Invictus is one of my favorite films. Starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman (as Nelson Mandela), Invictus tells the story of how Mandela used Rugby to unite South Africa after Apartheid had ended and he became President. Many things changed after Mandela came to power, including the South African wine industry. Before the end of Apartheid, South African Wine was scarcely available in the U.S., but that has been changing over the past 20 years, with trade bans lifted, and now South Africa’s export wine business is booming. And the wine industry in South Africa, traditionally dominated by white males, has been intentionally developing talented black winemakers to reflect the nation’s true identity. See this great CNN article about South Africa’s first black female winemaker, Ntsiki Biyela.
South Africa has been producing wine since the mid 1600’s, but the industry truly organized in the late 1970’s. Although South Africa produces excellent wines across the board, from Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon to Chardonnay, there are two varieties of wine that are somewhat unique to this region. Pinotage is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut, both grapes of French origin. South Africa is the first place that Pinotage was bred and planted. It is a red grape, and is very difficult to get right. The best of them are full-flavored and bold, and the worst of them can taste a bit metallic and paint-like. So if you’re going to try one, it’s best to get one that is highly rated. My best suggestion would be Kanonkop Pinotage Simonsberg-Stellenbosch 2012. I found it at http://www.specsonline.com for $40, and it received a 92 in Wine Spectator.
Chenin Blanc is the most planted variety of wine grape in South Africa, the largest Chenin Blanc producer worldwide. South Africa is known for making some of the best Chenin Blanc outside of France. Originating in the French Loire Valley, it is a very versatile grape, and can be shaped by the winemaker to be an expression of the “terroir”, or the type of soil it came from. Because of this, the flavor can vary quite a bit. The best of them are complex and deep in flavor, particularly for white wines. If you’re looking for a familiar name, try PGA golfer Ernie Els’ Big Easy White, which is 100% Chenin Blanc, and sells for about $16.
Even though South African wine exports are increasing, they are still harder to find in the U.S. than many other nationalities, so keep in mind two words-Stellenbosch and Constantia. These are two of the best wine-growing regions in South Africa, and the wines from these two places are consistently good.
If you want to get an excellent crash course in South African wines, go to the Wines of South Africa website, where in about an hour, you can take an online class and get a certificate to boot! Keep an eye on South Africa, the world’s seventh-largest wine producer. I have a feeling that great things are coming!
The Regular Wine Guy 