Terms of Service
Last updated: 2026/10/14
Wine without the ego, and terms without the fog. We've written these in plain English because you should be able to understand what you're agreeing to.
These terms cover everything you buy or book on openbottle.co.za: bottles, subscriptions, event tickets and gift vouchers. By placing an order, you agree to them. They don't limit any rights you have under the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA) or the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECTA). Where anything here conflicts with those Acts, the Act wins.
Not for sale to persons under the age of 18. Enjoy responsibly.
Words we use in these terms
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Word |
What it means here |
|---|---|
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We, us, our, Open Bottle |
Obento (Pty) Ltd, trading as Open Bottle |
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You, your |
The person who places an order, books an event, buys a voucher or holds a subscription |
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Business day |
Monday to Friday, excluding South African public holidays |
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Calendar day |
Any day, including weekends and public holidays |
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Month |
A calendar month for subscriptions, running from your billing date to the same date the following month |
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Order |
Any purchase of bottles, a subscription, an event ticket or a gift voucher through our website |
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Delivery |
The moment your order is handed to you, or to an adult who shows valid ID at your delivery address, or is collected by you from us |
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Event |
Any tasting, dinner, class or other experience we sell tickets for, including events co-hosted with partners |
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In writing |
By email or WhatsApp message to the contact details in section 1, or from the details on your account |
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CPA, ECTA, POPIA |
The Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 and the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 |
1. Who we are
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|---|---|
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Trading name |
Open Bottle |
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Legal entity |
Obento (Pty) Ltd |
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Registration number |
2021/524638/07 |
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VAT number |
4090301807 |
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Directors |
DMT Liu |
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Physical address (and address for legal service) |
Shop 16 Parkmore Square, Parkmore, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2196 |
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Liquor licence |
Special Wine Club Licence, GLB7000017861, issued by Gauteng Liquor Board |
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|
hello@openbottle.co.za |
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Phone / WhatsApp |
+27737875335 |
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Website |
www.openbottle.co.za |
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Industry body |
Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO), cgso.org.za |
2. Using this website
2.1 You may use this site to browse, buy and book for your own personal use.
2.2 You may not use it to resell our products, scrape content, upload harmful code, or impersonate anyone.
2.3 All text, photos and branding on this site belong to Open Bottle or our partners. Please don't reuse them without asking.
2.4 We work hard to keep tasting notes, vintages and stock levels accurate. Producers sometimes change a vintage or label between our listing and your delivery.
3. Age: you must be 18 or older
3.1 South African law prohibits selling or supplying liquor to anyone under 18 (Liquor Act 59 of 2003, section 10). You must be 18 or older to create an account, place an order, take a subscription or attend an event.
3.2 By ordering, you confirm that you are 18 or older and that you're not buying on behalf of anyone under 18. Buying liquor for a minor is an offence.
3.3 We, our couriers and our event staff will ask for a valid South African ID, passport or driver's licence. If ID isn't shown, we won't hand over the order or serve wine. Section 7 explains what happens to your delivery.
3.4 We may cancel any order where we have reason to believe the buyer or recipient is under 18.
4. Our liquor licence and where we deliver
4.1 We sell liquor under the licence shown in section 1. We deliver only to areas our licence permits, listed on our Shipping Policy.
4.2 We don't sell or deliver outside South Africa.
4.3 We will not sell to anyone who appears intoxicated, and we may refuse orders that appear to be for resale.
5. Orders and pricing
5.1 All prices are in South African Rand and include VAT at 15%. Delivery fees are shown at checkout before you pay.
5.2 Placing an order is an offer to buy. A contract forms when we email you an order confirmation. Before you pay, checkout lets you review your order and fix any errors.
5.3 Stock is limited, especially on small-producer and allocation wines. If something sells out after you've paid, we'll let you know within 2 business days and either offer a swap you approve or refund you in full.
5.4 If a price is obviously wrong because of a typing or system error, we'll contact you before dispatch. You can choose to pay the correct price or cancel for a full refund.
5.5 We may limit quantities per customer on allocation wines and specials.
5.6 Wines are sold by the bottle unless the listing says it's a case or mixed case.
6. Payment and security
In short: secure checkout, and we never see your full card number.
6.1 Shop orders are paid through Yoco, and subscriptions through Paystack. Your card details are handled by them on an encrypted connection and are never stored by us.
6.2 Payment must clear before we dispatch an order or confirm an event booking.
6.3 How we handle your personal and payment information is set out in our Privacy Policy.
6.4 The merchant outlet country is South Africa and all transactions are in South African Rand (ZAR). Obento (Pty) Ltd takes responsibility for all aspects relating to the transaction including sale of goods and services sold on this website, customer service and support, dispute resolution and delivery of goods.
