Why winemakers love Cabernet Franc, with South African superstar Bruwer Raats – Tuesday 13th October

In recent years, Cabernet Franc has become the darling of the wine world. Wine lovers treasure its cool, savoury freshness; winemakers love its early-ripening adaptability in an era of climate change. For some, not least in Bordeaux, it is something of a saviour…

Few winemakers are more enamoured of the variety than South African superstar Bruwer Raats. The larger-than-life Bruwer founded his family winery in 2000, since when it has received a series of accolades, being named Tim Atkin MW’s Winemaker of the Year; the Platter Guide Winery of the Year; and being the first winery to receive eight five-star Platter awards in the guide.

Raats Family Wines is based in the Stellenbosch sub-region of Polkadraai Hills which, through a combination of Bruwer’s work and its cool, south-facing, ocean-influenced slopes, has since been recognised as an independent ward, developing a stellar reputation for wines of purity, freshness and elegance. That reputation – like that of the Raats wines – revolves particularly around Chenin Blanc for whites and Cabernet Franc for reds.

We’re delighted to welcome Bruwer to the Club to guide Members through his wines and explain just why he believes Cabernet Franc to be a grape variety capable of greatness. Among the wines we’ll enjoy are the limited-production Vlag; the allocation-only Eden High Density; and the flagship Bordeaux blend, MR de Compostella, which brings Cab Franc together with the other classic Bordeaux varieties to create a powerful yet elegant wine of real complexity and depth. It is, as critic Neal Martin says, ‘one of the Cape’s most eminent wines’.

Do join us for what promises to be a highly engaging evening.

The wines we’ll be tasting: 2024 Original Chenin Blanc, Raats Family Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2023 Dolomite Cabernet Franc, Raats Family Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2023 Red Jasper, Raats Family Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2023 Family Reserve Cabernet Franc, Raats Family Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2023 Vlag Vineyard Selection Cabernet Franc, Raats Family Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2017 Cabernet Franc, Raats Family Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2024 Eden High Density Cabernet Franc, Raats Family Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2021 Eden High Density Cabernet Franc, Raats Family Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2022 MR de Compostella, Mvemve Raats, Stellenbosch, South Africa