Diners Club is pleased to announce the acquisition of South Africa’s first and best-selling wine annual – the Platter’s Guide – jam packed with information on more than 800 wine producers and over 7,300 wines in the current guide.

Diners Club and the Platter’s Guide, both highly respected brands with loyal followings, have been involved in the local wine industry for more than three decades.

The Platter’s Guide joins an impressive portfolio of respected wine-related assets and initiatives that Diners Club has built over the years, including the Diners Club Winelist Awards, the Diners Club Winemaker of the Year and Young Winemaker of the Year Awards, as well as the title sponsorship for the Diners Club Bartho Eksteen Wine Academy. These initiatives have played a crucial role in the development of the South African food and wine industry and, like the Platter’s Guide, showcase the passion and successes of the wines and their wineries.

The Platter’s Guide was conceived in 1978 by wine lovers and print journalists John and Erica Platter. With an annual print run of close to 40,000 and more than 1,4 million copies sold to date, it is the undisputed market leader and most trusted wine resource in South Africa. Not only is it a much-used reference guide to current wines, but previous copies are retained to compare how individual wines have fared over the years. “We are committed to enhancing this great relationship, in making SA’s most iconic wine companion an even more invaluable tool for wine lovers everywhere,” says Ebrahim Matthews, MD of Diners Club South Africa.

Diners Club plans to keep the current format of the Platter’s Guide for the foreseeable future but will be looking at ways to expand its digital offerings and viewership options. In addition Diners Club will be reviewing options on ways to bring the guide to its cardholders through exciting new channels such as Diners Club Connoisseurs, a virtual meeting place where like-minded members can converse, learn, share and cultivate their passion for the finer things in life, as well as options for special member deals. “We expect both brands to benefit from wider exposure to each other’s markets and clients through co-branding and cross-marketing” says Matthews.

Platter’s Guide publisher Andrew McDowall says the acquisition by Diners Club is an exciting development. “When two renowned organisations like Diners Club and Platter’s Guide combine their separate skills, the results are bound to be outstanding.”

The hardcopy Platter's Guide is available here, the web-based version here, and the iPhone App here.