Introduction
For those wine drinkers who are not aficionados, South African wines can be a bit of a mystery. While many consider South Africa to be no more than a place to go on wildlife safaris or visit amazing beaches, the region actually has a long history of making great wine.
South Africa falls under one of the New World wine regions. New World regions tend to have a shorter growing history than the traditional Old World European regions and often these spots have warmer climates. Even though South Africa is considered a New World wine region, it’s no newcomer when it comes to growing grapes. Wine grape vines were first transported and planted here around the middle of the 17th century and not long after that the sweet wines of Constantia were available all over Europe.
We stock three different wines from South Africa. Our South African Pinotage red wine, Our South African Chenin Blanc white wine and a rosé wine, our South African Shiraz Rosé.
Why are South African wines so popular?
South Africa benefits from one of the best wine growing climates and landscapes in the world. The long, open mountain slopes and deep lush valleys form the ideal environment for wine grapes to be grown and the sea breezes from the Atlantic and Indian oceans cool the vineyards during the hot summer afternoons. The constant breezes slow the grape ripening process, creating those intense fruit flavours that are so popular with wine lovers worldwide.
Most South African wines are produced in the Cape winelands which are located in the Southern tip of Africa. The Cape winelands enjoy an almost Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters – perfect for vine growing.
Where exactly are our South African wines from?
The vineyards of South Africa are mostly situated in the Western Cape which is near the coast. The Cape winelands stretch from the mountainous, multi-directional slopes of the coastal region to the vast plains of the Klein Karoo where vines are grown mainly in the Riverine valleys. The Cape winelands are some of the most naturally beautiful sights in the world and wine tourism is one of South Africa’s fastest developing industries.
Our South African wines are from the Western-most part of the country, called the Western Cape. The terrain is mostly sandy and the soil rich with minerals. Rainfall measures up to 40 inches a year and the mild Mediterranean style weather is perfect for growing the best types of grapes for our wines. Our South African wine range offers some of the best value red and white wines at the highest possible quality.
Our South African Chenin Blanc:
If you’re a fan of great wine, it’s hard not to love our Chenin Blanc. For centuries this grape has been known as ‘Steen’ and it wasn’t until the 1960s that it was discovered to actually be the famous French grape, Chenin Blanc. If you enjoy a glass of Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris, then Chenin Blanc is definitely a grape that you must try. This South African wine is quite dry with hints of peach.
Our South African Chenin is an amazingly fresh wine, bursting with tropical fruits and a juicy long finish. It’s an outstanding accompaniment to a wide variety of white meat dishes, smoked salmon, soft to semi-firm cow’s milk cheeses, triple-cream brie and herb-crusted goat cheeses.
What temperature should our South African Chenin Blanc be served at?
To ensure you experience the best characteristics of the wine, this Chenin Blanc is best served chilled (7-10 °C). Most refrigerators are set to a temperature of 1-4 °C, therefore, we wouldn’t recommend leaving it in the fridge for longer than 2 hours before serving it.
Is it okay to chill a bottle that’s been taken out of the fridge, has been opened and has come to room temperature?
Sure. It may not be ideal, but it won’t do much harm either. We recommend putting the bottle back into the fridge after it’s been opened. Then, if you’d like to serve some more glasses you could take it out again. This keeps the wine at its freshest.
How long will an open bottle of our South African Chenin Blanc Wine last?
Once opened, this wine will begin to lose its intensity in a matter of a few days. It will only be at its best for about 3-4 days. For any wine not consumed, store in the fridge after replacing the screw cap, this will extend the life of the wine by a few days.
How do I know if the wine is past its best?
The best way to tell if the wine is past its best is to use your three ‘wine-tasting senses’, sight, smell, and taste. First observe the wine. You can tell a lot about the wine by the way it looks, the colour can tell you if the wine has been exposed to excess air, the colour would be slightly darker than an unopened bottle. Or, if there are bubbles in the bottle, this is also a sign that the wine has begun to oxidise. Secondly, smell the wine, if it smells slightly vinegar, don’t drink it. Third, taste, if it tastes slightly too acidic and a little like vinegar, don’t continue drinking it.
How should I store this South African Chenin Blanc?
Due to its screwcap, the wine will be fine stored standing up. We recommend keeping it away from any bright light (both natural and artificial) and keep at a cool and constant temperature, ideally between 10-15 °C).
Should I decant this wine?
You don’t need to decant this wine, but any wine can be decanted. The reason for decanting is to aerate the wine. A lot of young wines can be tight or closed on the nose or palate. By slowly pouring the wine into a decanter it takes in oxygen which helps to open up the aromas and flavours.
Has this South African Chenin Blanc won any awards for quality?
It certainly has. Our South African Chenin Blanc has won the following awards – 2017 Decanter World Wine Awards (Commended), 2017 International Wine Challenge (Commended), 2016 International Wine & Spirits Competition (Bronze Medal).
