Wines of South Africa

 The best-kept secret in the wine world right now might just be South Africa.

-Wine Spectator, June 15, 2015

In the ever expanding world of wine, South Africa is perhaps best positioned to take advantage of the consumer’s search for high quality wines at affordable prices.  As suggested by the Wine Spectator quote above, the attributes of South Africa’s wine regions – climate, soil, geography, history and expertise – combine to create a formidable presence among wine-producing nations.  Although Chenin Blanc and Pinotage are mostly closely associated with South Africa, many other popular varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay – find excellent representations here.  In my most recent tasting classes, we had the opportunity to sample some of these fine wines whose descriptions you will find below.

For the first class, the favorites appeared to be the Chenin Blanc (one or the other) and the Pinotage, which was interesting since it was the first time most, if not all, the class had tasted it.  Pinotage is definitely on the rise, overcoming its dubious reputation of the past.

In the second class, the Hamilton Russell Chardonnay was voted favorite of the whites, and the Cabernet Sauvignon among the reds.  Personally, as someone who is very particular about Chardonnay and does not drink it on a regular basis, I have to say that I was very impressed by Hamilton Russell, and recommend it for those who are not frequent Chardonnay imibers – you might be surprised!  As for the reds, I especially enjoyed the Syrah blend, but would not hesitate selecting any of the others depending the food pairing.

1.     Ken Forrester Petit Chenin Blanc 2016

($12.99 in PA)

                             

Varietal: 100% Chenin Blanc

Appellation: Stellenbosch Wine of Origin

Tasting/Production Notes: Hand harvested; fermented cool, bottled early; youthful, fresh wine with quince and pear flavors; crunchy green apple and grapefruit flavors; tangy finish.

Food Pairing: light al fresco summertime fare; aperitif

Alcohol: 13%

           

2.       Ken Forrester Old Vine Chenin Blanc Reserve 2015

($15.99 in PA)

                               

           

Varietal: 100% Chenin Blanc

           

Appellation: Stellenbosch Wine of Origin

Tasting/Production Notes: Hand harvested; barrel and tank fermented and left on the lees (9 months French oak, 20% new); matured on secondary lees for a rounded complexity; golden hued and full bodied, with melon and spicy baked apple aromas; layered, with mineral notes enhanced by honeycomb and caramel flavors from lees contact; harmonious balance between fruit and delicate oak/vanilla flavors, combined to form complex, soft flavors with sufficient body to enhance even spicy and full flavored meals.

Food Pairing: spicy dishes, full flavored fish or chicken dishes; crayfish, prawns

Alcohol: 14.5%

3.       Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay 2015

($27.99 in PA)

                              

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay

Appellation: Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Estate Wine of Origin

Tasting/Production Notes: Release date December 2015; 1^st  organic harvest;  barrel fermentation 84%; Foudre 7%; Stainless steel 9 %; 9 months barrel aging; prominent pear and lime fruit aromas and flavors; bright natural acidity; long dry minerality; (94 points, (94 points, Wine Spectator: "Rippling with tension, featuring Jonagold apple, white peach, mirabelle plum and honeysuckle notes coiled at the core. Citrus oil– and mineral-edged finish.”)

           

Alcohol: 13.78%

4.     Raats Red Jasper 2013

($19.99 in PA)

                          

Varietals: 85% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.5% Petit Verdot, 2.5% Merlot

Appellation: Stellenbosch Wine of Origin

Tasting/Production Notes: 18 months aging in French Vicard and Mercury oak barrels; cold soak on the skins for 5 days; malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks; neither fined nor filtered; very complex, with subtle dark berry fruit on the nose, and perfume and violets from 85% Cabernet Franc; palate exhibits darkness of fruit: blue and blackberries, blackcurrant, bramble, intertwined with hints of tobacco and the darkest of chocolate. Complex and structured.  (90 points, Wine Enthusiast)

Food Pairings: beef, rib-eye, venison.

