South Africa
OUR SOUTH AFRICAN WINES
Wine has been made in South Africa since the seventeenth century when Dutch settlers planted vines in the Cape region, which is still the main centre of production. Today, South Africa has a flourishing wine industry producing good quality red, white and fortified wines.
Important grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage - a Pinot Noir Cinsault hybrid - for red wines and for whites, the Chenin Blanc - sometimes known as Steen - and the Chardonnay
Constantia
Historical region that's tucked away in the smart southern suburbs of Cape Town (this is where the first vineyards were planted in South Africa), now undergoing a bit of a revival. As well as being a beautiful region, the vineyards are ideally sited on the slopes of Constantia Mountain, where they are cooled by the sea breezes. Just five estates here, all good: Klein Constantia, Groot Constantia, Buitervenwachting, Constantia Uitsig and Steenberg.
Elgin
Newish cool-climate region east of Stellenbosch, which is still predominantly a fruit-growing area. Because of the altitude, it's usually a good few degrees cooler than the main wineland regions. Leading producer is Paul Cluver, but some of the 12 other grape growers apparently have plans to bottle their own wines soon.
Franschoek
The Franschoek valley is a small but significant region, inland (to the west) of Stellenbosch. Surrounded by the spooky-sounding Drakenstein mountains, the wide variety of soils and relatively high rainfall permits production of a wide variety of wine styles. It's a hotter region than Stellenbosch, and with its profusion of trendy restaurants it can rightfully claim to be the gourmet capital of the winelands. An easy day trip from Cape Town.
Paarl
Well known region north-west of Cape Town, and home to several leading producers, including Veenwouden, Nederburg, Fairview, Glen Carlou and Plaisir de Merle. Traditionally a white wine region, but with its Mediterranean climate and terroirs it's now focusing more on reds. Hotter than Stellenbosch, so the very best wines come from the more elevated vineyards.
Robertson
Some 120 km east of Cape Town, next door to Worcester, this hot region is rather paradoxically best known for its whites. De Wetshof, Springfield and Graham Beck are among the leading producers here.
Stellenbosch
Just a short distance east of Cape Town, this is the country's leading wine area, and is home to many of the country's leading estates. The town itself is dominated by the University, and despite its relatively large size has quite a relaxed feel. Vineyards fringed by mountains make for some lovely views, and the wine route, which takes tourists through several different trails, is well marked out. There are several different subregions, and the geology here is quite complex. Simplistically, the granite-based soils in the east are especially suited to the production of fine red wines, whereas the sandstone soils in the west are best for whites.
Swartland
Large region to the north of Cape Town, mostly given over to wheat farming. Rainfall is light, so irrigation is usually needed. The cooperatives dominate.
Walker Bay
This cool-climate wine region, on the Whale Coast to the south of Cape Town, is on the up: just a few producers so far, but Hamilton Russell and Bouchard Finlayson are now making classy Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc shows promise.
Worcester
Hot (thermally, that is) wine region located inland from Cape Town. Production here is dominated by several large cooperatives.
Klein Constantia - www.kleinconstantia.com
Sylvan Vale Estate - www.sylvanvale.co.za
Weltevrede - www.weltevrede.com
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