South Africa has beautiful wine-growing locations as well as amazing, high-quality wines.
Despite being classified as a “New World” wine country, South Africa’s wine industry has been producing exceptional wines since the 17th century.
It is most famous for Pinotage, a grape that yields luscious, fruity-flavored wines. Other grape varietals grown include Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.
The country’s wine sector is well-known around the world for making fortified wines known as Cape Port. Shiraz, Pinotage, and traces of Portuguese wine grapes are used to make these wines.
Among the fortified Cape Port wine styles are:
Cape White Port: Except for Muscat, these wines can be created from any white grape. They are matured in wood barrels for approximately 6 months.
Cape Ruby Port: This wine is made from a blend of full-bodied wines and is matured in wood for about a year.
Cape Vintage Port: Made from grapes collected in a single vintage, these wines are matured on wood.
Cape Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Port: These wines are aged 5-8 years and are prepared from grapes picked in a single vintage.
Cape Vintage Reserve Port: Produced in excellent vintage years, these wines are matured in oak for a year.
Cape Tawny Port: These wines are matured in wood for a long period of time to develop a tawny hue and a nutty flavor.
Sherry, Jerepigo, and Hanepoot are some more South African fortified wines.
Wines for Dessert
Late harvest dessert wines from South Africa include Edel Laat-Oes and Spesiale Laat-Oes “special late harvest.” These wines feature 30+ g residual sugar and are made from noble rot-affected grapes (Botrytis).
Sparkling Wines
South Africa also produces sparkling wines using the Charmat process or the conventional method (Methode Cap Classique).
Cap Classique and Agrafe are two well-known South African sparkling wines.
Which wine is the most popular in South Africa?
Chenin blanc is South Africa’s favorite white wine, accounting for around 18% of the country’s vineyards. This adaptable grape, originally from France’s Loire Valley, has adapted to South Africa’s warmer environment by growing fruitier and more tropical.
What kind of wine is famous in South Africa?
Pinotage is a unique wine produced in South Africa.
Although Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon are the most extensively planted varietals in South Africa, Pinotage is the only one that is indigenous to the country. Pinotage is a hybrid of Pinot Noir and Cinsault.
Are South African wines of good quality?
South African wines are exceptionally good value, with food-friendly styles and flavors that combine elegance and power. South Africa has been producing wine since the 17th century, when the Dutch governors of Cape Colony planted the first grapes.
What is the cost of a bottle of wine in South Africa?
R 60.08 in Western Cape
R 55.64 in KwaZulu-Natal
R 49.45 to the north-west.
R 47.55 Eastern Cape
