Wine production in South Africa began in 1659, and over time, they’ve produced some of the greatest wines in the world. Recently, access to new international markets has spurred a renewed energy and abundance of investment in the industry. Production is concentrated most prominently around Cape Town, with major centers near Paarl, Stellenbosch and Worcester.
South Africa has several interesting distinctions for some of the wines grown within its borders. Around sixty regions have been granted the right to use the “Wind of Origin” title. The name was instituted in 1973 with the aim of promoting local naturally occurring grapes. “Single vineyard” wines come from a vineyard of less than 5 hectares, and “Estate Wine” can come from adjacent farms, on the condition that they are farmed jointly and the wine is produced on site.
One can’t speak of South African wine without mentioning the Constantia brand. In the year 1685, Governor Simon van der Stel established the Constantia estate, in a valley on False Bay. His “Vin de Constance” quickly gained a decent reputation. However, the estate climbed to a nigh legendary status when it was purchased by Hendrick Cloete, who subsequently produced an unfortified wine made primarily from Pontac, Muscat de Frontignan, and Muscadel. This brand of Constantia was for many years considered to one of the world’s greatest bottles.
Popular grape varieties in South Africa include Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Crouchen, Palomino, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, amongst others. Many of these wines have local synonyms which are still in use today, and are often printed on the label underneath the internationally recognized name.
Productions of red grape varieties have been on the rise in recent years. In the late 1990′s, fewer than 18% of the grapes grown in the country were red. That number rise to 40% by 2003, and is still climbing upwards today. For most of the 20th century, Cinsaut was the most commonly planted red grape, due to its high yield, but the spread of quality wine production has seen its plantings dwindle to just 3% of South Africa’s vineyards. Shiraz, Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon have risen to prominence in its place, with the Cabernet variety covering 13% of all plantings in the year 2006. Other popular red varietals include Carignan, Pontac, and Zinfandel.
Pinotage, which is a crossbreed of Cinsaut and Pinot Noir, has gained a strong footing in the industry. It is currently the second most widely planted variety of red grape in South Africa. While it’s notoriously hard to grow and is notably flawed, many supporters wish to make it their country’s signature wine. Pinotage was largely overlooked throughout the second half of the twentieth century, but it gained strength in the late 90′s, and now typically goes for higher prices than any other South African grape. It has also been made into a fortified port wine, and a sparkling red.
While the illustrious history of South Africa’s wine industry has already spanned several centuries, producers seem to have gained a new sense of confidence in recent years. The fruits of their effort have been a joy for the senses, and are likely to rise to even greater fame.
