South Africa’s oldest spirit has a fresh new way to be discovered, as the South African Brandy Foundation (SABF) relaunches the SA Brandy Route. With a brand-new suite of digital tools to help you plan, locals, tourists and brandy-lovers can look forward to a journey through distilleries, tasting rooms and vibrant city hubs offering revamped visitor experiences, inventive food pairings and world-class mixology.
Brandy has been crafted in South Africa for more than 330 years, with records showing the first distillation of brandewijn – ‘burnt wine’ in Dutch – took place on a ship in modern-day Table Bay in 1672. Over the centuries, it has evolved into a refined, award-winning spirit recognised and enjoyed worldwide.
“The SA Brandy Route is truly a journey into South African heritage,” says Christelle Reade-Jahn, director of the South African Brandy Foundation. “Every Brandy Home and Brandy Hub tells a story, from historic cellars in the winelands to contemporary cocktail bars in the city. By elevating the visitor experience, supporting our members with training and tools, and embracing innovative ways to showcase brandy’s versatility, we’re ensuring this tradition remains relevant and celebrated.”
The revamped SA Brandy Route has been designed around Brandy Homes and Brandy Hubs, inviting brandy lovers to immerse themselves in experiences ranging from the multi-sensory KWV House of Fire and owner-led tastings at boutique distilleries in the Klein Karoo, to world-class mixology in the heart of Cape Town.
Brandy Homes are SABF-accredited producers offering guided tastings, cellar tours, and food or cocktail pairings that showcase each region’s flavour identity. Brandy Hubs are urban gateways to regional brandy culture, offering curated tastings, expertly crafted cocktails, and retail opportunities, along with information for onward journeys to Brandy Homes and neighbouring wine routes.
“We have created the SA Brandy Route to dovetail seamlessly with existing wine routes that are already popular with both domestic and international visitors,” says Reade-Jahn.
“It’s the perfect bookend to a day of wine tasting.”
Upgrades across all 19 Brandy Homes in the Western Cape began with a comprehensive audit by hospitality consultant Jonathan Steyn, leading to additional training in service, brandy knowledge and visitor engagement. SABF also equipped Homes with brandy-specific stemware to better showcase the spirit’s depth and complexity. This renewed energy has inspired some of the most celebrated Brandy Homes to refresh their visitor offerings.
What’s new to discover
In Calitzdorp – a Klein Karoo town better known for fortified wine than ‘burnt wine’ – Boplaas has been distilling brandy since 1880, and today, the family-owned distillery showcases the diversity of South African spirits in a revamped tasting room alongside the distillery.
“We’ve kept the same traditional style, but enlarged the space to include a lounge area perfect for our potstill tastings, which introduce guests to our eight-, 12-, 17-, and 20-year-old brandies,” says sixth-generation distiller Daniel Nel. “People who love their brandy know their favourite producers, but this new upgrade of the Brandy Route is perfect for attracting new customers and travellers to the region. I’m very excited.”
The route also celebrates brandy’s versatility through inventive culinary pairings. At Boschendal Estate outside Franschhoek the aged XO brandy can now be paired with a trio of South African dessert classics: Malva pudding, peppermint crisp tart, and milk tart.
“We really want to lean into our cultural heritage, while also breaking down perceptions around brandy,” says Zaid Adams, Director Food & Beverages at Boschendal, which will also unveil a brand-new tasting venue in the historic Manor House in Spring 2025.
On the Helshoogte Pass, Tokara Wine Estate now pairs award-winning XO Brandy – matured in Limousin French oak barrels for up to 16 years – with handmade chocolates.
“For Tokara, inclusion in the Brandy Homes network represents a confluence of heritage, innovation, and terroir… a testament to our commitment to the alchemy of authentic Cape brandy,” says Tokara General Manager Karl Lambour. “As the Brandy Route relaunches, we stand not merely as a stop on the journey, but as a custodian of the craft. To share this with the world is to invite lovers of brandy into a story centuries in the making and alive in every glass enjoyed.”
At Van Ryn’s Distillery, set among the vineyards near Stellenbosch, visitors can look forward to expert-led distillery tours and tutored tastings that include decadent chocolate pairings.
For mixologists, it’s all about flavour
In addition to the Brandy Homes, a network of Brandy Hubs ensures easy access to authentic South African brandy experiences. At Lanzerac Wine Estate outside Stellenbosch, the elegant Craven Lounge offers an extensive spirits menu that includes a comprehensive collection of premium brandies, with a choice of pairing experiences and tasting flights on offer, led by expert brandy ambassadors.
“Through our curated tastings and brandy cocktails, we are really working hard to change the perception of South African brandy,” adds Johan van Zyl, Food & Beverage Manager for Lanzerac. “In South Africa, people usually know brandy only as a mixer, and many of our international guests simply don’t realise the exceptional quality of brandies that we make here in South Africa. The relaunch of the Brandy Route is a fantastic development for the brandy industry.”
In Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront Cause|Effect Cocktail Kitchen has long been a pioneer in showcasing local brandy, today offering more than 80 South African pot still brandies.
“Since we opened in 2017, we have always been a champion of South African brandies,” says founder Kurt Schlechter. “Pot still brandies have an incredible smoothness, complexity and depth of flavour. And, for us as mixologists, it’s all about flavour.”
Schlechter’s dedication to the category shines through in cocktails such as the House Sidecar, made with Cause|Effect’s own brandy, and the ‘Table Mountain’, which combines Klein Karoo brandy with fynbos bitters. Beyond cocktails, the venue offers a choice of pot still brandies for sale, hosts monthly Brandy Club gatherings, and provides a range of tasting experiences for both local and international travellers.
“Brandy tourism is truly an untapped treasure in our national tourism offering, and it naturally complements South Africa’s already world-renowned wine routes,” adds Reade-Jahn. “With the relaunch of the SA Brandy Route we hope to deepen that connection to place, culture, and craftsmanship, creating new opportunities to explore our beautiful winelands, and inspiring them to take the spirit of South Africa home with them.”
Pictures: Tokara Wine Eetate; Boplaas Family Vineyards; Christelle Reade-Jahn, director of the South African Brandy Foundation; Shane Mumba Brand Ambassador for SA Brandy Foundation Nocturne Stellenbosch; Boschendal.
