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Varietal: Pinotage
Although most commonly associated with South Africa, where it has become something of a symbol of the country's wine industry, Pinotage is grown in several countries around the world and is favored by vintners due to its vigorous nature and hardiness, and the fact that the grapes produce high yields of reliable quality. Pinotage grapes are also very versatile, and are often used to make sparkling and fortified wines, as well as the more common still red wines which are enjoyed across the globe. The Pinotage varietal grape is actually a cross-breed, first made by crossing Pinot Noir and Cinsaut varietals in the early 20th century, in an attempt to capture the finer points of both grapes. The results are often splendid, with Pinotage commonly holding flavors of dark hedgerow fruits, with a smoky and earthy character.
Region: Coastal Region
South Africa is a fascinating country for wine, and the coastal regions at the very tip of the African continent are widely regarded as being one of the finest wine regions in the world. It isn't difficult to understand why the early European settlers in the 17th century saw such potential for viticulture in the area; the heat is fantastic, the summer days wonderfully long, the soil rich in minerals, and the strong winds coming from the ocean provide much needed coolness in which the grapes could ripen slowly and fully. Over time, South Africa's coastal regions became covered in strong, healthy vineyards, and today, the wine industry of the region is booming. The past few decades have seen wineries experimenting with a wide range of grape varietals, and also producing fortified wines and sparkling wines of great character alongside their classic varieties.
Country: South Africa
With its hot, long summers and oceanic winds from both the west and the east, South Africa is something of a haven for a wide range of imported grape varietals. Since the mid-18th century, the country has been associated with some very fine wines made using complex and careful blending techniques, with one of the most famous and widely loved early examples being constructed from Pontac, Muscadel and Chenin Blanc varietals. Since those colonial days, the regions around Cape Town have proven again and again to be fantastic areas for producing interesting and delicious wines, with many of the best examples of Champagne style sparkling wines originating from these fertile lands. From the scorchingly hot regions of Orange Rivers, to the far cooler and temperate appellations in Walker Bay, South Africa has developed a booming wine industry responsible for many of the finest New World wines available anywhere across the globe.