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Varietal: Pinotage
Pinotage was created in the early 20th century by a viticultural professor in South Africa. It was made by crossing the fine Pinot Noir and Cinsaut grape varietals, to produce a grape which was hardy enough to survive and flourish in the South African climate, and which produced wines of excellent flavor and a deep red color The Pinotage grape is renowned for its versatility, and is regularly used to produce fortified and sparkling wines, as well as the more usual still red wines which are easily identified by their smoky flavor, and notes of dark bramble berries and earthy characteristics. Occasionally, Pinotage grapes will hold some tropical fruit flavors, which make them ideal for drinking with a range of different foods. Whilst Pinotage is most readily associated with South Africa, it has also been successfully cultivated in many other parts of the world.
Region: Coastal Region
The coastal parts of South Africa, and in particular the region around Cape Town, have been important wine regions for a surprising length of time. Indeed, viticulture first began at the tip of the African continent back in the mid 17th century, when European settlers first began experimenting with the cooler and windier terroirs near the ocean, and recognizing the potential the area had for growing grapes of real character and distinction. Those early experiments slowly but surely led to a powerful wine industry, and South African wines became famous throughout Europe for their quality and big, fruity, bold flavors Today, the coastal regions of South Africa produce a huge amount of wine, made in sparkling, still and fortified styles, and utilizing a wide range of grape varietals.
Country: South Africa
Situated on the very tip of the African continent, South Africa has proved itself over three centuries to be an ideal location for producing a wide range of wines. Benefiting from something not dissimilar to a Mediterranean climate, with long, hot summers complemented by both Atlantic and Indian Ocean winds, the grapes which grow on the valleys, mountainsides and plains of this fascinating country can ripen to their fullest capacity, producing wines packed full of fruity flavors and an array of interesting and enticing aromas. As a former colony, South Africa has long since been home to a range of different nationalities, who each brought something of their wine culture with them. As such, many European grape varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling and others have been given time to flourish in South Africa, allowing the country to develop a diverse group of wine types which are proving increasingly popular around the world.