Change is great. It presents new opportunities, exciting ventures. And the De Krans team are no strangers to change. From when they first launched the Premium White Moscato Perlé in South Africa in 2012 (instant popularity!), to changing the name from Die Krans to De Krans, they’ve stayed open to new innovations. The latest is the brand-new De Krans Premium Moscato Perlé labels. It’s more modern, fresh, sophisticated. The wine itself hasn’t changed (thank heavens) … great quality, delicious fruit flavours, a slight fizz, and affordable pricing, these are fabulous everyday wines for weekend brunch with the girls, a romantic date night, Monday evening just because … Monday.
For newbies, the De Krans Premium White Moscato Perlé has delicious fruit flavours of muscat, litchi, apricots and hints of honey and exotic spice. The Premium Red Moscato Perlé has 15 per cent Pinotage added to give it the red colour, which changes the fruit profile considerably to flavours of berries, litchi, soft prunes and muscat, with strawberries, blackcurrants and exotic spice on the palate. The De Krans Premium Rosé Moscato Perlé dazzles with a beautiful, pink blush colour – a result of a touch of Pinotage added to the Muscadel and Hanepoot. This natural sweet wine is packed with fresh tropical fruit, strawberry and candy floss flavours, with exotic spice and muscat aromas and a balanced, fresh acidity. R90 a bottle from your local wine stockist or from dekrans.co.za. We’ve a case to give away … pop over to @getitnationalmagazines on Instagram and follow the prompts.
Patrick Watson is arguably South Africa’s most innovative and versatile landscape architect. With a pioneering approach to the restoration of degraded land and his use of indigenous species, he’s created hundreds of gardens, from glorious small private home gardens to quiet spaces for restoration such as at the Apartheid Museum in Joburg to extensive mega-sites like The Lost City at Sun City, even an entire Indian Ocean Island! With incredible photographs by Elsa Young and specially commissioned artwork by Heidi Fourie, the book is just page after page of extraordinary gardens, including North Island in the Seycheles, Nirox Estate in the Cradle of Humankind, the astonishing Clivia House in Khyber Rock and Peninsula House in Llandudno. There’s a marvellous biographical sketch where author Gareth van Niekerk chats to Patrick about this childhood, career and legacy projects, and about his own garden in Greenside, as well as a full plant list of seven of the projects showcased in the book. Veld – The Gardens and Landscapes of Patrick Watson features 23 of his gardens and landscapes, and is an amazingly beautiful book … a tribute to a talent who has had a profound influence on his profession. Penguin, R650
The Bordallo Pinheiro’s Flora collection is a joyful celebration of nature … vibrant pops of colour with plant and insect designs to bring the outdoors into your dining areas. With handcrafted plates and bowls and platters and jugs, it’s best to mix for a riot of colour and texture. Just marvellous! Look for bowls like this Flora small yellow bowl (R310). You’ll find the range on vidabela.co.za
We are obsessed – OBSESSED – with the Birds and Botanical range from Hannah Claire Creations. A riot of nature’s feathered friends and lush botanicals … all intricate patterns and vibrant colours and luxurious velvet coin purses, vanity and cosmetic bags, stationery bags and really eye-catching sling bags. Quirky, locally made, female owned (ticking all the right boxes) there are a dozen or so other ranges to look at too … equally as desirable! Buy online from hannahclairecreations.com