6.5 To protect you and us from card fraud, we may ask you to verify your identity or payment before we dispatch an order, and we may hold or cancel orders that look fraudulent. If something's wrong with a charge, please contact us first; we can usually fix it faster than a bank dispute. Where a chargeback is raised for an order that was delivered as agreed, we may share proof of delivery with your bank and suspend your account until it's resolved.
7. Delivery and collection
7.1 Delivery areas, fees and lead times are on our Shipping Policy. We deliver within 30 calendar days of your order unless we've agreed otherwise. If we can't, we'll tell you and you may cancel for a full refund.
7.2 Every delivery must be received by someone aged 18 or older who can show valid ID. Our courier will not leave wine unattended, with a neighbour, or with anyone under 18.
7.3 If no adult with ID is available, the courier will try once more and then return the order to us. We'll contact you to rebook. Redelivery costs the same as the original delivery fee for your area, as set out in our Shipping Policy, unless the failed attempt was our or the courier's mistake.
7.4 Gift orders: the recipient must also be 18 or older and show ID on delivery.
7.5 You can collect orders from Open Bottle at UrbanPadstal during our trading hours. Bring your order number and ID. We'll hold an uncollected order for 30 calendar days from the date we tell you it's ready. After that we'll contact you to arrange delivery (at the standard delivery fee) or refund you, less a R50 handling fee.
7.6 Ownership and risk pass to you on delivery or collection. Check your box when it arrives. If anything is broken or isn't what you ordered, tell us within 3 business working days with a photo and we'll replace it or refund you. Thereafter, you will not be entitled to a refund. This doesn't affect your six-month rights for faulty wine (section 9).
7.7 Please check your delivery address at checkout. If an order goes astray because of an address error on your side, redelivery costs are yours.
8. Changing your mind (7-day cooling-off)
8.1 Under ECTA section 44, you may cancel an online order within 7 calendar days delivery, without giving a reason and without penalty.
8.2 Bottles must be unopened, with seals and capsules intact. Opened bottles can't be resold, so the cooling-off right doesn't cover them. Your rights for faulty wine (section 9) still apply.
8.3 Tell us in writing at hello@openbottle.co.za within the 7 days. We'll arrange collection or you can return the bottles to us. The only cost to you is the direct cost of returning them.
8.4 We'll refund you within 30 calendar days of receiving your cancellation, to the card you paid with.
8.5 Cooling-off doesn't apply to event tickets for a specific date (see section 11) or to a subscription box that has already been dispatched and opened.
9. Faulty, corked or damaged wine
9.1 Under CPA sections 55 and 56, everything we sell must be of good quality and free of defects. Within six months of delivery, you may return faulty goods at our risk and cost. You choose whether we replace the bottle or refund you.
9.2 Corked, oxidised or otherwise faulty wine counts. Please return the bottle with at least half its contents, recorked, so we can check it and claim from the producer; bring it in, or we'll collect it at our cost. We'll replace it or refund you within 10 business days of confirming the fault.
9.3 "I didn't like it" isn't a fault. Taste is personal, and we're always happy to talk through why something wasn't for you and steer the next pick.
9.4 Older and rare vintages can show bottle variation, such as sediment or a lower fill level. Where a listing describes a bottle's condition and you buy it on that basis, that described condition isn't a fault.
9.5 Full details are on our Returns and Refunds page.
10. The Sip Society subscriptions
10.1 The Sip Society collection includes Omakase Circle (a paid membership built around monthly members' tastings), the Discovery Wine Club (3 or 6 bottles a month) and the Reserve Club (limited to 30 members). Current prices and inclusions are on each product page.
10.2 Subscriptions run month to month with no fixed term. Your card is charged on the same date each month as you signed up until you cancel.
10.3 Cancel anytime in your account or by emailing hello@openbottle.co.za. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the month you've already paid for. There's no cancellation fee, and we don't refund part-months.
10.4 We choose the wines for each box. If a selected wine runs out, we'll swap it for one of equal or higher value. Monthly selections are locked on 10th of each month; changes to your address or box size after that apply from the following month.
10.5 We'll give you at least 30 calendar days' notice by email of any price change. If you don't want to continue at the new price, cancel before it takes effect.
10.6 Member benefits (such as discounts on take-home bottles in-store) are described on the product page and apply only while your membership is active. Specials and allocation wines may be excluded where stated.
10.7 Every box is delivered under section 7: an adult with ID must receive it.
10.8 Member pricing is for your own household's use. We may limit quantities, and we may end a membership where member discounts are used to buy for resale.
11. Events and tastings
11.1 All events are 18+. Bring ID; we'll check it at the door.
11.2 Your booking is confirmed once payment clears and you receive a confirmation email.
11.3 Seats are limited and committed to producers and the kitchen in advance. Cancel by email at least 5 business days before the event, not counting the event day, and we'll refund you in full or give you credit, your choice. After that we can't refund, but you can send someone in your place at any time. Just tell us their name; they must be 18 or older. Cancelling must now be done in writing, which covers email and WhatsApp.
