South African Wine - by authority Howard Hillman

South African Wines

Click the buttons below to read my other two South African food & wine pages:

An introduction
to South African wine

A concise guide

for diners & travelers

Insights

Quality

South Africa has a reputation for exporting high quality and commendable mid-quality wines at good-value prices. Mass-market wines are also appealingly priced, but are unremarkable.

History in brief

In the 1600s, the French Huguenots brought to South Africa their vines and wine-making skills in the 1600s. The industry slowly developed. It wasn't until after Apartheid that the world began discovering South African wines. Today, the nation is one of the world's top ten wine-producing countries.

South Africa's
top three wine areas

South Africa has over 50 distinct wine areas (officially and somewhat confusingly classified as regions, districts, wards, and geographical units). The top three are near Cape Town on Africa’s southern tip. Look for Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Constantia on the wine label.

Stellenbosch
This is the nation’s finest wine area. It has been called the Napa Valley of South Africa. It vints outstanding white, but excels most in red wines. Stellenbosch is also the country's most scenic wine area and has some fine restaurants. These features make a Stellenbosch wine route trip even more compelling.

Constantia

South Africa’s first vines were planted here. Groot Constantia, the country’s most historical and famous winery, resides here (see photo). Constantia was once noted for its dessert wine that Napoleon relished. Today, Constantia also produces dry reds and whites.

Paarl
It ranks third on the list. Whereas Stellenbosch is largely made up of small-wineries, Paarl mainly has a big-winery infrastructure. It produces whites and Sherry-like fortified wines, but it's best known for its robust red Shiraz wines.

Grapes

Pinotage
This hybrid grape is a South African creation, dating back almost a century. It's a Pinot Noir crossed with a Cinsault (called "Hermitage" locally). It is now enthusiastically planted in Australia, the USA, and other countries.

Other widely grown reds

In order of use: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Merlot.

Widely planted whites

Chenin Blanc (called "Steen" locally) is the workhorse grape. It's blended into a variety of wines, sometimes gloriously, sometimes mundanely. Ditto for the Sauvignon Blanc. The Colombard is also broadly planted, but is normally vinted for ordinary wines.

Other notable
South Africa beverages

Cape Brandy
It's a big seller in South Africa. Cape Brandy is appreciably sweeter than typical international-style brandies.

Umgombothi
This moderately potent home-made beer is made with sorghum and other grains. Worth tasting, but expect a sour note.