Alcohol: 14%

5.     Neetlingshof Estate Pinotage 2015

($15.99 at Total wine in Delaware)

                       

           Varietal: 100% Pinotage

           Appellation: Stellenbosch Wine of Origin

Tasting/Production Notes: Fermentation in rotation tanks took place at 25° to 28°C over six days; after malolactic fermentation the wine was matured in a combination of French (60%) and American (40%) oak, with 40% in new barrels for a period of nine months; the wine was bottled in January 2015 and released May of the same year; aromas of ripe banana and cinnamon and notes of plum and prunes; medium bodied with a velvety texture; earthy, vegetal, aromas and strong, plummy varietal flavors; cherry fruit; firm tannic backbone.

Food pairings: meats such as Springbok, Kudu and other bok, whether in the form of steaks, potjies or even as biltong.

           Alcohol: 14.5%

6.     Graham Beck Game Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

($16.99 at Total Wine in Delaware)


                                

           Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

           Appellation:  Western Cape Wine of Origin

Tasting/Production Notes: Hand harvested;  12 months aging in French oak barrels; blackberry fruit, hints of dried herbs and cigar box notes on the nose; full bodied on the palate with juicy mulberry and cherry flavors, tobacco spice and cedar wood; soft  yet firm tannins; long, lingering finish.

Food Pairing:  North African dishes, spicy Moroccan  tagines; roast beef, osso buco; hearty risotto

Alcohol: 14.13%

7.  Spice Route “Chakalaka” 2013 ($19.99 in PA)

Varietals: 50% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, 13% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignan, 8% Grenache, 6% Tannat

Appellation: Swartland Wine of Origin

Tasting/Production Notes: Hand harvested; fermented in open concrete fermenters; malolactic fermentation; matured in seasoned French and American oak for 12 months before blending and further maturation of final wine in same oak barrels; aromas of clove, white pepper followed by plum with hints of elegant spice; medium bodied with red fruit, integrated oak; well-balanced acidity and tannins.

Food Pairings: beef, rib-eye, venison.

Alcohol: 14%

 8.   Nederburg “The Winemasters” Pinotage 2014 ($11.99 in PA

           Varietal: 100% Pinotage

           Appellation: Western Cape Wine of Origin

Tasting/Production Notes: harvested by hand and machine at 23º

to 24,5º Balling from the end of January to mid-February; crushed and cool-fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks at 25ºC to 28ºC for approximately

two weeks; after malolactic fermentation, the wine was matured in contact with American and French oak for 8 to 12 months; aromas of plums, prunes and subtle oak spice; full mouth feel on the palate with rich fruit flavors, soft tannins and lingering finish

Food pairings: rich winter stews, roast duck, guinea fowl, quail, ostrich, game casserole, classic goulash, venison steak, smoked Kassler chops, pasta, pizza, roast leg of lamb, bobotie and even chocolate.

           Alcohol: 14.41%

Factoids about South African Wines & Wine Regions

·         The two varietals most associated with South Africa are Chenin Blanc, also known as Steen; and Pinotage, a hybrid of Pinot Noir and Cinsault (Hermitage), created by Prof. Abraham Perold in 1925

·       Chenin Blanc is the most widely planted white grape in the Cape and accounts for most of the old-vine planting

·       Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted red grape, followed by Syrah, Pinotage and Merlot

·       South Africa is the world’s 8^th largest wine producer

·         Vines were first planted in the 17^th century by Dutch and French settlers

·         A renaissance in the wine industry began some 20 years ago with the end of apartheid which opened up the export market

·         Almost all of the South African wine growing regions are located on the Western Cape, surrounding Cape Town

·       The Wine of Origin system encompasses 5 geographical regions, namely Western Cape, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Eastern Cape

·         The 5 regions are divided into 26 districts and 66 wards

·         In addition to traditional table wines, S. Africa also produces high quality sparking wines, Port- and Sherry-style wines and other fortified-dessert wines.