Estate wines of South Africa by Knox, Graham
Estate Wines of South Africa By Graham Knox (Collectible Revised & Enlarged Edition)
A Definitive 1980s Survey of the Cape's Premier Boutique Estates, Their Signature Wines, and the Personalities Behind Them
A Definitive 1980s Survey of the Cape's Premier Boutique Estates, Their Signature Wines, and the Personalities Behind Them
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Estate Wines of South Africa
- Author: Graham Knox
- Publisher: David Philip Publisher (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town
- Publication Date: 1982
- ISBN-10: 0908396023
- ISBN-13: 9780908396023
- Edition Details: Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged Release (Collectible Cape Viticultural Milestone)
- Binding: Original publisher's premium hardcover cloth boards, complete with the original illustrated dust jacket, now beautifully preserved and stabilized inside a clear Cellophane archival sleeve.
- Physical Format: Large Format Quarto (4to), 240 pages. Profusely enhanced with localized vineyard cartography, production diagrams, authentic wine label reproductions, and comprehensive black-and-white and full-color documentary photography.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
-
The Book: Very Good Plus (VG+)
- Exterior / Boards: The original publisher's cloth casing remains structurally robust, exceptionally flat, and square-cornered. Gilt spine text is perfectly crisp and untarnished. Shows only microscopic storage friction along the corner tips, completely consistent with careful, protective shelf preservation.
- Interior: The inner hinges and multi-layered binding are pristine, tight, and highly sound. Internal pages, color layouts, and reference maps are exceptionally clean, bright, and intact. Entirely free from standard consumer ink inscriptions, vineyard damp-stains, or dealer pencil annotations.
- Preservation: Meticulously looked after, carefully maintained, and now fully stabilized in a premium Cellophane sleeve to shield the binding from future shelf wear.
-
The Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)
- Condition: Present, complete, and unclipped. Displays very limited, minor signs of historical storage shelf wear and light surface rubbing along the perimeter borders and spine ends. Beautifully consolidated, clean, and seamlessly showcased beneath the protective archival Cellophane wrap.
Synopsis & Historic Viticultural Value
Published in 1982 by the legendary independent house David Philip, this expanded second edition of Estate Wines of South Africa by Graham Knox stands as a monumental historical record of the Cape winelands during a golden era of development. The volume provides an uncompromised structural study and detailed description of some 64 of South Africa's absolute finest wine estates and the exceptional wines they produce.
Going far beyond dry technical data or manufacturing statistics, Knox introduces readers to the unique personalities, cellarmasters, and pioneering families who shaped the industry. The narrative tracks the precise terrain, micro-climates, soil chemistry, and traditional winemaking philosophies across landmark properties in Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek, and Constantia. Richly illustrated with custom maps, technical diagrams, and historical photography, this scarce 1980s reference remains an indispensable cornerstone collectible for serious oenophiles, wine historians, and dedicated Africana library curators.
Author Profile: Graham Knox
Graham Knox is a highly distinguished Australian-born South African viticultural consultant, author, winemaker, and industry innovator who immigrated to South Africa in 1971 and immediately immersed himself in the Cape wine industry. Renowned for his deep understanding of soil mechanics, micro-climates, and global market trends, Knox became a prominent figure in uncovering and promoting the unique identity of South African terroirs. The owner of a boutique estate near Wellington producing wine under the Siyabonga label, his celebrated books—including Cape Wines: Body & Soul and Wines of South Africa—are universally praised for their clear critical insights and technical accuracy.
used collectible book, collectible copy, estate wines of south africa, graham knox wine writer, david philip 1982, vintage viticulture books, rare cape wine books, stellenbosch winemakers history, rare africana books, boutique wine estates
