South Africa

The iconic Table Mountain backdrop to Cape Town

The Covid-19 pandemic has crossed all boundaries, industries, and most livelihoods, not least the wine world. Of all the winemaking countries in the world affected right now arguably the one suffering the most is South Africa. This has been due to the general government ban on alcohol and – for a period – ban on all exports of alcoholic beverages.

With the industry on the ropes I thought it timely to champion this country and select some Wine Trust highlights. In addition, you may have noticed that Wine Trust has long championed South Africa and continually promoted its wines. This is largely down to the passion that owner John Valentine has for the country – and his travels there and long association with their agricultural industries.

Maybe one of the immediate surprises of this New World country is just how old it is when coming to winemaking. South Africa has the oldest winemaking tradition and heritage of any New World country, with the first vintage being produced in 1659.

By 1685 the Constantia estate was established by the Governor of the Cape – Simon van der Stel and it was he who first produced the famous Vin de Constance. By the 18th century – under Hendrik Cloete – the wines were world famous – and by 1859 South Africa was exporting 1 million gallons of wine to the UK alone!

However, when the parasitic bug phylloxera struck in 1866 the country’s wine industry was plunged into crisis. For much of the 20th century the industry remained small scale and introspective – not least due to the international reaction, and imposition of trading restrictions in response, to Apartheid. For many years production and sales were mainly domestic, and quality did suffer, although in 1918 growers in the Western Cape founded the KWV co-operative, partly to control and improve quality of production (today all regulatory work is managed by the South African Wine & Spirit Board). The most dramatic change came about – not unsurprisingly – post the collapse of the Apartheid regime in the 1990s. With export markets thrown wide open, and (most importantly) significantly increased investment in vineyards with the planting of new vine stock the quality threshold rose dramatically. The new industry position clearly encouraged plenty of new entrants and healthy competition developed.

Today, plantings and production in South Africa regularly puts it in the top 10 of all wine producing countries of the world. New regions are regularly being defined – and since 1973 they have been formally called WOs (Wine of Origin). Today there are over 70 – and growing – of these.

Positioned at the very tip of the African continent, the majority of South Africa’s viticulture is located near the coast, particularly to the west where it benefits from the influences of the cooler Atlantic Ocean rather than the warmer Indian Ocean (to the east). One of the coolest regions is Constantia, which juts out into the Atlantic south of Cape Town. Not unsurprisingly this is one of the country’s finer areas to produce aromatic white wines – especially Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. A little further inland is the famous district of Stellenbosch, which has been growing vines since 1679 and is now the administrative regional centre for the whole industry. With over 50 different soil types it is not surprising that a complex range of white and red wines are made – including fine examples of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, red Bordeaux blends, as well as South Africa’s ubiquitous white grape Chenin Blanc. It is probably South Africa’s finest area for Cabernet based Bordeaux blends.

Further inland the warmer Paarl area (with its sub districts of Franschhoek and Wellington) focuses on the production of mainly red wines – including some interesting developments with the Syrah (aka Shiraz) variety. However, increasing focus and investment in South Africa is on cooler areas and the use of altitude to promote extended growing seasons and more complex flavours in the grapes. One of the finest areas is the Walker Bay area to the south-east of Stellenbosch. Here two regions are catching the eye – Elgin, with its cool, crisp Sauvignon Blancs and measured Chardonnays; and Hemel-en-Aarde, where classical Burgundian Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are increasingly well made.

Classic South African Vineyard shot and Architecture

The Atlantic influenced West Coast region includes the wine making areas of Durbanville, Olifants River, Piketberg and Swartland. Historically a bulk wine production region, the focus has moved towards premium wine production, with plantings of Sauvignon Blanc in the Groenekloof area near Darling and Rhône varietals and the local Pinotage in unirrigated farmland of the increasingly respected Swartland district. Increasing use of altitude is again being exploited with refined higher altitude Chenin Blanc emerging from the remote Cederberg region for example.

Historically the Loire white grape Chenin Blanc was the most planted variety and, not unsurprisingly, in the 1990s 80% of production was white wine. Whilst it still remains the most planted varietal it is in decline and today red and white are about 50:50, with red varieties rapidly increasing their share. Maybe more importantly it has moved away from being simply the mass market fill to some increasingly serious and spectacular estate examples. What many producers have found is that there are pockets of seriously old, often bush vine Chenin Blanc parcels which produce low yielding juice of exceptional quality.

In addition, South Africa has a thriving Sparkling wine industry and since 1992 has embodied this under the “Cap Classique” banner for the bottle fermented and aged production of high quality sparkling wine. Today there are over 80 members adhering to strict “Champagne” methods, standards, and grape blends.

Pinotage!

However, one cannot finish an introduction to this country without a mention of its own homegrown red grape – Pinotage.  By “homegrown”, it was a crossing made in 1925 between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, although it bears little resemblance to either grape’s style in its new entity.  It has a rather brawny, robust, and maybe brusque style and is a true “marmite” variety. But it does have its advocates and followers for sure. Importantly, its unique style is part of South Africa’s vinous canvass and remains an active ingredient in the exciting melting pot which is South Africa today. And I am bound to say that the Wine Trust example Abraham and the Heretics is one of the better and more supple examples around:

Abraham Heretics Pinotage

I finish with a “dinner party” selection – if you can still use this term under Covid – this mix would make for a serious and highly enjoyable insight into just how good South African wines are. A classic menu style starting with the bone-dry aperitif Chardonnay led bottle fermented sparkler Elation from Creation Wines and Walker Bay fruit.

Creation Elation

Then onto a superb dry, rich, and textural The Foundry Stellenbosch Viognier from star winemaker Chris Williams – perfect with a fish or vegetable entrée.

The Foundry Viognier

Follow with a classic Burgundian styled Family Vineyards Pinot Noir from the cool climate Hemel-en-Aarde region and specialist producer Newton Johnson. Perfect with game, lamb, duck, or a wild mushroom risotto.

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir

And an absolute must – finish with the legendary Vin de Constance Liqueur Muscat from Klein Constantia in Constantia! This is probably South Africa’s most famous wine and Klein Constantia have completed resurrected the style and quality over the last 30 years. Made from desiccated Muscat grapes, with extensive barrel aging this is not only South Africa’s greatest sweet wine, but one of the world’s finest. Match with a classic tarte tatin and after dinner sipping!

Vin de Constance Klein Constantia

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