Ash Müller

With over a century of winemaking history and a deep-rooted legacy in South Africa, KWV’s Cathedral Cellar in Paarl is more than just a cellar.  It’s a sensory journey, a story in oak, and with its newly revamped KWV Emporium - re-opened in July this year - it is a destination you can (and should) experience for yourself.   Whether you’re a wine aficionado, a curious traveller, a fan of architecture and history, or simply in search of a beautiful day out in the Winelands, KWV offers a rich, immersive experience that blends history, architecture, art, and taste - all under one roof. Danie NelThe Cathedral Cellar wine range produced by KWV. The iconic Cathedral Cellar, built in 1930, is often described as one of the most beautiful wine cellars in the world. This architectural wonder earns its nickname thanks to its vaulted ceilings, stained-glass windows, and sacred stillness. For those familiar with the Cathedral Cellar wine range produced by KWV, you would have noticed the nod to design with an intricate copper embossment on its label.  A valley of wine vat heritage But what truly sets this cellar apart and quite literally takes your breath away as you enter the room are the 32 hand-carved stukvats.  The 12,000-litre wooden barrels, each 3 metres in circumference, line the walls like gigantic guardians of the past.  Daniel NelInside the KWV Cathedral Cellar. Each vat tells a story from the arrival of the first vines at the Cape to the founding of KWV in 1918.  Some date b

In a sale that has sent jaws dropping across the continent, The Pentagon - a striking five-bedroom villa perched high on Nettleton Road in Clifton, Cape Town - has just changed hands for a whopping R157,550,000. The buyer? A South African, proving once again that the appetite for ultra-luxury property on local soil is alive and well. The property, long admired and often envied, has lingered on the market for several years, previously listed at R160 million. But this week, Cape Town’s premium property circles were abuzz when Lance Cohen of Lance Real Estate finally sealed the deal. It’s the highest residential sale recorded in South Africa so far this year - a fitting headline for a home as spectacular as this one.      Ash MullerA local has bought this ultra-lux property.   Nicknamed The Pentagon, this five-level masterpiece is the epitome of architectural drama and ocean-facing opulence. Designed by none other than Stefan Antoni, one of South Africa’s most recognisable award-winning architectural names, the home boasts panoramic views from every floor, thanks to its bold tiered design. Let’s talk features. A 16-metre heated infinity pool spills out toward the Atlantic Ocean, creating the illusion of floating in midair. There’s also a private cinema room, glass elevator, state-of-the-art gym, home office, and steam room - not to mention staff quarters, a powerful 80kVA generator, and a bespoke Italian kitchen by Assirelli. Quick-fire facts about this record-setting villa:

Cape Town is about to get a serious new skyline addition, and if you’ve driven past the corner of Bree and Hans Strijdom Streets lately, you might’ve noticed something brewing. After more than a decade of speculation, renderings, and planning approvals that never quite materialised, it looks like construction is finally starting on what will become Cape Town’s second-tallest skyscraper – One on Bree – surpassed only by the FNB Portside Tower. And trust me, I’ve been watching this site like a hawk for over ten years, so seeing actual demolition activity begin this month feels momentous. So what exactly is coming? The development, unofficially dubbed Acsiopolis 2 online, is a 41-storey mixed-use skyscraper that will bring: 505 hotel rooms 270 residential apartments 4 000m2 of retail space A rooftop swimming pool on the 22nd floor According to the lead architect, the building will rise to an estimated 131 metres, and the construction area will total around 66 000m2. That’s no small feat for the Cape Town CBD, especially in a post-COVID property climate where significant new hotel developments have been few and far between. For one, this will be one of the only major hotel developments in the inner city in the past five years. Which is a surprise, considering Cape Town’s surging tourism demand and limited large-scale accommodation in the CBD itself. And then there’s the design. What stood out to me immediately was how the team managed to integrate the historic (heritage) corner

If you’ve driven past 78 Grosvenor Road in Bryanston lately, you’ve probably noticed the now-infamous Red Wall, bold, cheeky, and impossible to miss. What began as a series of cryptic one-liners quickly sparked curiosity, social media buzz, and even some chaos, with brands like Tabasco and Spar jumping in to hijack the hype. There was a QR-coded playlist, local outrage, and plenty of laughs as Joburgers tried to figure out who was really behind it all. Turns out, the real masterminds were property developers Craft Homes, using guerrilla-style marketing to build intrigue around its next big launch, Bryanston Country Estate. Now that the cat is finally out of the bag, we can see the strategy behind the spectacle. Bryanston Country Estate is set to be one of Johannesburg’s most exciting new residential offerings - a curated collection of 1- and 2-bedroom apartments, and 3- and 4-bedroom duplexes, nestled in one of the city’s most desirable suburbs. The development is being branded as a luxury lifestyle. I’ve always found Bryanston to be such a large, leafy and established suburb, so a development of this kind talks to the terrain. A modern country aesthetic inspires the architecture, characterised by classic pitched roofs, soft whites, timber textures, and earthy tones, all brought together with crisp lines, large windows, and a warm, grounded feel. It’s Bryanston charm, reimagined. The interiors will lean into comfort and natural finishes: warm wood, matte metals, cosy textures