Wines from South Africa

Since the end of apartheid, South African products have enjoyed sanction free entry to world markets and due to this, their wine exports have soared from 20 million liters in 1992 to 129.3 million liters in 1999. They are now the eighth largest exporter of wines in value terms. John Platter, a journalist and author of books on South African wines says "you can open them and drink with full enjoyment without having to wait eight or ten years for them to mature." ¹

The climate of the western cape of South Africa, mild wet winters with cool breezes from the sea, followed by dry sunny summers create ideal conditions for wine growing. The most widely planted white grape is Chenin Blanc, followed by Colombard Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Hanepoot (traditional African name for Muscat d'Alexandrie) Rhine, Riesling, and Semillon. Of the red varietals, the most widely planted is Cabernet, followed by Cinsaut (known as Cinsault in France), Pinotage ( a cross between Cinsaut and Pinot Noir) , Merlot, Shiraz Pinot Noir, Ruby Cabernet, Tinta Barocca (Portuguese Port Making grapes) and Pontac. Since the wines are not taxed for each year that the wines are held for maturation, either in the barrel or the bottle, a later release can be offered to provide a more mature wine at a less expensive price.²