Wine List

South African. And proud of it.

Our wine list is exclusively South African. No imported wines. No international labels. Not because we cannot source them, but because we believe the wines produced in South Africa stand alongside the very best in the world.

For more than three decades, our cellars have been built around that belief. Through long-standing relationships with some of South Africa’s leading wine estates, winemakers and farming families, we have assembled a collection that celebrates the extraordinary quality, diversity and history of South African wine.

Proudly South African. Always.

Alan Pick — a lifetime supporting South African wine

For Alan Pick, wine was never simply something to put on a restaurant wine list. For decades he built close personal relationships throughout the Cape Winelands, supporting South African wine farmers and winemakers and introducing generations of local and international diners to the exceptional wines being produced in this country.

For more than 10 years, The Butcher Shop & Grill was the largest buyer at the Cape Winemakers Guild Auction, at the time South Africa’s most prestigious wine auction. That commitment went far beyond building an impressive cellar. Alan believed deeply in the quality and potential of South African wine and backed that belief by buying it, cellaring it, serving it and introducing it to thousands of guests. Those relationships, and that belief, remain at the heart of The Butcher Shop & Grill today.

Pick’s Pick — a relationship bottled

Around 30 years ago, Alan Pick created Pick’s Pick, our own private wine label. The idea grew from his relationships with some of South Africa’s leading wine farmers and winemakers — relationships that in some cases stretch back more than half a century.

At the time, restaurant private-label wines were virtually unheard of in South Africa. Pick’s Pick gave us the opportunity to work directly with producers we knew and trusted, selecting wines that offered exceptional quality and exceptional value for our guests. Over the years it became an institution of its own and an important part of the experience. Today the collection includes red and white wines selected with leading South African producers, with Pick’s Pick available by the glass.

Great South African wine should be enjoyed.

Two cellars. Two ways to enjoy South African wine.

Our restaurants house two distinct wine cellars, both dedicated entirely to South African wine but created for very different experiences.

The everyday cellar

This is where you will find Pick’s Pick alongside an extensive selection of outstanding South African wines chosen for drinking and enjoyment. These are the bottles we reach for over lunch, around a table with friends or alongside a great steak — approachable, excellent-quality wines that do not need a special occasion to be opened.

The focus is on quality, value and drinkability, with a broad choice of varietals, regions and producers. Pick’s Pick is also available by the glass, an easy way to enjoy a South African wine without ordering a bottle. “Everyday” does not mean ordinary — these are wines we genuinely enjoy drinking and are proud to put on our tables.

The premium & investment cellar

Then there is the other side of our wine collection. Our Premium & Investment Cellar has been built over decades and houses some of South Africa’s finest, most awarded and most sought-after wines. Here you will find prestigious estates, exceptional vintages, limited releases, older wines and investment bottles carefully cellared over many years.

These are bottles for collectors, serious wine lovers, landmark celebrations and occasions when only something exceptional will do. Some are difficult to find. Some represent important moments in South African winemaking. Others have earned their place among the country’s most highly awarded wines. Together, the two cellars let us offer a brilliant bottle for an ordinary Tuesday — and an extraordinary bottle for a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

Steak & wine — let us find the match

With the largest selection of beef in South Africa, there is no single wine that works with every steak. A richly marbled ribeye demands something very different from a lean fillet. Wagyu brings another set of considerations entirely, while aged beef develops deeper flavours that can completely change the pairing.

Tell our team what breed and cut you have chosen, how it has been aged and how you would like it cooked, and we can guide you towards a South African wine that complements it. A structured Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz or Bordeaux-style blend can stand up beautifully to richly flavoured beef, while more elegant reds may suit leaner cuts. Seafood opens the cellar to exceptional South African Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Méthode Cap Classique. But these are guides, not rules. The best bottle is ultimately the one you want to drink.

From our winelands to your table

South Africa is home to some of the world’s great wine regions and some of its most talented winemakers. Our cellar is our celebration of them. From Stellenbosch and Franschhoek to Paarl, Constantia, Swartland, Hemel-en-Aarde and beyond, our wine list gives guests an opportunity to explore the extraordinary diversity of South African wine without leaving the table.

For our international guests, it is an introduction to what we believe is one of this country’s greatest treasures. For our South African guests, it is something we are immensely proud to support. We have spent decades championing South African wine because we believe something very simple: you do not need to look overseas to drink some of the best wine in the world.

Ask us what we would drink

A great wine list should not require a wine degree to enjoy it. Tell us what you like, what you are eating and what you would like to spend. Our team can guide you through both cellars — whether you want a glass of Pick’s Pick, a great bottle for the table or one of South Africa’s most prestigious wines from our Premium & Investment Cellar. Sometimes the best recommendation is not the most expensive bottle in the cellar. It is the bottle that is right for your table.

Every bottle can go home with you

Our cellars are not only there for wines to be enjoyed in the restaurant. The Butcher Shop & Grill holds both on- and off-consumption liquor licences, which means our wines can be enjoyed at the table or purchased to take home. Every wine in our collection is available to take home at our take-home price — from Pick’s Pick and our everyday drinking wines to premium labels, older vintages and bottles from our Investment Cellar.

For international visitors, it also offers the opportunity to take some of South Africa’s finest wines home. We offer specialised packaging to help protect bottles in transit — our bespoke Wine Bag is designed for long-distance travel, including checked airline luggage, while the Wine Skin protects shorter journeys. Guests travelling internationally should always check the applicable airline, customs and alcohol import allowances for their destination.

Enjoy it at our table. Or take it home and enjoy it at yours. South African steak. South African wine. Proudly South African since 1994.