ top picks under R200, and with good reason. This is a bold, yet polished red – rich in flavour and surprisingly affordable. A true fireside hero.
FIND OUT WHAT THE REST OF MOSES’ RECOMMENDED WINES UNDER R200 ARE, HERE.
Allée Bleue – Elegance Meets Versatility
Allée Bleue’s wines resemble a soft scarf and a good novel – comforting, yet quietly luxurious. Their Chenin Blanc from the Estate Collection or their Black Series Isabeau Chardonnay will pair beautifully with autumn’s creamy dishes or roasted root vegetables.
Marsanne/Roussanne Blends – Warming Whites with Texture
If you can get your hands on one of these Rhône-inspired blends, it’s a definite autumn win. It offers stone fruit, honeysuckle and a slight nuttiness – ideal for those cooler days when you’re not quite ready for a red. Marsanne/Roussanne pairs perfectly with butternut soup, truffle pasta or even a good roasted chicken.
De Wetshof Bon Vallon Chardonnay – Moses’ Slipper Sipper
Bon Vallon Chardonnay 2023 is unoaked, with a wide spectrum of flavours including citrus, wildflowers and grilled nuts. In fact, on the SUITCASE AND CHARDONNAY podcast, Moses says this is the wine he would keep close while padding around the house in his slippers. It’s graceful and refreshing with a nuanced minerality.
Saronsberg Provenance Shiraz – Fireside Favourite
Moses also keeps a bottle of Saronsberg Provenance Shiraz on hand for colder evenings. It’s smoky, spicy and sultry – like wrapping yourself in a wool blanket while the fire crackles. A classic autumn companion.
Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc
If you are looking to sip on a white this season, Steenberg’s Sauvignon Blanc is a must-add to your autumn wine collection. This wine hypnotises with its bouquet of gooseberry, nettle, lemon zest, granny smith apple pith and white peach. It’s a cool climate Sauvignon Blanc that invites a new season, complete with a new label.
If you’re looking for a slightly more elevated option from Steenberg, their Steenberg Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc 2024 comes highly recommended, also with a beautiful new jacket for the new season. Of course, their reds are just as special.
Backsberg Plum Valley Merlot
Comfort food and indulgence is at the heart of autumn and therefore, it’s only natural that Backsberg recently paired its Plum Valley Merlot with decadent chocolate treats. This wine reflects Backsberg’s five generations of winemaking heritage perfectly – a proper pour of nostalgia. It’s a full-bodied red that draws from a farm where orchards of oranges, peaches and plums once flourished – one that will elevate any autumn gathering.
P.S. Stock up now! Available through to the end of May 2025, Backsberg is offering a limited-time special where when you buy three cases of wine, you’ll receive a fourth case of your choice (Chenin Blanc, Dry Red or Summer Berry Rose) for free.
Diemersdal Wild Horseshoe Sauvignon Blanc
I love a wine with a story and Diemersdal’s Wild Horseshoe Sauvignon Blanc is one f those storytelling wines. The vineyards at Diemersdal have been ploughed with horses for many decades and every now and then, they still find horseshoes in the vineyards. The lucky finders take the horseshoes to the cellar, where they hang to catch good luck. Whether you’re looking to catch some good luck this season, or whether you’re looking for a wine that inspires good fireside stories, this bold, leesy, spicy and concentrated white will do the trick. It comes with a touch of oak, flavours of quince and tropical fruit and a smoky flourish that make for an intriguing finish.
Durbanville Wine Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Speaking of Diemersdal… They form part of the ten winemakers from South Africa’s premier cool-climate winemaking region of Durbanville who have just unveiled their latest vintage of the collaborative Sauvignon Blanc. Described as South Africa’s super Sauvignon Blanc, having pooled the champion talents of the region’s renowned wine growers and winemakers, this year’s release is raising the bar yet again. Other contributors to this wine collaboration include Bloemendal, D’Aria, De Grendel, Durbanville Hills, Groot Phesantekraal, Klein Roosboom, Maastricht, Meerendal and Nitida.
Iconic South African Collection and Benchmark 2010 Bordeaux
For the wine collectors out there, Strauss & Co presents a Private Seller Auction, closing on Monday, 12 May from 18:00 at one-minute intervals. This auction’s South African selection is filled with rare wines from previous decades, including the De Trafford Shiraz 2001 – a wine that was the highest scoring South African wine by an international publication for many years. In addition, there’s also the maiden vintage of De Toren Fusion V 1999, which is in perfect condition 26 years later! But, probably the rarest lots are the two lots of Stellenzicht Syrah 1994 – an iconic wine of the era.
Of course, the auction will also include an international list, cropped with benchmark Bordeaux from the outstanding 2010 vintage. The selection includes: Client, Gazin, Grand-Puy Lacoste, Lafon-Rochet, Léoville Las Cases, Montrose, Pichon Baron and Pontet-Canet.
Autumn invites us to pause, reflect and reconnect. What better way than with a bottle that matches the mood? Whether you’re choosing based on value, beauty or boldness, there’s a wine here to suit every taste, budget and moment!
So, pour yourself a glass, pull on your woollen layers, and raise a toast to the season of twirling leaves and timeless flavours.
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