wineline: South Africa

Thanks, Scurvy

South Africa’s winemaking history dates back to the 1650s when the Dutch East India Company established a port at the Cape of Good Hope. Dutch traders noticed that the crews who plied the sea lanes of the wine-rich Mediterranean suffered less from scurvy, so some enterprising Dutch merchant traders began making wine. It was probably lousy, but fortunately Huguenots came along, fleeing religious persecution in France, and they knew how to make wine. And so the South African wine industry was born.

Meanwhile in Joburg

South Africa's wines are bargains, as long as you know where to look. Solid, crisp sauvignon blancs (the locals drink them very chilled when it's very hot). And some of the big reds -- Rudi Schultz, Foundry, Chocolate Block, Warwick's Trilogy, Stony Brook's Ghost Gum, Sadie Family Syrahs -- are the best friends your steak ever had. Hamilton-Russel makes a good pinot, and there are good chardonnays, even desert wines and bubblies.

Ag, lekker, hey?

> ArtInfo.com Article on South African Wine

> SA Wine Blog: Stellenbauchery

Some of Our Favorites

Anwilka (2005 was the first vintage of this Cab/Syrah pedigreed newcomer w/ impressive Klein Constantia, Angelus and Cos d’Estournel pedigree. Parker loves it. 90 pts WS.)
Avondale (esp. Cyclus, a viognier blend, and La Luna and The Duke meritage)
Beyond (second of Buitenverwachting, easier to say)
Bien (single vineyard, merlot only)
Boekenhoutskloof Syrah (93 pts WS: "Muscular, but without sacrificing balance")
Bouchard Finlayson (great Pinot and Chardonnay)
Buitenverwachting (means "Beyond Expectations")
Chamonix Sauvignon Reserve (Jancis fave)
Chocolate Block (Red blend from acclaimed Franschhoek winery Boekenhoutskloof)
Columella
Conde Syrah from Stellenbosch 90 pts WE. Southern Wines raves: "Kirsch, black currant and spice flavors… long, smooth finish."
Constantia Uitsig (whites)
De Toren: Bordeaux blends. Fusion (WS 90) is their "Left Bank" Bordeaux and Z is their "Right Bank" bland, meaning higher proportion of Merlot). Try Cabrini and Wine.com. Meet the winemaker.
De Trafford: Succulent Cab will make any juicy steak blush. Available at SA Wines Online in the UK.
Ernie Els: Proprieters blend is a sophisticated Bordeaux blend red (their Big Easy Red and Merlot are also great). Also at SA Wines in the UK.
Fairview (whites)
Foundry (Syrah and Double Barrel blend, also lovely Viogner) 91 point WS Syrah
GlenWood (especially the Shiraz)
Hamilton Russel (worthy Pinot Noir and try their Chardonnay too)
L'Horizon Rouge (red blend, Grenache and Carignan)
Kadette (second of Kanonkop)
Kanonkop (reds)
Ken Forrester (Chenin Blanc)
Klein Constantia (Vin de Constance, a Muscat desert wine)
La Motte
La Vierge (Bordeaux blend from Hemel-en-Aarde) (Try Wines with Attitude in the UK)
Left Bank (snappy label, worthy house blend from Neil Ellis)
Meerlust (Cabernet and Merlot)
Neil Ellis
Observatory (Syrah)
Onyx (Syrah and good late harvest) Bargain Syrah, from Darling. 88 pts WS.
Rudi Schultz (Rudi was the Thelema winemaker; Syrah WS 93 points) (Try Cabrini or SK Wines)
Rust En Vrede (Estate Stellenbosch Red, Syrah) Try the estate blend Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot, WS 93 points
Sadie Family (award-winning Syrahs)
Simonsig (Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc)
Solms Delta (Hiervandaan red blend)
Springfield (whites)
Stony Brook (especially the Ghost Gum Cabernet Sauvignon)
Thelema
Uva Mira (Chardonnay)
Vergelegen
Vrede and Lust
Vriesenhof (Pinot Noir)
Warwick (Sauvignon Blanc, Cab Sav and 91 pt Tanzer "standout" Trilogy Bordeaux blend)

Some of the second labels, like Kadette from Kanonkop and The Left Bank from Neil Ellis, offer good value for everyday red wine. Don't look for complexity or grace, but they're bargains.

Photos, Where to Buy, Travel Tips

Take a look at our photos.

Where to Buy?

In New York, try Sherry-Lehman and 67 Wine for Simonsig, Fairview, Neil Ellis and other SA favorites
Glenwood and others are available (when in stock) at Southern Hemisphere Wine Center. BuyRealWine has some of the harder-to-come-by SA offerings. Empire Wine has Anwilka and others.

Traveling to Cape Winelands?

There are loads of great restaurants and places to stay. Stay at Le Quartier Francais or La Cabriere and eat at Rueben's in Franshoek. Try Aristata restaurant in the Protea Hotel in Stellenbosch, Zomerlust in Paarl, and Pastis in Constantia.

Many of the wineries also have fine restaurants, including Terroir at Kleine Zalze winery, Tokara, Boschendal, and Cuvée at Simonsig Estate.

Many wineries also offer accommodation, such as De Trafford, L’Avenir, Constantia Uitsig and Spier.