Wines of South Africa: reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

For many, South African wines remained undiscovered. Although store shelves were crammed with cheap animal-labeled bottles, wine drinkers the world over thought there was nothing special behind the Fairview Goat. Meanwhile, South Africa has been busy making some really great wines.

New World vs. Old

French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and German wines - they all belong to the regions of the Old World. The New World includes, for example, New Zealand. These regions generally have a shorter history of winemaking than Europe and have a warmer climate. In general, bottles of New World wine are labeled by grape variety, not locality.

While South Africa, about three times the size of California, is considered a new wine region, it is no newcomer. The grapes were first planted here in 1655, and soon after, the sweet wines of Constantia, which is located near Cape Town, were praised throughout Europe.

South Africa has come a long way. During its isolation, most of the country's wines were tedious andtasteless. Reds often tasted like burnt rubber, while whites often tasted like vinegar. But the quality has improved dramatically since then.

Today, South African wines with the taste of ripe silky fruits, not devoid of earthy aromas and characterized by complete restraint, are trying to conquer the Old and New Worlds. Due to the warm climate, red grapes in South Africa tend to be very ripe and produce full, high alcohol wines. But in the Western Cape, chilly ocean breezes help maintain a bright acidity that adds freshness and goes well with food.

What do you see on the label?

The best wines of South Africa, according to lovers of this sunny drink, are produced in the southwestern part of the country, the already mentioned Western Cape. Wines are classified according to large geographical areas, which are then broken down into districts, districts and territories. For example, Stellenbosch is a county within the Coastal Region.

South African wines have their own designation of origin system, which is similar to the American AVA. If a bottle of chenin blanc says “wine comes from Stellenbosch”, then several things immediately become clear: the drink has been tasted, it is 85% chenin blanc, and the grapes are grown in Stellenbosch. Manufacturers are not required to label their products this way, but if they do not, they will not be able to label vintage, variety or region.

Sauvignon Blanc

If you are looking for good and inexpensivewhite wines of South Africa, reviews of connoisseurs recommend starting with Sauvignon Blanc. It's a good illustration of how South Africa is blazing a trail between the New and Old Worlds: the drink doesn't have the intensity of the New Zealand namesake, but it does have a fresh green note that's associated with a lawn picnic, pairing well with hints of white flowers and subtle, chalky minerals that can Remind me of Sansera. To experience this sensation, try Neil Ellis 2013 Sauvignon Blanc for $15 a bottle from Groenkloof, a Darling winery located in the Waterfront. The wine will brighten up the day with aromas of grapefruit and hints of fresh herbs.

Sauvignon Blanc is often thought of as a thirst-quenching drink like limeade, consumed before meals. A good quality bottle can also be paired with richer main courses such as halibut with cream sauce. Fan reviews recommend trying Cape Point Vineyards 2013 Sauvignon Blanc ($25). Ennobled with a touch of semillon, the wine combines aromas of white peach and raw hazelnuts. Buitenverwachting (often shortened to Buiten or Bayten) is another good manufacturer to look out for.

Chenin blanc

For centuries, South African vintners called this flowery grape 'steen', but in the 1960s they discovered it was actually 'Chenin Blanc', the variety that made French regions like Vouvray famous and Savenier. If you like Pinot Gris or Sauvignonblanc, connoisseurs strongly recommend trying a drink made from this grape. This dry South African wine contains almost no sweetness, which enhances the aromas of yellow apple and jasmine.

MAN Family Wines makes a fine Coastal Chenin blanc available for under ten dollars. The 2014 vintage is fresh and clean, with notes of ripe melon and white peach, making it a great companion for seafood and afternoons on deck.

South African Chenin blanc is used in the production of delicious blends and is often paired with Rhone varieties such as Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne and Grenache blanc. This South African wine reviews highlight the presence of a richer taste and texture. Try Fable Mountain Vineyards' 2012 Jackal Bird for $25. This is a rich and surprisingly fresh drink with aromas of cherries and yellow almonds.

