The Cap fits for South Africa’s best makers of fizz

Cap Classique, South Africa’s premium sparkling wine, is celebrating 50 years this year. Yet despite its long history and great value, this traditional-method fizz is not as wellknown as it should be.

That was my verdict after joining Cape winemakers to celebrate their sparkling milestone with a tasting selected from Cap Classique Producers Association’s 84 members.

“It is a vibrant category in South Africa producing 10.25 million bottles annually,” explains Pieter Ferreira of Graham Beck, CCPA chairperson. But although the UK is its number one market, with impressive growth sales last year, Cap Classique’s name is barely known compared to champagne, prosecco or cava.

“Many consumers do not know the difference between sparkling wines and Cap Classique, but it is time to change that,” says Ferreira.

South Africa is one of the only New World countries to use a separate name for their ‘methodechampenoise’ fizz. The name derives from MCC (meaning Methode Cap Classique).

Its beginnings were modest back in the early 1970s, when Frans Malan of Simonsig Estate in Stellenbosch made the first recorded bottlefermented Cape fizz.

Malan used the same champagne method with second fermentation in bottle, but he did not use classic champagne grapes. “My father worked primarily with chenin blanc and crouchen blanc which were growing in the Cape,” says Johannes Malan. “It was a hard sell as the whole market was dominated by carbonated wine,” admits Malan.today Cap Classique can be made using any grapes – but the best come from classic grapes: chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier.

So how does it fit into our sparkling wine market? Well above prosecco and cava, say CCPA. At £12-£24 it fits neatly below English sparkling wine and champagne.

Undoubtedly Cap Classique is one of the fizz world’s best kept secrets and still under-priced – compared to other premium bottle fermented sparkling wines.

WHITE FIZZ Graham Beck Brut NV

Fruit forward creamy blend with soft rounded palate from chardonnay and pinot noir on limestone; aperitif-style crowd pleaser.

£11.99/£16.99, Majestic Wine

Villiera Tradition NV STAR BUY

Rich earthy savoury pinot noirdominant fizz from Jeff Grier’s Villiera, consistently good familyrun fizz-focused estate, with next generation Xander Grier’s innovative techniques upping quality.

£15.99, reduced from £17.99, Simply Wines Direct

Kleine Zalze Brut NV

Biscuity aromas, zippy citric fresh high acid, impressively elegant from 70 per cent chardonnay crafted by cellarmaster Alastair Rimmer in Stellenbosch.

£19.50, Woodwinters

Simonsig Cuvée Royale 2017 STAR BUY

With intense lime lemon and roasted almonds this single vineyard chardonnay is grown on weathered shale; no malolactic preserves acidity and four years lees ageing gives rich nuttiness and complexity.

£24, Cap Classique UK

Le Lude MCC Brut NV

Specialist boutique MCC Franschhoek-based producer with talented winemaker Paul Gerber; so elegant with poised citric fruits, refined complex blend with minimum three years lees-age. £29.99, Hard to Find Wines

ROSÉ FIZZ Boschendal Rosé NV

Sleek 60 per cent pinot noir and 30 per cent chardonnay blend with 10 per cent pinotage to add meat on the bones; 20 per cent reserve wines gives texture and complexity; rich strawberry fruits, creamy.

£15.95, Hercules Wines; Wine Box; Simply Wines Direct

L’ormarins Brut Classique Rosé NV

Regular winner at our fizz tastings; one of my favourite Cap Classique roses, from Antonij Rupert estate in Franschhoek; charming spicy rich creamy pinot noir-dominant. £22.70, Bancroft Wines

Rosé of Sharon 2011 Domaine des Dieux

Winemaker Sharon Parnell crafts zesty 58 per cent pinot noir/42 per cent chardonnay blend from her maritime-influenced Hemel-enaarde vineyard; six years ageing, intense red fruits, dry, elegant, punches above its price.

£18.50, Stone Vine & Sun

Join Rose’s Bulgaria’s native grapes tasting: Friday 30 April with guest Dr Caroline Gilby MW, www. rosemurraybrown.com