Wines of South Africa: reviews

For many, South Africa's wines remained undiscovered. Although the shelves of stores and bursting with cheap bottles with various animals on the labels, wine lovers around the world believed that behind the image of Goza Fairview there is nothing special. Meanwhile, South Africa was busy creating really great wines.

New World vs. Old

French, Italian, Spanish, wines of Portugal and Germany - all of them belong to the regions of the Old World. To the New World can be attributed, for example, New Zealand. These regions generally have a shorter history of winemaking than Europe, and they have a warmer climate. In general, bottles of wine from the New World are designated by the grape variety, and not by the name of the area.

And although South Africa, which is about three times the size of the state of California, is considered a new wine region, a novice in this matter, it is not. For the first time grapes were planted here in 1655, and soon after that the sweet wines of Constance, which is located near Cape Town, were extolled throughout Europe.

South Africa has come a long way. During its isolation, most of the country's wines were tedious and tasteless. Red often differed in the taste of burnt rubber, and white resembled vinegar. But since then the quality has improved dramatically.

Today wines of South Africa with the taste of ripe silky fruits, not devoid of earth fragrances and differing in complete restraint, try to conquer the Old and New World. Because of the warm climate, as a rule, red grapes in South Africa are very ripe and produce full, high alcoholic wines. But in the Western Cape, cold ocean breezes help maintain a vivid acidity, which gives freshness and more suited to eating.

What do you see on the label?

The best wines of South Africa, according to the fans of this sun drink, are produced in the south-western part of the country, already mentioned Western Cape. Wines are classified by large geographical areas, which are then broken down into districts, districts and territories. For example, Stellenbosch is a district within the Coastal region.

Wines of South Africa have their own designation of origin, which is similar to the American AVA. If there is an inscription "wine comes from Stellenbosch" on the bottle of shenen-blanca, several things immediately become clear: the drink has been tasted, it is 85% consists of Shenen Blanc, and the grapes are grown in Stellenbosch. Manufacturers do not have to label their products in this way, but if they do not, they will not be able to indicate on the label vintage, grade or area.

Sauvignon Blanc

If you are looking for good and inexpensive white wines of South Africa, reviews of connoisseurs recommend starting with Sauvignon Blanc. This is a good illustration of how South Africa is laying the path between the New and Old World: the drink does not have the intensity of the New Zealand namesake, but there is a fresh green note that is associated with a picnic on the lawn, well combined with shades of white flowers and fine, chalky minerals that can Recall samsera. To experience these sensations, you can try the "Neil Ellis 2013 Sauvignon Blanc" at $ 15 per bottle from Groenkloof, a winery in Darling, located in the Coastal area. Wine will brighten up the day with the aromas of grapefruit and shades of fresh herbs.

Sauvignon blanc is often thought of as a thirst-quenching drink like the lymada, used before the start of the meal. A bottle of good quality can also be combined with richer main dishes, such as halibut with cream sauce. Reviews of lovers recommend to try the "Cape Point Vineyards 2013 Sauvignon Blanc" ($ 25). Encouraged by the touch of the seven-million, the wine combines the aromas of white peach and raw hazelnuts. Buitenverwachting (often shortened to Buiten or Bayten) is another good manufacturer that is worth looking for.

Shenin Blanc

For centuries, South African winemakers have called this flower grapes a "style", but in the 1960s they discovered that in fact it was the "Shenen Blanc", a variety that made such French regions as Vouvray and Savyenere famous. If you like pinot gris or sauvignon blanc, then experts are strongly advised to try a drink from this grapes. This dry wine of South Africa almost does not contain sweetness, which enhances the aroma of the yellow apple and jasmine.

MAN Family Wines makes a beautiful Schengen Blanc Coastal area, which you can buy for less than ten dollars. The harvest of 2014 is fresh and clean, with notes of ripe melon and white peach, which makes it an excellent companion of seafood and an afternoon rest on the deck.

South African grapes "shenen-blanc" is used in the production of delicious blends and often combines with Rona varieties, such as "vionie", "rusan", "marsan" and "grenache blanc". This wine of South Africa reviews are highlighted by the presence of a richer taste and texture. Try the Jackal Bird winery Fable Mountain Vineyards harvest of 2012 at a cost of $ 25. It is a rich and surprisingly fresh drink with the aromas of cherry and yellow almonds.

