Marguerite Beukes

Vilafonté Owner Mike Ratcliffe's pre-release comments on the new 2023 vintage of Series M and Series C. Now Available. vilafonte.com

Vinimark across seasons As harvest wraps up in South Africa, the vineyards of Champagne are just beginning to stir with the arrival of spring. SO as we wait to see how the year shapes up for the World's oldest sparkling wine region, here is the 2026 guide to the world's most admired champagne brands, courtesy of @DrinksIntMag (#ICYMI) bit.ly/41yEQ1c> #Vinimark #Champagne #SAWinenatinal

Can consumers tell the difference between faulty wines and those that win medals? At least one study says no... To hear the rest of what Professor Magalie du Bois has to say on the topic, watch the full webinar here:  youtube.com/watch?v=noSNxf…

Researchers analyzed grape seeds dating to between 2300 B.C.E. and 1500 C.E...including one particularly intriguing sample found in the toilet of a medieval hospital in France! bit.ly/3Qj5Yie Courtesy of @SmithsonianMag

Great watch. These moments are a reminder of how much trust sits behind a label, and how quickly that can be lost. Transparency matters more than ever.

We can now detect leaf roll virus using a simple cell phone camera! Here are a few snippets from our the latest Vinimark Podcast episode that covers the exciting developments in the areas of viticulture and sensor-driven AI analysis. Prof Carlos Poblete-Echeverria chats to JonoLeFeuvre on everything from vineyard robots to augmented reality in wearable tech. Catch the full episode here: Spotify: t.co/0fFyVEUI4B Apple Podcasts: t.co/ntqtZMTLwB

Winemakers! Pls stop! You’re stealing our joy! Link to the full video here 👇🏼 HANtv S06.Ep09: youtu.be/EQ-qbufKnJA

@VinimarkWine @JonoLeFeuvre Such an interesting conversation. The real shift isn’t just AI itself, it’s how much better we’re starting to understand what’s happening in the vineyard. That changes everything.

A few snippets from our the latest Vinimark Podcast episode that covers the exciting developments in the areas of viticulture and sensor-driven AI analysis. Prof Carlos Poblete-Echeverria chats to @JonoLeFeuvre on everything from vineyard robots to augmented reality in wearable tech. Catch the full episode here: Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/74m9Rq… Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-…

Appreciate this. The shift is real, it’s not just about telling your story anymore, it’s about aligning with the importer’s portfolio and market need. Positioning is everything.

The new Vinimark podcast episode is out! @JonoLeFeuvre chats to Professor Carlos Poblete Echeverria about "Digital Terroir" and some of the fascinating breakthroughs in the intersect between AI and vineyard management. Here are the links to your favourite podcast platforms: Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6TVkRApHV… Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-… You can catch all our other episodes HERE: vinimark.co.za/podcasts

The @Trophywineshow turns 25 in 2026. One of the things it’s consistently prioritised is a judging panel that blends local and international expertise. So here’s the question: What actually makes a wine competition panel trustworthy? a) All wines are tasted blind b) Judges hold recognised wine qualifications (MW, WSET Diploma, Cape Winemasters, etc.) c) A strong presence of active winemakers on the panel d) A mix of local and international judges e) Global reputation of the competition (Decanter, IWSC, IWC, Concours Mondial…) Or is it something else entirely?

Can’t wait to get out there and film some of the cool stuff that’s going on at the University of Stellenbosch!

A space tech company and a Bordeaux chateaux are joining forces to run their vineyards from space. This new venture tests the possibilities of using satellites to detect mildew, soil imbalances, or iminent insect attacks faster than even the most attentive on-the-ground vineyard teams. #viticulture bit.ly/3NBTod6

The much anticipated Most Admired Champagne brands report is out. Courtesy of @DrinksIntMag What would your guess be for the Top 3 spots? edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/p…

South Africa's pink-skinned Chenin Rosé clone finally planted in the Loire's Clonal garden at Montreuil-Bellay! @vinpro_za do we have any of it growing in South Africa? daily.sevenfifty.com/south-african-…

This is an important insight. If safety concerns are influencing drink choices in bars, maybe it is also time for the wine industry to consider alternative packaging formats that feel safer and more convenient in those environments.

Regeneration without objective measurement risks sliding into greenwashing. Vineyard carbon targets have been (S)et… but notoriously difficult to (M)easure, (A)ssess, (R)efine or (T)rack. Soil carbon sits at the centre of the climate conversation — yet we’ve lacked a shared benchmark. The IWCA baseline is a serious shift — from good intentions to measurable accountability. thedrinksbusiness.com/2026/02/iwca-r…

Some incredibly useful insights from @capewinereview: "The most successful producers I’ve worked with ask different questions: - How can we make this wine easier to sell? - What support does your team actually need? - How do we show up without asking for anything?" You can read his full article here: linkedin.com/pulse/why-somm…

Another one bites the dust! @JoseGrapes and his team of DNA profilers have discovered that Turkey's Kolorko cultivar is identical to Hungary's Furmint cultivar (the grape that produces the world-famous Tokaj sweet wines). The upside is that there one less grape for wine students to learn. The downside is that the genetic diversity of Vitis Vinfera just got that little bit smaller. If you're a fan of these sorts of vinous DNA puzzles, you'll be pleased to know that Dr Vouillamoz has a new book out: Grands Cepages d'Origine Francaise winebusiness.com/news/article/3…