Tasting Diaries: November 2025
No.68 | What's In My Glass
Greetings from Stellenbosch, South Africa! I am here this week to give a masterclass on Cabernet Franc from around the world for the Cape Winemakers Guild members. I am here on the invitation of the country’s Cabernet Franc flag-bearer Bruwer Raats of Raats Family Wines, who has been championing the variety since the winery’s inception in 2004. I’m honoured to be here to share my passion for Cabernet Franc and its global landscape with this esteemed group of winemakers. Naturally, I am taking advantage of my time in the country to explore South African Cabernet Franc, and Bruwer and his family have arranged a number of visits for me with key producers around Stellenbosch and beyond, and I look forward to reporting on my tastings and discoveries here in the future.
But for now, I want to take a moment to highlight some of the wines that delighted my palate last month.
Heathen Wines, 2023 Blanc de Franc, Monticello, Virginia, USA (12.5% abv., SRP $45USD): When pet-nats are made well, they…