Wine Pinotage

South Africa scares many tasting pinotage, but this procedure always ends with the fact that the brand finds new fans and becomes ultimately the most loved and interesting drink. Grapes were once called "smelling bandages and a barnyard", but recent crops are unusually tasty.

Good examples of pinotage combine the flavors of a sun-kissed blackberry and sweet cherry with fried herbs and haze. They could recall the southern French blends made from the grapes "Carignan", "Syra", "Grenache" and "Murvedra".

Another good news is that a bottle of delicious wine of this sort can be easily found in all price categories. For about 13 dollars, you can stock up on the "Tormentoso" pintage of the 2013 harvest and enjoy the combination of the flavors of fresh red plum, blueberry and hamburger on the grill. Kanonkop is a fantastic producer from Stellenbosch, who makes an excellent blend of pinafore called Kadette worth $ 12. It is a mixture with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet-fraun.

Those wishing to explore the heights that the red wines of South Africa can achieve should shell out a 100% Pinotage from Kanonkop for about $ 40 a bottle. Rich aromas of sweet cherry, violets and dried tobacco are ideal for roast lamb or other meat dishes on the grill.

Shiraz or Syrah

These wines, sometimes called shiraz, and sometimes sira, have the aromas of ripe blackberries and blueberries, as well as earthy tastes of the Old World. Many also feel the pepper and meat flavors that distinguish the French variety of sira.

You should look for the Sira wine from Swarthland. This is a large area, located north of Cape Town, which is often compared to the valley of the Rhone, famous for its "sira" grapes. For the test, Secateurs 2012 Red Blend produced by Badenhorst Family Wines at $ 14 per bottle, in which Shiraz, Senso and several other grape varieties create a juicy, medium-rich wine with the aromas of strawberries and anise.

Fans of more daring Syrah varieties need to try the Bellingham's 'Bernard Series' 2011 Small Barrel SMV for $ 40 from the Coastal region. Fans of the Australian shiraz will especially appreciate the aromas of cherry, dark chocolate and rocky granite tones of this wine.

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

These two varieties found their spiritual homeland in Burgundy, France, but are grown all over the world with different success. It is difficult to find the right balance of sun and cold air, not to mention the right soil, to make this wine a great wine. In some regions of South Africa, the art of maintaining balance was mastered quite well, and Walker Bay is the leader among them. You should look for the red wine of South Africa from the valley of Hemel-en-Aarde ("Paradise on Earth"). It is here that the famous winery Hamilton Russell is located. Its Chardonnay 2013 harvest of $ 25 per bottle is a rich cream wine, whose aromas of ripe peach and toasty croutons are balanced by expressive minerality.

In South Africa, not so much "Pinot Noir" is grown, but what can be found is of very high quality. "Strom vines" of the 2012 harvest, made by the winery "Wrede" from the valley of Hemel-en-Aarde (45 US dollars), delightfully aromatic with notes of fresh strawberries, rose petals and cinnamon. Those who like pinot noir from Oregon will have to taste this wine: it has a lot of acidity, medium texture and soft tannin.

Cabernet Sauvignon Blends

Looking for a good world of cabernet-sauvignon at an affordable price? Its harder and harder to find, but South Africa offers an impressive value for money. The Mulderbosch Faithful Hound, made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet-Fra, Merlot, Malbec, and Bird Verdo, is sold for $ 19 and can be compared to its more expensive counterparts. This rich blend at the intersection of the traditions of the Old and New World is filled with the aromas of ripe sweet cherry, mint and cedar and envelops with a refined terroir.

Sparkling wine: Cap Classique method

Cap Classique is the name of the traditional method for making sparkling wines produced in South Africa. These South African wines that can be made anywhere in the country, like champagne, are saturated with carbon dioxide in the process of secondary fermentation in a bottle. This category is on the rise, so there is as yet no big offer on the market. One of the reference representatives of Cap Classique is Graham Beck's Brut Rosé at $ 15 per bottle. This blend of "Pinot Noir" and "Chardonnay" is a wonderful aperitif with fresh notes of raspberries, red apples and rose petals.