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In terms of climate and vine cultivation, South Africa has the best of all worlds. Hot and sun-soaked, a potpourri of grapes thrive in its rich and varied soils, with its Mediterranean climate tempered by fresh ocean breezes and a cooling current that travels from Antarctica. Vintners favor growing Chardonnay in the cooler sites to add freshness, crafting wines that are elegant with a concentrated fruit core. Winemaking techniques imported from Burgundy France are used for next-level Chardonnays. These include barrel fermentation and stirring wines on their lees (yeast), each method adding depth texture, and character. Top-tier Chardonnay-producing areas Stellenbosch, Walker Bay, and Elgin are names to look out for.

Peach and citrus in world-class fresh, fruity styles and age-worthy creamy, complex Chardonnays.

South African Chardonnay

Chardonnay is a grape variety that famously does well in just about every climate under the sun and South Africa is no exception. This popular white grape shows a distinct face in this southern hemisphere nation with stone fruit and citrus in unoaked styles and additional layers of spicy, oaky notes with a creamy texture in barrel-aged wines. This Chardonnay is excellent value and a versatile food pairing wine.

Although South Africa is technically too hot for quality wine grape production, cooling sea breezes and currents sweep across its Western Cape to make viticulture and fine wine production possible. Chenin Blanc (which prefers the cold) has adapted and has been such a success that this grape has become synonymous with premium South African winemaking. As well as fruit wines destined for early drinking, a niche style is wine made from old vines, plants that yield small but top-quality quantities of concentrated fruit. Barrel fermentation and aging contribute to toasty complexity.

Flagship tart South African white with fresh stone and tropical fruit plus barrel-aged styles in dry and sweet expressions.

South African Chenin Blanc

Hailing from the Loire Valley in France, Chenin Blanc has found a welcoming home in the vineyards of South Africa. The local sunshine teases out pleasing tropical fruit notes which are balanced by this grape’s natural acidity. Styles range from dry easy drinking and fruity plus oak kissed, toasty complex wines to luscious dessert wines lifted by fresh tartness.

In theory, South Africa’s Cape should be too warm for quality wine grape production but its location on the western tip of South Africa puts it in the pathway of many a cooling breeze from the surrounding seas. One such gust even travels up from Antarctica bringing a chill that promotes quality Sauvignon Blanc production. Styles made from this variety run the gamut from fresh and elegant with a green fruit core and trademark green pepper to full and tropical. Winemakers have also ventured into using oak which is unusual for Sauvignon Blanc but, when done well, works well adding depth and texture. Another specialty is letting the wine lay on lees (naturally occurring yeast cells from the wine production process) to add texture. Quality Sauvignon Blanc areas to look out for include Stellenbosch and Elgin.  

Aromatic and fresh white with exotic fruit notes.

South African Sauvignon Blanc

Cool pockets of vineyards in South Africa’s warm and balmy Cape are home to this popular variety with each spot crafting signature styles of fresh, tart whites. From vibrant, light, wines with herby, green bell pepper to fuller expressions boasting tropical notes, South African Sauvignon Blanc has a signature flair that leaves fans of this grape spoiled for choice.

On paper, South Africa is too warm for the kind of quality grape production that leads to distinguished wines. Fortunately, its Western Cape benefits from cooling breezes from the surrounding seas as well as a chilly current that travels from Antarctica. This temperature balancing act in this westerly tip of the country contributes to an ideal environment for abundant vineyards, a plethora of grape varieties, and exceptional wines. When you’re exploring South African Cabernet Sauvignon, keep an eye open for the name Stellenbosch, a region with some of the finest expressions in the country.

Elegant dry red wine with spicy black fruit and savory cedar notes.

South African Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is planted across South Africa’s diverse Western Cape wine regions, flourishing in the warmest sites. With the fruity concentration of blackcurrant and black plum of many New World styles and the restrained oak of its Bordeaux home, this region offers a distinct style with a savory hint that’s gained legions of fans in recent decades. South African Cabernet Sauvignon appears on its own and as a leading grape in blends.

From its creation out of a Pinot Noir and Cinsault crossing in 1925 in university town Stellenbosch to its renaissance in recent years, this young wine has had a few ups and downs. It was planted by a viticulture professor in his back yard then forgotten until a decade on when a researcher came across the unkempt vines. After this discovery, Pinotage was widely planted because it produced such high yields. The downside was decades of uninteresting to near undrinkable table wines. Political tensions in South Africa didn’t help winemaking in general and poor Pinotage had a dire reputation among wine critics and consumers alike. Happily, this has reversed in leaps and bounds with ambitious vintners determined to bring the best out of this variety. Today, wine lovers enjoy a range of powerful reds in single grape wines and Cape Blends with Bordeaux varieties.

South African flagship grape with rustic red and dark fruit, spice, and earthy notes. 

South African Pinotage

The offspring of Pinot Noir and Cinsault, this dark fruit-led wine is produced across South Africa in everything from easy-drinking styles to deep, complex wines that can age with the best of them. Pinotage also leads in Bordeaux-inspired blends. 

Crafted the length and breadth of the Western Cape, South African Shiraz reflects the vast diversity of soils, temperatures, skilled and adventurous winemaking methods, and all those other good things that go into a worthy wine. For a classic, savory, peppery style reminiscent of the benchmark Northern Rhône look to Stellenbosch and Paarl while if big Shiraz with generous fruit is your thing, check out baking hot areas like Robertson and Swartland. South African Shiraz is famous for appearing as a fine single-grape wine but it also leads in blends with a splash of other black and white grapes.

Spicy dark fruit red ranging from elegant and peppery to big and chocolatey.

South African Shiraz

Shiraz (aka Syrah) is found all over South Africa’s Cape in a potpourri of styles from refined, savory, and peppery wines in cooler areas to bold, meaty, and chocolatey in hotter climates. With a heart of spicy dark fruit across all styles, this food-friendly red is a must-try for fans of this variety. 

South Africa is technically too hot for wine grape production but powerful cooling sea breezes enable quality viticulture and wine-making in its Western Cape region. The diversity of soils, terrains, and micro-climates support a plethora of black and white grapes with Cabernet Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc the leading varieties, made in world-class styles. South Africa has its own black grape Pinotage which appears in red blends and stand-alone wines.

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