Wine Pinotage

South Africa frightens many with a tasting of Pinotage, but this procedure always ends with the fact that the variety finds new fans and eventually becomes the most favorite and interesting drink. The grape was once called "the smell of bandages and barnyard", but recent harvests are extraordinarily tasty.

Good examples of pinotage combine the flavors of sun-kissed blackberries and cherries with roasted herbs and smoke. They might be reminiscent of southern French blends made from Carignan, Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre.

Another good news is that a bottle of delicious wine of this variety can be easily found in all price categories. For around $13, you can stock up on a 2013 Tormentoso Pinotage and enjoy the combination of fresh red plum, blueberry and grilled burger flavors. Kanonkop is a fantastic producer from Stellenbosch who makes a great $12 blend of pinotage called Kadette. It's a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Those who want to explore the heights that South African red wines can reach should shell out for Kanonkop's 100% Pinotage at about $40 a bottle. Rich aromas of cherry, violet and dried tobacco are ideal for roast lamb or other grilled meat dishes.

Shiraz or Sira

Sometimes called Shiraz and sometimes Syrah, these wines have aromas of ripe blackberries and blueberries, as well as earthy Old World flavors. Many also smell the peppery and meaty flavors that distinguish French Syrah.

You should look for Syrah wine from Swartland. This is a large area north of Cape Town often compared to the Rhone Valley, famous for its Syrah grapes. Secateurs 2012 Red Blend from Badenhorst Family Wines for $14/bottle is Secateurs 2012 Red Blend, in which Shiraz, Cinsault and several other grape varieties create a juicy, medium-bodied wine with strawberry and anise aromas.

Fans of more daring varieties of Syrah needtry Bellingham’s ‘Bernard Series’ 2011 Small Barrel S. M. V. costing $40 from the Coastal region. Aficionados of Australian Shiraz will especially appreciate the cherry, dark chocolate and stony granite tones of this wine.

Chardonnay & Pinot Noir

These two varieties found their spiritual home in Burgundy, France, but are grown all over the world with varying degrees of success. It's hard to find the right balance of sun and cold air, not to mention the right soil, to make great wine from these grapes. In a number of regions of South Africa, the art of maintaining balance has been mastered quite well, and Walker Bay is the leader among them. You should look for South African dry red wine from the Hemel-en-Aarde (“Paradise on Earth”) valley. It is here that the famous winery Hamilton Russell is located. Her $25 a bottle 2013 Chardonnay is a rich, creamy wine whose aromas of ripe peach and toasted toast are balanced by expressive minerality.

South Africa doesn't grow much Pinot Noir, but what you can find is of very high quality. A 2012 Strom Vines from the Wrede Winery in the Hemel en Aarde Valley ($45) is intoxicatingly aromatic with hints of fresh strawberries, rose petals and cinnamon. Those who love Oregon Pinot Noir will love this wine too, with plenty of acidity, medium texture and soft tannins.

Cabernet Sauvignon blends

Search byaround the world a good Cabernet Sauvignon at an affordable price? It's getting harder and harder to find, but South Africa offers impressive value for money. The Mulderbosch Faithful Hound, made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot, retails for $19 and can match its more expensive counterparts. At the crossroads of Old and New World traditions, this intense blend is filled with aromas of ripe cherries, mint and cedarwood and envelops you in a sophisticated terroir.

Sparkling wine: Cap Classique method

Cap Classique is the name given to the traditional method of making sparkling wines produced in South Africa. These South African wines, which can be made anywhere in the country, like champagne are saturated with carbon dioxide during the secondary fermentation in the bottle. This category is on the rise, so there is not much supply on the market yet. One of the reference representatives of Cap Classique is Graham Beck's Brut Rosé at $15 a bottle. This blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is a great aperitif with fresh notes of raspberry, red apple and rose petals.