Our South African Pinotage:
The Pinotage grape is South Africa’s signature grape variety. Developed in 1925 as a cross of the Pinot Noir and the Cinsaut grapes, this wine has grown to become a worldwide favourite. Good Pinotage does wonders for the senses and it will treat your palate and nose to rich berry tastes and bouquets. It typically possesses smoky, bramble and earthy flavours, occasionally with notes of bananas and tropical fruit. It is medium to full-bodied and it pairs easy with almost any food you can think of. For this reason the Pinotage wine has gained huge popularity over the last few years.
What temperature should our South African Pinotage be served at?
Our South African Pinotage should be served at room temperature (15-18 °C) to ensure that you experience the best characteristics out of the wine. It is very important to unlock the full flavours and the aromas of the wine.
We recommend opening the bottle for at least half an hour to an hour before drinking. This allows the wine to breathe before it is served. Exposing it to the air for a short time will allow the wine to oxidize, soften flavours and release aromas in a way similar to swirling wine in your glass.
How long will an open bottle of our South African Pinotage Red Wine last?
Once opened, this wine will begin to lose its intensity in a matter of a few days. It will only be at its best for about 3-4 days. For any wine not consumed, store in the fridge after replacing the screw cap, this will extend the life of the wine by a few days. Remember to take it out of the fridge at least an hour before drinking to allow it to return to room temperature.
How do I know if the wine is past its best?
The best way is to smell and taste the wine. Wine that is past its best often has a slightly vinegar smell and over acid taste.
How should I store this South African Pinotage?
Due to its screwcap, the wine will be fine stored standing up. We recommend keeping it away from any bright light (both natural and artificial) and keep at a cool and constant temperature, ideally between 10-15 °C).
Should I decant this wine?
You don’t need to decant this wine, but any wine can be decanted. The reason for decanting is to aerate the wine. A lot of young wines can be tight or closed on the nose or palate. By slowly pouring the wine into the decanter it takes in oxygen which helps to open up the aromas and flavours.
Has this South African Pinotage won any awards for quality?
It certainly has. Our South African Pinotage has won the following awards – 2018 International Wine Challenge (Commended) and 2016 International Wine & Spirit Competition (Bronze Medal).
Our South African Shiraz Rosé:
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying a pink drink every now and then, especially if it’s a Shiraz rosé like ours. This delicious South African Shiraz Rosé will simply delight you with fruity bliss. If you favour dry wine varieties and want to steer clear of an overly sweet rosé, then you’re going to love this one. Be careful not to over-chill and you’ll be rewarded with a subtle salmon coloured wine that promises fresh strawberry aromas and redcurrant flavours with a crisp finish.
This Shiraz Rosé is versatile, making it perfect for both an aperitif and as a partner for food. The wine is fresh and crisp, and just dry enough that it perfectly pairs with a wide variety of foods such as fish and chicken dishes.
What temperature should our South African Shiraz Rosé be served at?
To ensure you experience the best characteristics out of the wine, this Shiraz Rosé is best served chilled (7-10 °C). Most refrigerators are set to a temperature of 1-4 °C, therefore we wouldn’t recommend leaving it in the fridge for longer than 2 hours before serving it.
Is it okay to chill a bottle that’s been taken out of the fridge, has been opened and has come to room temperature?
Sure. It may not be ideal, but it won’t do much harm either. We recommend putting the bottle back into the fridge after it’s been opened, if you’d like to serve some more glasses you could take it out again. This keeps the wine at its freshest.
How long will an open bottle of our South African Shiraz Rosé Wine last?
Once opened, this wine will begin to lose its intensity in a matter of a few days. It will last for about 3-4 days. For any wine not consumed, store in the fridge after replacing the screw cap, this will extend the life of the wine by a few days.
How do I know if the wine has gone past its best?
The best way to tell if the wine has gone past its best, is to use your ‘wine-tasting senses’, sight, smell, and taste. First observe the wine. You can tell a lot from the way the wine looks, the colour can tell you if the wine has been exposed to excess air, the colour would be slightly darker than an unopened bottle. Or, if there are bubbles in the bottle, this is also a sign that the wine has started to oxidise. Secondly, smell the wine, if it smells slightly vinegar, don’t drink it. Thirdly, taste, if it tastes a little sour and overly acidic, perhaps with a slight hint of vinegar, don’t continue drinking it.
How should I store this South African Shiraz Rosé?
Due to its screwcap, the wine will be fine stored standing up. We recommend keeping it away from any bright light (both natural and artificial) and keep at a cool and constant temperature, ideally between 10-15 °C).
Should I decant this wine?
You don’t need to decant this wine, but any wine can be decanted. The reason for decanting is to aerate the wine. A lot of young wines can be tight or closed on the nose or palate. By slowly pouring the wine into the decanter it takes in oxygen which helps to open up the aromas and flavours.
Has this South African Shiraz Rosé won any awards for quality?
It certainly has. Our South African Shiraz Rosé has won the following awards –2017 International Wine Challenge (Commended), 2016 Decanter World Wine Awards (Commended), 2016 International Wine & Spirit Competition (Bronze Medal).