Verdicchio Restaurant & Wine Cellar has been a distinguished presence in Johannesburg’s dining scene since 2000, offering an elegant Mediterranean experience defined by exceptional cuisine and a deep passion for wine.
Their award-winning cellar, featuring over 300 local and international labels, lies at the heart of the restaurant, with each pairing thoughtfully enhancing every dish.
Honoured with multiple Diners Club Wine List awards, including the prestigious Icon Award, they continue to set a benchmark for fine wine and dining. Guided by the legacy of their founder, Tubby, they remain a place where refined flavours, remarkable wines, and gracious hospitality come together effortlessly.
Receiving the Diners Club Icon award for the third time is a strong confirmation that the hard work they have put into their wine list is being recognised. Their aim has always been to offer a selection that caters to a wide range of tastes — from different cultivars and styles to both familiar favourites and more exciting, lesser-known wines.
For their customers, this means having a diverse and carefully curated selection available in one place. Whether diners know exactly what they feel like or want to try something new, there is always a wine ready, properly chilled, and ready to be served.
With both a sommelier on the floor and close collaboration with the executive chef, food pairings can be recommended on the spot, without the need for prior arrangements.
They are confident that their wine list represents major wine regions across the world, with a variety of vintages and price points — ensuring that there is truly something for everyone.
For many years, they received the Diamond Award from Diners Club. They then decided to expand their wine list even further. The first step was led by consultant sommelier Jaco Meyer, together with Olga Stratis, who has been part of Verdicchio for many years. The process involved tasting wines from a wide range of suppliers and farms, with a focus on smaller producers, while still selecting standout wines from major distributors.
A great deal of care went into compiling the list — from writing clear descriptors and setting fair prices to ensuring a balanced selection across different regions, styles, and price points. At the same time, detailed notes were shared with the executive chef, which led to the launch of a series of wine and food pairing events at the end of 2023. These events quickly became very popular and now sell out regularly.
Following this, they reviewed which wines their customers enjoyed most, kept those favourites, and expanded the offering further. They sourced vintage wines directly from farms and introduced some scarce and sought-after labels, such as Porseleinberg and collectible Chenin Blancs. Their premium selection was also strengthened, including wines like Kanonkop Black Label, Vilafonté Series C, and Louis Roederer Cristal.
Their wine and food pairing events continue to guide them in understanding current trends and customer preferences. They regularly taste with new producers and keep introducing exciting wines. As a result, their wine list remains dynamic and is fully revised each year.
They work with all the major distributors, including Vinimark, DGB, Meridian, and Heineken, selecting wines from their portfolios that best fit their wine list. These distributors offer some excellent options, and they are proud to include many of these on their list.
At the same time, they also work with several smaller representatives who bring in unique and interesting wines.
That said, their wine list is not driven by relationships, but by the wine itself. Each selection must earn its place based on quality and suitability for the list. It is also important that they can reliably source these wines, even at short notice, so that they can maintain a consistent and dependable offering for their customers.