Dan Really Likes Wine

If you’re drinking a bottle of fine Burgundy in South Africa - or a Super Tuscan, or standout Rioja, or something exceptional from the Loire - then there’s a good chance you have Great Domaines boss Derek Kilpin to thank.

Michael van Deventer is guardian of some of South Africa’s most important wine, overseeing the Vinoteque in Stellenbosch that holds so many great bottles of old wine - and even more stories of our winemaking past.

As the man responsible for bringing top French names like Clos Cantenac into Greece, Giannis Makris has a keen understanding of the modern Greek wine landscape - and the local wines making more and more of an impact.

A long stint on the island of Santorini at Estate Argyros makes Greek wine expert Elizabeth Loukaki ideally placed to discuss the challenges facing the country’s most famous wine - and the other grapes queuing up for global attention.

Lilly Chalikia is the heartbeat of top Athens wine bar Oinoscent, an expert sommelier - and possibly Greece’s most passionate champion of South African wine.

After an extraordinarily comprehensive wine education working at Nederburg, Coenie Snyman had settled into life running the cellar at Rust en Vrede - but the decision to break away and start Rock Of Eye has proved an inspired one.

Growing up in the cellar, making his first wine aged 12, and succeeding his iconic father at the helm of the family business, Cape Winemakers Guild member Danie Steytler charts the story of a journey he was always destined to take.

With an apprenticeship that included an invaluable stint at Steenberg, JD Pretorius was a shrewd pick to take over at Warwick; now well settled at the marquee Stellenbosch estate, the current Cape Winemakers Guild chair is honouring the legacy of the great Norma Ratcliffe family.

As the man who put Bot River on the map with his iconic Luddite shiraz, Cape Winemakers Guild member Niels Verburg has delivered an incredible wine story that’s set to become a family legacy.

Mossop’s big break was taking on the winemaker role in a brand new Stellenbosch winery called Tokara; nearly 10 years after leaving to run his own brand, he recounts his adventures in wine - and his love of surfing.