Today I am going to discuss some of my favorite South African Wines! Many people are unsure what to think of wines from the Cape, I assure you they are fantastic! Back in 1652, the Dutch planted the first vineyard in Africa. Many grape varieties grow well in the soft and rich soil of the area and produce some great wines!
One wine is well known and highly regarded from the Cape: the "Pinotage" is considered to be a South African wine grape, although it is the result of a hybrid. Back in 1922 Professor Peroldt created the Pinotage by crossing the Pinot Noir and Cinsault grapes. His result was a beautiful hearty grape which thrived in the climate. The first planting of this grape was in 1952 as a wine grape for production on a large scale. Today the wine produced from this grape is over the top! Most "Pinotage" is aged for 18 months in barrels and then for another year in the bottle before being put on the market. You will find these wines delicious even when consumed "young". They will have a wonderful fruit nose, and taste of black cherry, with mellow tanins. However, If allowed to age they will drink more like a fine French Bordeaux, with a more rounded finish, and a velvet texture! The fruit taste will mellow into a rich flavor of Dried Fig, Nutmeg, and Raisin. The nose will become multi-layered with hints of dark chocolate, spice, and hickory smoke. These are some of my favorite wines on today’s market, as they drink like a wine retailing for much more, from France or Italy.
Pinotage is great with rustic cooking, pizza, pasta, lamb, beef, and a fantastic choice to serve with Bar B-Q. I do have my favorite winery that produces what I consider to be the best of this product on the market today. The winery of "Fleur Du Cap" is one of the oldest producing vineyards in South Africa. Winemaker "Andrea Freeborough" has great skill, and an unwavering dedication to producing some of the finest wines in this region.
Every wine they produce is a fine example of the product! These wines are a great value as they retail for under $20 in most markets. They produce a "Chenin Blanc" I love for its combination of fruit and mineral flavors. The "Sauvignon Blanc" is full of green apple, lemon, and tropical fruit flavors. Their other wines are all of exceptional quality: Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Shiraz are great to have on hand in any cellar or collection. www.fleurducap.co.za
Other Wines I have found of great quality and value from the Cape are as follows:
- Goats DO Roam Roti www.goatsdoroam.com
- Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir www.hamiltonrussellvineyards.com
- Meerlust Rubicon www.meerlust.co.za
- Wolftrap Rhone Blend www.vineyardbrands.com
- Neil Ellis Chardonnay www.neilellis.com
- Kanu Kia Ora www.capeclassics.com
Please consider these wines when looking for something new to add to your collection, or when just wanting to try something new! I am such a fan of these wines and the "Pinotage" in particular, and I hope you will find them as wonderful as I do! Try giving a South African wine as a gift to wine collectors as an option. For now they are affordable, but I feel their cost will keep going higher as people realize the fantastic products coming out of the area, so I say buy now! Enjoy today!
As a caterer I am often called upon to offer suggestions on wines I feel best complement my foods. Clients are always overwhelmed by the offerings from South Africa. These wines offer great value, taste, and are stylish options for todays menu selections. Watch for recipes to be offered and my selections of wines from the Cape that are the best to be served with the foods. If planning a large event, these wines are a great choice to keep cost in line.
