On the grapevine
SAM WYLIE-HARRIS ON... SOUTH AFRICAN WINES TO CHEER ON THE CAPE
SOUTH AFRICA’S wine history dates back more than 300 years, but it’s really only recently that this exciting New World wine region began realising its potential.
With a reputation for offering exceptional value and quality propelling it onto the international stage, it’s fair to say South Africa is now truly making its mark as a hot-spot for fine wines.
From captivating chenin blanc to rich, ripe reds, these South African wines are worth seeking out...
1THE
SOCIETY’S CHENIN BLANC 2020,
Stellenbosch, South Africa,
£7.50, The Wine Society
With mouthwatering acidity, this chenin blanc is overflowing with apple, bright citrus and ripe stone fruits and tastes beautifully fresh.
2M&
S CLASSICS WORKHORSE CHENIN 2020,
Stellenbosch, South Africa, £8, Marks & Spencer stores Marks & Spencer’s Classics wine range is rapidly gaining recognition – coaxing all that’s best from the world’s greatest wine regions, at the most accessible prices – and here, South Africa’s hero white grape is just as stimulating, with apricot, pear and vanilla flavours. Sue Daniels, M&S Winemaker, says, this is “an elegant, zesty chenin blanc made by the renowned winemaker Ken Forrester – not to be missed!” 3CLASSICS
Swartland, South Africa, £8, Marks & Spencer stores The second one to bag from M&S is an intense, fruity pinotage, to open our eyes to the potential of South Africa’s signature red grape. A cross between pinot noir and cinsault, it’s the type of red that locks you in with flavours of rich blackcurrants, cherries and summer fruits.
PINOTAGE 2020, 4FAIRVIEW
BARREL AGED PINOTAGE 2019,
Western Cape, South Africa, £9.99, Waitrose Elsewhere, Victoria Mason, South African wine buyer for Waitrose, says every bottle sold will help the industry get slowly back on its feet. “Our South African producers cannot recoup lost sales this year (due to both an export ban and two domestic sales bans), they’re just too great. But the quality of South African wine has never been higher.”
With lovely depth of flavour and perfectly suited to early autumn barbecues, this wine’s gorgeous aromas of ripe plums, cloves and spice, with a generous core of fruit kissed by the South African sun, will have you reaching for the next glass.