South African wine has a history dating back to 1659,
with the first bottle being produced in Cape Town by its founder and govenor Jan van Riebeeck.
with the first bottle being produced in Cape Town by its founder and govenor Jan van Riebeeck.
Production is concentrated around Cape Town and almost exclusively located within the Western Cape province, with major vineyard and production centres at Constantia, Paarl, Stellenbosch and Worcester.
There are approximately 60 appellations within the Wine of Origin (WO) system, which was implemented in 1973. Wines must contain only grapes from the specific area of origin.
There are approximately 60 appellations within the Wine of Origin (WO) system, which was implemented in 1973. Wines must contain only grapes from the specific area of origin.
Pinotage grapes.
South Africa's most famous grapes are white chenin blanc and red pinotage. South African chenins are quite different from those in the Loire, almost always dry, but ripe and full of flavour often with the complexity that comes from the increasingly sought-after old-vine fruit.
Pinotage, a South African creation, is for many a love-it-or-hate-it grape. Pinotage's 'parents' are pinot noir, which imparts its strawberry aromas and lovely texture in young wines, and more complex, farmyard characteristics in more mature examples, and cinsault, the southern French grape, which adds spice and body. It was developed in South Africa in 1926.
If there is a trio that represents South Africa’s signature grape varieties, it’s chenin blanc, pinotage and cabernet sauvignon. Chenin’s remarkable history in South Africa, its stylistic versatility and resurgence as a truly fine wine in the recent ‘new wave’ styles produces a wealth of choices. Pinotage continues to evolve into a plethora of different styles providing ample scope to explore. And while Bordeaux and California may produce better-known examples of cabernet sauvignon, its historical importance in South Africa, and the many outstanding wines with a specifically Cape character to them, means there are rich pickings indeed.
Blended wines are also of high quality and deliver excellent examples of the industry’s maturity.
Pinotage, a South African creation, is for many a love-it-or-hate-it grape. Pinotage's 'parents' are pinot noir, which imparts its strawberry aromas and lovely texture in young wines, and more complex, farmyard characteristics in more mature examples, and cinsault, the southern French grape, which adds spice and body. It was developed in South Africa in 1926.
If there is a trio that represents South Africa’s signature grape varieties, it’s chenin blanc, pinotage and cabernet sauvignon. Chenin’s remarkable history in South Africa, its stylistic versatility and resurgence as a truly fine wine in the recent ‘new wave’ styles produces a wealth of choices. Pinotage continues to evolve into a plethora of different styles providing ample scope to explore. And while Bordeaux and California may produce better-known examples of cabernet sauvignon, its historical importance in South Africa, and the many outstanding wines with a specifically Cape character to them, means there are rich pickings indeed.
Blended wines are also of high quality and deliver excellent examples of the industry’s maturity.
Constantia.
Bordeaux-style blends are one of the Stellenbosch region's great strengths. Wines such as Kanonkop's Paul Sauer, Meerlust's Rubicon and Warwick's Trilogy are South African icons, produced over many years, and with proven ageing capacity. The striking Simonsberg mountain names the ward (or area) most highly sought after for these reds, but Stellenbosch produces a wide range of wine styles, from excellent chenin blancs and sauvignons to robust pinotage and Cape Blends.
Paarl is its less-well-known neighbour, also warm, and best known for its robust but smooth reds. Franschhoek is understandably one of the most-visited towns in the Cape, with lots of French Huguenot history and some of the best restaurants in the region. It has a number of famous producers, most notably Boekenhoutskloof, but most do not produce exclusively from Franschhoek fruit. Cape Chamonix is a highly rated exception.
The generally warmer Swartland region has been at the forefront of the development of Rhône varietals in South Africa, led by stars such as Eben Sadie, as well as home to some of the best old chenin blanc vines. Further north, and much cooler is Citrusdal, where fresher styles are produced and chenin blanc can achieve real finesse.
The Cape peninsula, to the south of Cape Town itself, is home to Constantia, known for its cooler climate thanks to the influence of the two oceans that almost circle it. Here, sauvignon blanc and the Bordeaux grapes predominate, but there are lovely examples of aromatic varieties too, notably Klein Constantia's elegant Riesling and its wonderful sweet muscat Vin de Constance.
Elgin, en route to Hermanus, is another very cool region, very much up-and-coming for sauvignon blanc, as is Elim, which is even further south and the source of our Exhibition Sauvignon. Robertson is almost due north of Elim, but way inland and far hotter. A small number of family producers manage to make excellent sauvignon here, too, but it is also a good source of chardonnay, increasingly pinot noir, and elegantly styled pinotage and Rhône varietals, not forgetting the excellent fortified muskadels which are unique to the Cape.
Paarl is its less-well-known neighbour, also warm, and best known for its robust but smooth reds. Franschhoek is understandably one of the most-visited towns in the Cape, with lots of French Huguenot history and some of the best restaurants in the region. It has a number of famous producers, most notably Boekenhoutskloof, but most do not produce exclusively from Franschhoek fruit. Cape Chamonix is a highly rated exception.
The generally warmer Swartland region has been at the forefront of the development of Rhône varietals in South Africa, led by stars such as Eben Sadie, as well as home to some of the best old chenin blanc vines. Further north, and much cooler is Citrusdal, where fresher styles are produced and chenin blanc can achieve real finesse.
The Cape peninsula, to the south of Cape Town itself, is home to Constantia, known for its cooler climate thanks to the influence of the two oceans that almost circle it. Here, sauvignon blanc and the Bordeaux grapes predominate, but there are lovely examples of aromatic varieties too, notably Klein Constantia's elegant Riesling and its wonderful sweet muscat Vin de Constance.
Elgin, en route to Hermanus, is another very cool region, very much up-and-coming for sauvignon blanc, as is Elim, which is even further south and the source of our Exhibition Sauvignon. Robertson is almost due north of Elim, but way inland and far hotter. A small number of family producers manage to make excellent sauvignon here, too, but it is also a good source of chardonnay, increasingly pinot noir, and elegantly styled pinotage and Rhône varietals, not forgetting the excellent fortified muskadels which are unique to the Cape.
