Recent developments in the South African wine industry; the main wine growing regions, grape varieties and wine styles.
The South African wine industry is only just beginning to emerge from the country's self-imposed commercial isolation of the Apartheid era. Despite the fact that sanctions were lifted nearly a decade ago, South Africa's wine makers are only now seriously starting to compete on the world wine market.
Even nowadays, the majority of wineries, with any international experience, tend to be the small independent producers that have been able to adapt more readily to a free export market. Approximately 85% of the South African's wine production still remains in the hands of co-operatives that are finding it difficult to compete on the open market. However, a number of co-operatives have recently become public companies. With the assistance of flying winemakers, modernisation and inward investment, their wineries are now turning out some quality international style wines, that are able to compete worldwide.
Background to wine production in South Africa
South Africa is one of the oldest "New World" wine regions, with a history of vine growing that dates back to the middle of the seventeenth century. An entry in the colonial governor, Jan de Riebeek's diary, on 2nd February 1659, records the first pressing of wine from Cape grown grapes.
But, it was not until the nineteenth century that the country's wines were recognised or even became popular, outside South Africa.
In 1918, the Ko-öperatiewe Wijnbouwers Vereniging (Co-operative Winegrowers Association) was formed to standardise and supervise the production and marketing methods of the country's wine industry.
However, it was not until the end of the mid 1980s that classically produced French style, barrel-aged red wines (particularly from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape) began to emerge from the wineries of South Africa. Barrel-fermented whites (largely Chardonnay) are an even later occurrence.
As recently as 1992, vineyard plantings remained restricted by production quotas imposed by the Co-operative Grape Growers Association - a body with statutory powers, representing growers who supply the KWV co-operatives. These quotas favoured the bulk producing wine regions and preferred to supply the country's big brandy trade. Consequently, even today, only around 20% of South Africa's 247,000 acres (100,000 hectares) of vineyards are planted with the world's best selling varietals. This goes some way towards explaining why most of the wines of international quality are today being produced in newly planted vineyards and modern wineries.
Main wine growing regions:
Nearly all of South Africa's wine-producing regions are concentrated in the areas around Cape Town, in the south west of the country.
Paarl and Stellenbosch
These two coastal areas are probably the most established and best-known regions. Although Paarl does not produce as many quality wines as Stellenbosch, some of its wineries are amongst the best in South Africa. Slightly warmer than Stellenbosch, Paarl offers a wide variety of wine styles, ranging from those produced in the hot valley wineries to those from the cooler, mountainside sites. Paarl is noted for the quality of its Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The region of Stellenbosch is known as South Africa's centre of excellence, not only for its red wines, but increasingly, nowadays, for its white and sparkling wines. The whole Stellenbosch area enjoys an amazing variety of soil types and terrain. Some of the area's most successful new vineyards are located north west of Stellenbosch, in the Bottelary Hills.
Robertson:
This hot and fertile, inland region is often referred to as the "Valley of Vines and Roses". The area suffers from a serious lack of rainfall and is heavily dependent on irrigation from the Breede River. Robertson is well known for its successful white wines - its Chardonnay and Colombard, in particular.
Constantia:
Home of the first Cape vineyards, this region, particularly the area on the outskirts of Cape Town, is currently undergoing a revival and is fast gaining a fine reputation for top quality wines.
Franschhoek (French Corner)
Although, strictly speaking, Franschhoek is a sub-region of Paarl, it does exhibit a style and identity all of its own. The region has north facing slopes that are ideal for the cultivation of red grapes and cooler south slopes, better suited to classic, white grape varieties.
Olifantsriver/Orange River
South Africa's largest winery, the Vredenal Co-operative, is situated in this region. Because of the dry climate, irrigation is essential. Yields, as a result, tend to be high.
Swartland/Tulbagh
A relative newcomer to the Cape's wine industry, this region is currently producing some exceptionally good value red and white wines. The vineyards are un-irrigated and therefore able to produce wines with superb a concentration of flavours.
Walker Bay:
This cool region, south east of Cape Town, includes the districts of Elgin and Bot River. It is famous for its quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Worcester:
Although almost one fifth of the country's vineyards are in this region, most of its output tends to be no better than decent, basic, everyday quaffing wine. Recently, however, the region's co-operatives have been turning out some exceptionally good Ruby Cabernets.
Climate and terroir:
In general, the vineyards of South Africa are cooler than their location, relatively near to the equator, might suggest. The cooler climate is largely due to the regions' proximity to the moderating effect of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans and the Benguela current coming from the Antarctic.
The Cape vineyards benefit from a large range of topography and soil types, which in part, accounts for the wide varieties of wine styles, both red and white.
Main grape varieties:
A frustrating shortage of vine material, in particular rootstock, goes some way towards explaining the relatively slow progress within South Africa's wine industry, in recent years.
The classic international grape varieties - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc still only represent just over a fifth of the country's vineyards. The indigenous Pinotage, a cross between Cinsaut and Pinot Noir, is also in short supply. It is, however, considered to be one of the Cape's most attractive red wine styles.
The best white wines, produced from Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Clairette Blanche and Steen, come from the areas around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Tulbagh. South African white wines are meant to be drunk young, when they are vibrant and refreshing.
The most popular red grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Gamay, Pinot Noir and Pinotage. Red wines are produced mainly in Constantia, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Durbanville. South Africa's reds range in style from light to full bodied.
Current trends within the Cape's wine industry:
The presence of foreign wine consultants, once rare, is becoming commonplace within the country's wine industry. Wine styles are also changing to meet the demands of the export market. International recognition and hard currency earning are softening wine styles amongst the majority of the country's wine producers. Nowadays, they are concentrating more on fruit quality rather than lean, unripe tannic bite.
A minority of wine producers, nevertheless, remain intent on protecting what they regard as their distinctive Cape wine heritage.
