Top 100 wines of South Africa - Page 3
Discover the top 100 best wines of South Africa as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of South Africa and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Discovering the wine region of South Africa
South Africa is one of the most important wine producing countries in the southern hemisphere. With over 300 years of wine making history, it is often described as a bridge between the Old and New Worlds. The majority of wines are produced using New World winemaking techniques, but they often have more stylistic similarities with their Old World counterparts. Since the end of apartheid, South African wine has received international attention and recognition for its wide variety of styles.
The South African wine industry is spread across the lush and rugged landscape of the Western Cape. Here, the abundance of mountains, valleys and plateaus allows winemakers to produce a wide variety of styles. Wineries can also be found in the Orange River region of the Northern Cape, where the flat, arid landscape is dominated by the Kalahari Desert. Most of South Africa's wine regions have a MediterraneanClimate, strongly influenced by the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
The country's signature Grape is Pinotage">Pinotage, an indigenous cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut that is rarely found in quantity in any other wine producing country. Shiraz is also widespread, as are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (often combined in a Bordeaux blend).
However, white grape varieties account for 55% of the country's 96,000 hectares of vineyards. Chenin Blanc is the most planted grape variety in the republic with 18.
Discover the grape variety: Pinot noir
Pinot noir is an important red grape variety in Burgundy and Champagne, and its reputation is well known! Great wines such as the Domaine de la Romanée Conti elaborate their wines from this famous grape variety, and make it a great variety. When properly vinified, pinot noit produces red wines of great finesse, with a wide range of aromas depending on its advancement (fruit, undergrowth, leather). it is also the only red grape variety authorized in Alsace. Pinot Noir is not easily cultivated beyond our borders, although it has enjoyed some success in Oregon, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
Food and wine pairing with a wine of South Africa
wines from the region of South Africa go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or game (deer, venison) such as recipes of beef pot-au-feu, navarin of lamb or duck legs with honey and orange.
Organoleptic analysis of wine of South Africa
On the nose in the region of South Africa often reveals types of flavors of iron, blackberry jam or bell pepper and sometimes also flavors of ripe blackberries, cigar or red fruit. In the mouth in the region of South Africa is a powerful with a nice freshness.
News from the vineyard of South Africa
Mumm to launch Tasmanian sparkling wine
The wine has been made in Australia by Pernod Ricard Australian sparkling wine specialist Trina Smith, working in collaboration with Mumm Chef de Caves, Laurent Fresnet, who visited Australia in July to taste the base wines made by Smith and discuss preferred components to make the blend. ‘This wine has been planned over several years and we had discussed that its profile would follow the Mumm signature style, which has always been about expressing Pinot Noir,’ said Smith. ‘When Laurent came to ...
Christmas 2021: Wine & Spirits Advent calendars
With the festive season upon us, the countdown to all things merry has begun. The daily surprise from behind each door on an Advent calendar is one the most exciting rituals in the build up to Christmas day. No longer the remit of chocolate and children only, spirits and wine Advent calendars are increasing in popularity and are now much-anticipated Christmas staples in their own right (for adults, that is!). Below, you will find our selection of the best wine and spirits Advent calendars. They ...
Brazil’s Altos de Pinto Bandeira is named first DO exclusively for sparkling wines in the New World
Altos de Pinto Bandeira, located in Brazil’s southern Serra Gaúcha wine region, has been recognised as a DO for traditional method sparkling wines. The new DO, which is the first in the New World that’s exclusively for sparkling wines, was announced on 29 November 2022. The first wines labelled DO Altos de Pinto Bandeira will arrive in the market this year. The move follows 10 years of campaigning and research by the Pinto Bandeira Wine Producers Association (Asprovinho). It worked with bodies i ...
Top wines in regions and sub-regions of South Africa
The best wines of South Africa in other styles
- The best wines natural sweet of South Africa in other styles
- The best wines pink of South Africa in other styles
- The best wines red of South Africa in other styles
- The best wines sparkling of South Africa in other styles
- The best wines sweet of South Africa in other styles
- The best wines white of South Africa in other styles