South African wine has never had more exciting young talent. The challenge is knowing who to keep an eye on.

In Episode 4, David Clarke and Christian Eedes unpack the 2026 WineMag iTOO Next Generation Awards, discussing why it's time to retire the "New Wave" label and highlighting the under-35 winemakers shaping the future of the industry.

They also reflect on a host of recent releases, including Rall's remarkable 99-point Ava Syrah, Jean Smit's new Electric Mud Grenache, Solo Chardonnay, Rainbow's End and several other wines that have caught their attention over the past month.

The conversation also touches on why affordable wines deserve more attention, and how winter has become release season, with Sadie Family Wines, Van Loggerenberg and David & Nadia all releasing in the same week.

As always, there are a few disagreements, a couple of diversions, and plenty of recommendations for what to drink next.

The Cold Soak is brought to you by the Ex Animo Wine Club. Explore curated quarterly cases at exanimo.co.za/wineclub.