South Africa's world of red wines

Spektakulärer Blick auf ein von der Sonne beschienenes Bergmassiv in Südafrika mit saftig grünen Weinfeldern davor

With a lot of power and fruit, South African red wines belong -
the "New World"- true vinophile pleasure awaits you.

In 1659, Jan van Riebeeck, a Dutch navigator and first mayor of Cape Town, produced the first wine from Muscatel grapes. The arrival of the Huguenots around 1688 brought the first great successes in wine production and they gradually settled in Franschhoek (French Quarter). Franschhoek is still famous for its excellent wines.

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Cape Town's most important wine regions

There are five sub-regions in the Cape Province. The terroir, as the conditions (location, climate, soil) in the vineyards are called, is very diverse in the Cape. Different grape varieties require different soil and climate conditions to thrive. We distinguish between the Coastal Region, Cape South Coast, Breede River Valley, Olifants River and Klein Karoo. Each of these regions is authentic and offers different grape varieties the best possible growing conditions.

South African winemakers and their creativity

Perhaps it is due to the multicultural society that South African winemakers are so keen to experiment? But old traditions are also cherished, as can be seen from the international success and awards for exceptional red wines (Outstanding Wine Producer Trophy) at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC). South African Bordeaux blends and Pinotage, the indigenous South African grape, are among the best known. The large, well-known wine farms are internationally successful.

But there are many small, modern and young boutique wineries. A new movement of young winemakers, also known as ‘garagistes’, completes the rainbow nation of South Africa. They are wild and unconventional – faster, higher, further! It will be exciting to see what happens. This wide spectrum of terroirs undoubtedly leads to an extraordinary selection of wines. The most common red wines in South Africa are made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Pinotage. However, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Mouvedre and Cinsault should not be forgotten, as they all play an important role in ‘single vineyard’ wines, i.e. in selected blends.

Flavourful South African red wines

The wines of the coastal region, such as Stellenbosch, Malmesbury, Wellington, Paarl and the Breede River Valley, produce powerful, robust and full-bodied red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Long, hot summers and frequent rain in the autumn and winter months provide optimal conditions for these grape varieties. The landscape, weather conditions and soil conditions in the coastal region are almost ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz grapes.

Due to its high tannin content, Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the longest-aging red wines in the world. To round off the tannin content of a wine, it is often aged in wooden barrels and, after a few years of storage, develops into a truly smooth and velvety taste experience. Cabernet Sauvignon can be recognised by its flavours of blackcurrant, blackberry and tobacco. Earthy undertones and dark chocolate notes may also be present. Cabernet Sauvignon is very often aged in wood and is an excellent accompaniment to red meat. Game and lamb are also perfect companions.

The Shiraz grape is one of the oldest grape varieties in the world and is said to originate from an ancient city in Persia (now Iran). However, many believe that Sirah, another name for this grape variety, came to France via Cyprus in the 13th century. If you ask French winegrowers, they will tell you that Shiraz originated in France. Whichever story is true, Shiraz did not arrive in South Africa until the 18th century. It is grown on a large scale here in Stellenbosch. Shiraz has a strong, slightly spicy flavour. The flavour nuances are: blackberries, aniseed, cloves, leather, black pepper and even various spice mixtures. Ideal food pairings are poultry, duck or grilled vegetables. Mature hard cheeses harmonise very well. Also as a dessert, together with good quality dark chocolate – a dream.

South African Bordeaux-style blends

Have you ever heard of South African Bordeaux-style wine? Bordeaux wines from France are made from five grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Here in South Africa, the grape varieties used in Bordeaux-style wines are also Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. In 1855, Napoleon III established a strict classification system for Bordeaux wines, with variable percentages. The locations of the chateaux were also carefully determined. This law is still in force today. Blackcurrant, plum, graphite, cedar wood and violet are distinctive flavour characteristics of a Bordeaux. Like French Bordeaux, South African Bordeaux-style wines have also won awards and have nothing to hide. Try it and decide for yourself.

You can also find Bordeaux-style blends of exceptional quality at these Cape wine farms, among others:

Thelema -Stellenbosch, Holden Manz -Franschhoek, Simonsig -Stellenbosch, Beyerskloof -Stellenbosch, Groot Constantia -Constantia, Morgenster -Somerset West, Mulderbosch -Stellenbosch, Spier -Stellenbosch, Zorgvliet -Stellenbosch, Tokara -Stellenbosch.

A piece of South Africa – Pinotage

If you are a fan of South Africa, you cannot ignore this grape variety – it is a must! Pinotage was crossed from two grape varieties by Prof. Perold in 1925. The Pinot Noir grape and the Hermitage grape, also known as Cinsault. Hence the name Pinotage. The cross between these two grape varieties makes Pinotage extremely resilient. It is now grown throughout the Cape wine regions of South Africa. However, it is mainly found in Malmesbury, Stellenbosch and Paarl, as it thrives in summer temperatures. Pinotage can be used to produce many different styles of wine. The light ‘lunch wine’, for example, tastes of fresh raspberries, red berries and strawberries – fresh and fruity. But there are also richer, full-bodied varieties with nuances of blackcurrant, banana or caramel, and even hints of cinnamon. The wine style variations of Pinotage are almost inexhaustible. South African dishes are an ideal accompaniment to Pinotage. Grilled fish (e.g. snoek), grilled meat or aromatic stews are very good accompaniments with excellent balance. Bring the Cape wine countries into your home and revel in memories with a glass of Pinotage.