Cultural influences boost SA’s wine
France and Italy play big role in setting standards
One of the exciting things about the character of South African wines is the cultures that underpin their style and flavours.
Chief among the influences are the French – thanks to the arrival of French Huguenots in South Africa in the 17th century.
Their heritage extended to winemaking and many Cape wine estates reflect French names to this day.
Italians too own several of the Cape wine estates and have planted Italian grape varietals on their farms where they craft wines reflective of the flair of their native country.
Two of the iconic Italianowned wine estates that stand out from the crowd are undoubtedly Morgenster and Idiom. They not only make award-winning wines but also produce olive oils of international standard. Their wines are mostly made from indigenous Italian grapes like Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Barbera and Pinot Grigio.
Morgenster, owned by Italian businessman Giulio Bertrand, recently unveiled new wines at the Clico Hotel in Rosebank after rebranding labels as well as installing a new press for their internationally famous extra virgin olive.
“It is the first of its kind in South Africa and is very efficient [and] we retain even better flavour than the estate’s first certified single vineyard wine. And the quality of our 2017 olive oil is fantastic!” Bertrand said.
He and cellarmaster Henry Kotze have rebranded the estate’s wines – among them, his Italian cultivar’s new releases of Tosca and Nabucco 2014 and Caruso 2017.
Bertrand bought Morgenster and made this Cape farm his home in 1992. Then he transformed it into a leading wine and olive estate.
Meanwhile, the Wade Bales Cap Classique & Gin Affair, held at the Hyde Park Hotel at the weekend, was a festive gig awash with 50 different kinds of the finest bubbly and some cool craft gins.
One of South Africa’s talented chefs, Tebello Motsoane, introduced his newly launched sparkling wine, Atelier.
But my Top 5 from the flotilla of bubbly showcased at the event are Pierre Jourdan Blanc de Blancs, L’Avenir Brut Rose 2014, Graham Beck Brut Rose 2011, Krone RD 2001 and Steenberg Lady R MCC 2012.