A South African Odyssey

I first came across South African wine several years ago and I was hugely impressed by not only it’s
quality but also how their wines stand out. Over the years South Africa has had its fair share of
political differences but it has been producing wine for hundreds of years, and it has a constant
ability to produce quality, very easy drinking wines at very reasonable prices.

One might think that because it is a warm climate, both the reds and whites can be slightly
overpowering, high alcohol compared to their European counterparts and the big bold flavours that
you would expect from this climate! The great thing about this wonderful region is that post-
apartheid some its wines did fall into that category, but the producers have an ability to listen and
adapt and Hugh Johnson (OBE) describes South Africa as probably the most dynamic wine region in
the world. The country now produces reds that are lighter and fresher, whites that are expressing
the fruit a lot better than in the past, whilst appreciating the soil, vines and climate.

Two grape varieties that South Africa is renowned for its Chenin Blanc (originally from the Loire) and
Pinotage, a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, found only in this country. I am a big fan of both
these wines, I appreciate the Chenin’s can be regarded as sometimes too big for a white but the
Producers I work with maximise the strengths of this wonderful versatile grape, and it has the ability
to accompany so many dishes. I appreciate Pinotage is not everyone’s cup of tea, as the blend of the
two grape varieties can produce a full-bodied wine that by itself be quite powerful but then still wine
is not meant to drank on its own! Also, a lot of retailers do not stock Pinotage and therefore our
pallets can struggle with it, but I had it recently with Roast Pork and I was suitably impressed.

Finally, if you haven’t had the pleasure of trying any wine from this great region than you should, I
think you will be duly impressed.

South African Wine Regions