Wines from Afrique du Sud

South Africa is considered a New World vineyard, however the first harvests recorded took place in 1659. Production was boosted in the early 1990s, after the liberation of Nelson Mandela. It is the first producer on the African continent offering unique climatic conditions for the cultivation of pinotage. It is one of the most recent indigenous grape varieties (created in 1952 by Abraham Perold) from the cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault.

The country is broken down into 5wine “regions”: Olifants River, Coastal Region, Breede River Valley, Cape South Coast, Klein Karoo. Then in "districts" (sub-regions), in "wards" (appellations) and finally the "estates" (properties).

The main grape varieties are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Pinotage for red wines; Chenin Blanc, Colombard, Chardonnay for white wines.

Hereare 5 South African appellations that we recommend: Constantia, Darling, Cape Point, Stellenbosch, Paarl.