Six proper South African reds built for the braai — no guesswork, no pretension, just wines that hold their own next to fire, smoke and properly seasoned meat. The Braai Buddy Reds doubles up on the Maasbaai Cape Reserve (a crowd-pleasing coastal Cape blend that delivers well below what it should cost) and the Alvis Drift Fusion (93 Platter’s points and Double Platinum at the NWC — award-winning South African winemaking at an honest price), then rounds the case out with a rare Swartland Tinta Barocca and The Unbroken, an XCellar Limited Edition Cab-Syrah from a celebrated koffieklip estate in Stellenbosch. Six bottles. One proper braai.
The Braai Buddy Story
The best braai wines aren’t the most expensive ones — they’re the ones that don’t wilt in the smoke and don’t demand more attention than the fire already does. This case was built on that logic: find wines with genuine character and dark-fruit generosity that match fire-cooked food, then double up on the ones that carry the session. The Maasbaai doubles because it’s the crowd wine — easy to pour, easy to love, and genuinely impressive for the price. The Alvis Drift doubles because a 93-point Cape blend that most guests won’t recognise is exactly the kind of value this case is built around. The Tinta Barocca is the wildcard — a Portuguese variety that the Swartland has made entirely its own, rugged and soulful in a way no Cabernet manages. The Unbroken is the one you pull out when the coals ease off and the conversation earns a serious bottle.
Maasbaai Cape Reserve Red Blend 2023 ×2
Part of the Lekker Labels family, the Maasbaai is inspired by the wild coastline of the Cape — blackberry, cassis and violets with gentle oak and a cocoa-dusted finish. It’s a generous, crowd-pleasing Cape blend that punches well above its price, and every bottle sold donates R5 to Clean-C to support local beach clean-ups. You get two because it goes faster than you expect.
Alvis Drift Fusion Red Blend 2020 ×2
Platter’s 93 points. Double Platinum at the National Wine Challenge. A Cab Sauv-led Cape Blend with Pinotage, Shiraz, Durif and Petit Verdot from the Breede River valley — built by a producer with a story as compelling as the wine. Named for Alvi van der Merwe, the 221st Springbok who scored the first try against the All Blacks on African soil in 1928, the Drift Fusion is serious South African winemaking at a price that makes it the braai anchor of this case. Two bottles, because the accolades are true.
Tinta Barocca 2020 – Swartland
Tinta Barocca is a Douro Valley grape with a storied past — but in the hands of the Swartland’s maverick winemakers, it becomes something entirely its own. This parcel, originally destined to add backbone to a top-tier blend, was too full of character to play a supporting role. Rugged, soulful and rarely available as a standalone, this is the bottle that surprises every guest who pours it.
The Unbroken Red Blend 2020 – Stellenbosch
The XCellar Limited Edition in the case. A bold Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah blend from a celebrated Stellenbosch estate grown on iconic koffieklip soil — dark red fruit, freshness, structure and layered complexity in a wine that rewards patience and earns its place as a collector’s choice. This is the bottle you save for when the coals ease off and the evening deserves it.
Food & Wine
- Maasbaai Cape Reserve Red Blend 2023 (×2): Lamb chops, boerewors, spiced chicken sosaties. Generous enough for ribs; elegant enough for a Cape Malay lamb bredie.
- Alvis Drift Fusion Red Blend 2020 (×2): Beef cuts over the coals, smoky pork ribs, leg of lamb. A natural match for anything with a dark, caramelised crust.
- Tinta Barocca 2020 – Swartland: Wild game sosaties, venison sausage, ostrich steak or heavily spiced cuts. The Swartland ruggedness handles big flavours with ease.
- The Unbroken Red Blend 2020 – Stellenbosch: The post-braai bottle. Aged hard cheese, slow-roasted beef or a Cape Malay lamb bredie once the evening winds down.
Awards & Recognition
- Alvis Drift Fusion Red Blend 2020: 93 points (Platter’s) | Double Platinum (National Wine Challenge)
- The Unbroken Red Blend 2020 – Stellenbosch: XCellar Limited Edition | Koffieklip Stellenbosch estate
- Maasbaai Cape Reserve Red Blend 2023: Lekker Labels | R5 per bottle to Clean-C beach clean-ups
The Braai Buddy Reds is six bottles of no-compromise braai value — two crowd pleasers doubled up, a Swartland wildcard and an XCellar Limited Edition for when the fire earns it. Available at Vinty.
