South Africa's Reyneke Estate is the champion of organic wine | Alistair Gibson

The report states that wine producers in the Cape are ‘making some of the best and most distinctive wines in the world’ and this is a must for anyone with more than a passing interest in South African wine, and indeed wine in general.

Within the report Atkins not only reviews and scores more than 1,000 wines, he also identifies his wines and winemakers of the year. I was delighted to see that this year’s Grower of the Year was Johan Reyneke of Reyneke Estate in Stellenbosch. This award is particularly relevant this month as it is Organic September, and there is no doubt that Johan is a true champion of organic viticulture.

Johan took over the family estate in the late 1990s and started to take steps to convert the farm to firstly organic and then biodynamic practises. Today Reyneke is still one of the very few farms in South Africa to produce organic and biodynamic wines. I am fortunate enough to have visited the farm on many occasions and to have got to know Johan quite well. He is without doubt passionate about Reyneke, the people who work there and its wines.

So here are a couple of Reyneke wines to celebrate Organic September. Reyneke Organic Cabernet Merlot 2018, Western Cape (Waitrose £8.99 on offer from £10.99 until 22nd September) is on special offer and you should be buying this by the case for autumn Sunday lunches. The blend is actually 50 per cent cabernet sauvignon and 50 per cent merlot and after fermentation, about a third spends 10 months in older oak. On the nose, there are dark fruits, particularly blackcurrants and a little spice. Followed by lovely purity of fruit on the palate with some juicy, ripe tannins and a smooth, generous finish.

Reyneke Chenin Blanc 2019, Stellenbosch (Hermitage Cellars £17.25, Majestic £24.99 but £18.99 as part of a mixed six) epitomises all that Reyneke does. From the excellent 2019 vintage, this is produced from two old vine blocks on the farm, aged in old oak for 10 months without the addition of any sulphur. The bouquet offers pear skin, citrus, spice and a little honey as it evolves, the palate is still beautifully fresh with a definite touch of salinity before a textured, long finish.

Try this with a dish of fresh scallops and raise a glass to a true champion of organic wine farming.