11.4 If you can't attend because of death in the family, hospitalisation or similar serious circumstances, contact us and we'll refund you in full. Proof may be required on request.
11.5 We may cancel or reschedule an event because of low bookings or circumstances beyond our control. If we do, we'll tell you straight away and you can choose a full refund or a seat on the new date.
11.6 Wines poured may change on the night if a producer substitutes a bottle. We'll keep the experience equivalent.
11.7 We will not serve anyone who appears intoxicated, and we may ask anyone who behaves unsafely or disrespectfully to leave, without a refund.
11.8 Please don't drink and drive. We're happy to assist to call you a ride.
11.9 Private and corporate tastings are booked on a written quote. The quote sets the deposit, final numbers deadline and cancellation terms, and applies alongside these terms.
11.10 Paired dinners and food-and-wine events are often co-hosted with Obento Ramen Bar. Food at these events is prepared and served by Obento (Pty) Ltd, which is responsible for it. Please tell us about allergies and dietary needs when you book. Both kitchens handle common allergens, including shellfish, gluten, soy, sesame and nuts, so we can't guarantee any dish is allergen-free.
11.11 Outside food and drinks aren't allowed at our events or in the bar, and we don't offer corkage. Right of admission is reserved.
12. Gift vouchers
12.1 Gift vouchers are valid for 3 years from the date of purchase (CPA section 63) or until fully used, whichever comes first.
12.2 Vouchers can be used online or in store, on bottles, subscriptions and events. They can't be exchanged for cash.
12.3 The person redeeming a voucher must be 18 or older for any liquor purchase.
12.4 Treat a voucher like cash. We can't replace a lost or stolen voucher unless it was bought online in your name, in which case we'll reissue the unused balance.
12.5 If you return something you paid for with a voucher, we refund it to a voucher.
12.6 If you received bottles as a gift, we can swap them or give you store credit. Cash refunds go back to the person who paid.
13. Your personal information
13.1 We process your personal information under the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA). Our Privacy Policy explains what we collect, why, how long we keep it, and how to access or correct it.
13.2 We'll only send you The Pour, our newsletter, and event news if you've opted in. Every email has an unsubscribe link.
14. Our responsibility to you
14.1 Nothing in these terms limits your rights under the CPA, ECTA or any other law.
14.2 Subject to that, we aren't responsible for indirect or consequential losses (such as a ruined dinner party) unless they're caused by our gross negligence or wilful misconduct.
14.3 We aren't responsible for delays or failures caused by events beyond our reasonable control, such as government restrictions on liquor sales, load-shedding or courier strikes. If this affects your order, we'll tell you and you may cancel for a full refund.
14.4 Links to other websites are for convenience. We don't control those sites and aren't responsible for their content.
14.5 Once wine is delivered or served, how much you drink and what you do afterwards is your responsibility. We aren't liable for harm caused by your own consumption, including driving after drinking, unless we were negligent, such as by serving someone who was clearly intoxicated.
14.6 If you give us a false age or buy wine for someone under 18, you are responsible for any loss, fine or penalty we suffer as a result.
15. Complaints
In short: talk to us first. We'd genuinely rather fix it.
15.1 Email hello@openbottle.co.za or WhatsApp +27737875335. We'll acknowledge your complaint within 1 business day and aim to resolve it within 10 business days.
15.2 If we can't resolve it, you may refer it to the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (cgso.org.za) or the National Consumer Commission (thencc.org.za).
16. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
17. Changes to these terms
17.1 We may update these terms from time to time. The date at the top shows the latest version.
17.2 Changes apply to orders placed after the update. Subscription members will get at least 30 calendar days' email notice of any change that affects their membership.
18. Content: yours and ours
18.1 Our name, logo, photos, tasting notes and event formats belong to Open Bottle. You may share our posts, but please don't copy our content for commercial use without asking.
18.2 If you tag Open Bottle in a photo, review or post, or send us one, you allow us to reshare it on our website, newsletter and social media, with credit to you. Ask us at any time and we'll take it down.
18.3 Reviews must be honest and your own. We may remove content from our pages that's abusive, defamatory or unlawful.
19. Competitions and promotions
19.1 Each competition or giveaway has its own rules, published with it, which follow section 36 of the Consumer Protection Act. Entrants must be 18 or older, and prizes that include alcohol go only to winners who show valid ID.
19.2 Promotional prices and offers run only for the stated period or while stock lasts, and can't be combined unless we say so.
20. General
20.1 Emails and messages we send to the address or number you've given us count as written notice.
20.2 If any clause is found to be unenforceable, the rest of these terms still apply.
20.3 If we don't enforce a right immediately, we haven't given it up.
20.4 These terms, together with our Privacy Policy, Shipping Policy and Returns and Refunds page, are the full agreement between us.
Questions? Ask us at hello@openbottle.co.za. There's no wrong question here, including about the fine print.