By Samuel Ritter

If Argentine is led by an iconic superstar (Malbec), then South Africa fields a more well-rounded team with many talented players. ~Steven Tanzer, International Wine Cellars

South Africa has a distinguished wine history that dates back to 1659. In that year, Jan van Riebeek, a surgeon and the founder of Capetown, produced the very first wine in South Africa at the soon-to-be Constantia estate. The roots of the South African wine industry can be traced to the Dutch East India Trade Company founding a supply station in Capetown. Van Riebeek was succeeded as Governor of Cape of Good Hope by Simon Van Der Stel, who had a major impact on improving the quality of viticulture in the area. Indeed, it was he who established the Constantia Estate, the first winery in South Africa. The region thrived until the1860s when phylloxera, the notorious vine louse, reached South Africa causing widespread devastation to the vineyards. It would be more than two decades for the region to recover. Many chose to plant orchards and alfalfa fields and gave up winemaking. Fortunately, a few persisted and planted high yielding grape varieties such as Cinsault. The wine industry was essentially dormant and received very little attention for most of the twentieth century. With the end of apartheid in the late 1980s and 1990s, the world markets again opened to South Africa, and winemaking underwent a renaissance. New viticulture and winemaking practices were employed and a shift to quality winemaking began. Other varietals such as Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc. were focused upon. Of note: in 1990, 30% of grapes harvested were used for wine production. By the early 2000s, over 70% of grapes harvested were used for wine production!

The wine regions of South Africa are concentrated in the Western and Northern Cape regions. There is a vast range of macro- and microclimates as well as soil types within these regions. As of 2003, South Africa had grown to be 17th in terms of acreage planted. The South African Wine Industry adapted the Wines of Origin (WO) program, similar to the French Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC), Italian Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC), and American Viticulture Area (AVA) to ensure high quality standards in their wine production in 1973. It concentrates on labeling accuracy and is not nearly as stringent or regulatory as the French or Italian systems. Wine regions under the WO system range, from larger-to-smaller, from Geographical Units to Region to District to Wards. There is a major push by the industry to define these areas based on terroir (a French word meaning land).

Notable WOs include:

• Constantia: located south of Capetown. It houses the original Costantia Estate. Sauvignon Blanc is the most noted grape in the region.
• Stellenbosch: this is the second oldest wine region in South Africa. Its winemaking history dates back to 1679! It is about 30 miles from Capetown. The terroir here favors red wine productiuon, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage and Syrah. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, often blended together, are the major white varietals grown. American iconic winemaker Anthony Bell of Napa Valley’s Bell Vineyards, has his winemaking family roots in this area.
•  Paarl: Formerly the heart of the South African wine industry before the shift to Stellenbosch, Paarl is known for its wonderful fortified wines. Franschhoek Valley, Breede River Valley, and Overberg are other notable regions.
•  South Africa sparkling wines: Cap Classique, in accordance with European Union regulations not allowing the term “Champagne” to be used for other-than French sparkling wine from the Champagne region, is produced with both the Charmat and “traditionelle” methods. Whereas Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc grapes were used previoiusly, more traditional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes are now used.
• Pinotage: This unique South African wine merits its own brief description. A cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, it is the second most widely planted grape variety in South Africa. The grape is very dependent on the style of winemaking, and its production had decreased in the last decade. A good pinotage is quite different from most other varietals!

The wide variety of grapes grown and the ever-increasing dedication to excellence in winmaking make this a region to be reckoned with. Try it: you will, indeed, like it! In North Carolina, country vintners carry a wonderful portfolio of South African wines, highly rated by Steven Tanzer and other wine critics.

Vir Jou Gesondheid (To Your Health)!
Photo Caption:

South Africa’s Western Cape wine country. Photo from travel.nationalgeographic.com.

 

Pick up credit line.