The Red Carnation Hotel Collection South Africa’s three luxury properties – Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat in the Cederberg; The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Cape Town; and The Oyster Box in Umhlanga, have all won a Diamond Award – the highest accolade, in the prestigious Diners Club Winelist Awards, presented to those restaurants with a total score of 91% or higher. In addition, Bushmans Kloof and The Oyster Box beat numerous contenders to win the regional awards for the Best Wine List in the Cape and KZN respectively.
The annual awards, now in their 21st year, recognise those restaurants that excel in their wine selection and pairing of food with wine. Chaired by veteran wine critic and author Dave Hughes, this year’s judging panel comprised wine journalist Fiona Macdonald, Cape 
Wine Master Winnie Bowman, Principal of the Cape Wine Academy Kristina Beuthner, Chairman of the S.A. Sommeliers’ Association Neil Grant, and wine list design specialist Nikki Dumas. The judges assessed hundreds of restaurant menus based on content, balance, suitability and presentation. To make the cut, wine lists had to be interesting, varied and original, easy to use, informative, accurate, and well matched to the cuisine of the house.
The Red Carnation Hotel Collection takes a dedicated and passionate approach to its food and wine offering, with fine wine lists that complement the cuisine and allow diners to try an interesting and varied selection of wines, from iconic South African mainstays and new trailblazers, to international offerings, special vintages and rare auction wines.
The menu at Bushmans Kloof bursts with fresh Cape Contemporary Cuisine featuring selected homegrown produce from its organic gardens. Signature dishes proudly showcase the fresh regional offering, enhanced by an impressive wine list of local and international vintages, including wines from the Cederberg and West Coast region – among them the renowned Cederberg Private Cellar. The wine list is jointly compiled by Food and Beverage Manager Michel Bouic and Mike Bampfield-Duggan of Wine Concepts Newlands, who has been involved as a consultant to Bushmans Kloof since 1998, assisting the team with the layout and selection of wines. It is the 16th consecutive year for Bushmans Kloof to have been awarded Diamond certification.
The Twelve Apostles’ winning wine list was compiled by Head Sommelier Gregory Mutambe. His careful selection reflects the latest South African and international trends, with vintages sourced from a diversity of exciting wine producing areas. South African wines form the greater part of the wine collection, selected to highlight the contemporary South African flavours presented in the Azure Restaurant – without neglecting the selection of foreign wines from major wine producing regions around the world.
The legendary Oyster Box’s extensive wine list comprises a selection of both Old World style and the more robust New World wines. The list features an extensive choice of local and international vintages enjoyed in its fine dining restaurants by discerning guests from around the world.
