Now recognized as a serious contender in the wine world, more and more people are discovering the magic that is South African wine. The producers of Bain’s Way Merlot, Wamakersvallei, have been making wine in South Africa’s Wellington wine region for over a century, long before the South African wine renaissance. The region’s Mediterranean climate creates an ideal atmosphere for Merlot grapes to grow and for wine to be produced.

This wine is bold, with its jammy quality and low acidity that leaves the boldness hanging. There’s a load of spice that transfers to the palate. It is for when you need to feel like you are wrapped up in a plum-colored down comforter. Lots of oak. Lots of love. On the nose, there’s a presence of wet earth that’s like a forest floor, the damp musky quality of it covered in twigs and leaves.