In tune with a hot summer of football and our 20% off South African wine for the month of May, here’s 10 or so random facts on the year’s most talked about nation and her fabulous wine, which is ready to take a surge in demand thanks to the FIFA World Cup.

1. South Africa is the second largest exporter of fruit and the world’s largest producer of macadamia nuts.

2. It is home to the world’s deepest pub. The pub is located on level 5 of a mine known as Shaft 14, which is six kilometres from Johannesburg’s city centre and is 226 metres from the surface.

3. Football is on the tip of everyone’s tongue in South Africa. It is the first country in Africa to host the FIFA World Cup.

4. The oldest remains of modern humans were found in Klasies River Cave in the Eastern Cape. They are well over 100,000 years old.

5. Dr. Christiaan Barnard, at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, performed the first human heart transplant in the world in 1967.

6. South Africa has the longest wine route in the world, so it’s the perfect place for a spot of wine tasting.

7. South Africa has the oldest wine industry outside of Europe and the Mediterranean, with the white Chenin Blanc and the red Pinotage being the signature varietals.

8. Walt Disney serves South African wine exclusively at its 73-acre Animal Kingdom Lodge in the United States.

9. The most widely planted international grape variety is Cabernet Sauvignon, covering around 13% of the nation’s area under vine.

10. South Africa’s biggest single winery, the Vredendal Co-operative, vinifies more than 40,000 tons of grapes every year.

This month, in anticipation of a World Cup frenzy in June, we’re jumping the gun and celebrating the New World’s oft forgotten hero, South Africa. (Ok, ok, we know the South Africans have been producing wine there for around 350 years but we didn’t come up with the classifications!).

This month’s featured prize is the chance to brush up on your knowledge of the regions, the grapes and the winemakers of this astonishingly beautiful country, with The Essential Guide to South African wines: Terroir and Travel, by Elmari Swart and Izak Smit.

Updated in 2009, this stunning guide presents the wine-producing regions in the uncomplicated Wine Pockets system, highlighting a specific terroir unit along with local wine styles, providing insight into the unique qualities of each wine-producing area. Every pocket takes you on a meaningful journey, discovering the terroir, viticulture, winemaking techniques and flagship wines of some of the premium producers. More than 300 commissioned photographs and full-colour illustrations will have you itching to get out there and experience South Africa for yourself.

We’ve one copy of this beautiful book along with two bottles from the outstanding Elgin Vintners to give away in June’s prize draw.

How to Enter: All you have to do is become a fan (or as they say now, “like” us) on our Facebook page. We’ll draw a winner at random in June from all our fans and post it here and on Facebook.

Congratulations to Aisling Dearle, Facebook friend and winner of our May contest. Oz Clarke’s Bordeaux is on its way to you Aisling, along with two lovely bottles of Chateau Bauduc. Enjoy!

With a welcome burst of sunshine, longer days and summer just around the corner, it’s a trio of outstanding value wine deals we bring you in May.

With only 37 days to go to the greatest sporting event on the planet, we turn our focus to South Africa this month, with 20% off all our wines from the 2010 World Cup hosts. We’ve a fifth off every bottle from the sun-soaked Cape, and with everything from friendly giraffes to private cellars, South Africa is the HOT ticket this summer.

Our second focus in May is more of a reward to our loyal customers than a plug to try something new. Three-time Italian Winery of the Year Farnese has been a top-seller for us since we opened, so we’ve stocked to the warehouse roof on this one: normally the lowest price in the country at €9.69, its now €7.99 when you buy two or more on the regular range, and €6.99 on the entry-level Ortonese.

Last but not least, we head to the south of France and the Languedoc. Funky and accessible labelling, easy to approach styles and outstanding value for money, its no wonder some people call it France’s New World. We’ve already got some of the best value wines out there, but for the month of May it’s 6 for 5: buy 5 of any Languedoc wine, we’ll give you a sixth absolutely free!

We’ve even extended the offer to our house wines Cuvee Jean-Paul (not quite the Languedoc but close enough, and we figured who’s going to argue!), bringing the average price to our lowest ever €6.24 per bottle, or €74.90 for a case of 12.

Finally, our May Case of the Month is our recommended picks from the month’s specials. We’ve four South African, four from Farnese and four from the Languedoc for €110 delivered, saving you €21 and giving you a Curious mix to grace any patio or dining table.

As ever, free, free, FREE delivery on everything, all offers run until 31st May or while stocks last.