Wine of the Month, July 2026
Waterkloof Seriously Cool Cinsault
a red made for the summer
This is a chillable, organic South African red that shows July doesn't have to mean rosé.
July has a way of making you reach for the same things — the rosé, the crisp white, the reliable crowd-pleasers. Which is exactly why this month we've chosen something a little different. A red wine. But not just any red wine.
The Waterkloof Seriously Cool Cinsault 2023 is the kind of bottle that changes the way you think about summer drinking. Light, fresh, and unapologetically easy to enjoy, it's a red that genuinely wants to be chilled — and is all the better for it. Pop it in the fridge for twenty minutes before serving and you'll wonder why you ever limited yourself to whites and rosés in the warmer months.
Cinsault is a grape that doesn't always get the recognition it deserves. You might have encountered it as a blending component in southern French or South African reds, quietly adding freshness and fragrance to someone else's show. Here it takes centre stage — and it more than earns it. Juicy raspberries and fresh blackcurrants lead the way, lifted by a dusting of peppery spice and earthy notes that give the wine real character without ever weighing it down. It's light, it's fresh, and it's remarkably easy to enjoy.
The fruit comes from old bush vines in the cool Helderberg region, close to the ocean, where the long growing seasons and low yields produce beautifully balanced grapes. Waterkloof is a certified organic and biodynamic estate on the windswept coastal slopes of the Schapenberg above False Bay — a spectacular setting that runs through everything they do. Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard and her team take a minimal-intervention approach in the cellar, keeping things simple and letting the fruit speak for itself. The result is a wine that's true to its terroir in the most honest and unpretentious way.
Behind it all is founder Paul Boutinot, whose wine-making story is closely entwined with the Southern Rhône — a region that knows a thing or two about Cinsault. He saw in this South African terrain the chance to bring those Rhône-honed instincts together with a wine farm run in step with his values. That combination of experience, place, and principle shows clearly in the glass.
For serving, think slightly chilled alongside a simple roast of game, a herb-crusted rack of lamb, or a summer barbecue spread. It's the kind of red that bridges the gap between the grill and the garden table without missing a beat.
Throughout July, the Waterkloof Seriously Cool Cinsault is £15.50 per bottle (usually £17.50), and you'll earn 100 bonus loyalty points per bottle on top of your usual points — that's £1 back to spend with us. You don't need to buy 6 of the same wine to get the mixed case price. If there's one red worth adding to your summer rotation, this is it.ade