Enjoy the Versatility of De Krans Port-Style Wines this Winter
De Krans Wines, situated in Calitzdorp in the Klein Karoo, has long been synonymous with the port-style wine industry in South Africa and is well-known for its range of award-winning port-style wines. Gone are the days when port was reserved for small glasses (a white wine glass is perfect to allow for some breathing space) and fireplaces only. Our favourite thing about the De Krans port-style wines is probably their versatility when it comes to when and how to enjoy them. With its naturally sweet taste, delicious fruit character and balanced acidity, this wine range is perfect for every winter occasion.
When looking for a lovely pre-drink or port to use as a cocktail, there is nothing better than the De Krans P&T (port-style and tonic) – a premixed white port and tonic with delicious citrus, pineapple and granadilla flavours. Additionally, try the delicious Cape Pink as a cocktail mixer – simply mix with soda or tonic, and voilà. When it comes to cooking hearty dishes this winter, why not try the Premium Cape Ruby instead of a dry, red wine? The Cape Ruby port-style wine brings the added sweetness to the cooking, making meaty dishes like lamb shank, potjiekos or oxtail super tender and juicy. The Cape Vintage pairs excellently with chocolate desserts like a brownie, chocolate fondant or even a steak with mushroom sauce. With a flavour profile of coffee, toffee, nuts and dried orange peel, the aged Cape Tawny pairs well with both savoury dishes (think butternut soup and baked camembert with rosemary and drizzled honey) and sweet dishes (think malva pudding, orange cake or crème brûlée). The options are truly endless. To end off the night, enjoy a glass of our flagship port-style wine, the Cape Vintage Reserve, with matured cheese.
With Port-style wines and Portuguese grape varietals being an integral part of their heritage since 1973, when the first Portuguese grapes were planted on the farm, it was of great importance to the brand to stay true to their heritage throughout the redesign process of the Port-style range, which was launched early in 2025. The farm’s heritage dates back all the way to 1890, when the De Krans farm was bought by the Nel family. De Krans is part of the first farm established in Calitzdorp in 1757, known as “Buffelsvallei” or Buffalo Valley, where wild animals, including buffaloes, freely roamed the area along the banks of the Gamka River. While the buffalo has long featured as the De Krans logo (although only the buffalo head), the new logo and label designs portray the full-body buffalo to pay tribute to this magnificent animal. The new port-style wine label design ultimately features the new De Krans logo – a hand-illustrated sketch of a buffalo with a slightly textured light beige background. Dark colours like ruby red, purple-blue, and tawny are used as colour capsules to reflect the colours and the richness of the different port styles. The new design is a fresh and elegant take on the classic port-style label and is a positive transition from the previous white print on black labels.
Since the ruling in 2010 prohibiting South African producers from using the word “Port”, the South African Port Producers Association collectively agreed to include the word “Cape” plus the style, as a means of brand identity. As a result, port-style wines are labelled as Cape Ruby, Cape Tawny and Cape Vintage. There is no doubt that much education is still left to be done regarding port-style wines in South Africa – what makes them different to still wines, and when and how to enjoy these delicious wines. It is our hope that this new label will yet again place emphasis on this important and much-loved category and encourage both loyal port-style wine drinkers and newcomers to the category to experiment with and enjoy these intricately-made fortified wines. Most importantly, the labels may have changed, but the incredible quality and style of the port-style wines’ content is still true to the De Krans style, and just getting better.
Enjoying De Krans port-style wines this winter is all about experimenting with different flavour combinations and having fun, as well as having the right company, of course. Whether you are staying in or enjoying a little getaway to a beautiful location, we hope you take your favourite De Krans Port-style wine with you – cheers to creating new memories this winter.