FlyerTalk Forums - S. African wine

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I know SA has some wonderful wines and was wondering if there are any aficionados out there who have sampled them on their travels. It's difficult to find many of them here in the U.S. so when we visit SA I'd like to have as much information as possible ahead of time on which wines we might be interested in trying first. Thanks

One of my favorite SA wines is Goats Do Roam.

[This message has been edited by BeautifulFeet (edited 04-17-2003).]

Some (repeat Some) of the ones I visited a few weeks ago:

http://www.blaauwklippen.com/

http://www.kleinconstantia.com/

http://www.vergelegen.co.za/

A friend also suggested, although I did NOT visit;

http://www.kanonkop.co.za/the_wines.htm

If you are looking for someone to connect with to do a more "proper" tour, let me know - so I can connect you with the people I used. Otherwise I'm assuming you will just drive from place to place on your own.

[This message has been edited by NickP 1K (edited 04-18-2003).]

Quote:

Originally posted by NickP 1K:
Some (repeat Some) of the ones I visited a few weeks ago:

http://www.blaauwklippen.com/

...

Sheraton properties have a wine from Blaauwklippen on their wine list.

First stop at Vaughn Johnson's wine shop at the waterfront. Speak to Vaughn about your preferences and he will send you to the special places...All the wines worth drinking are under one roof and you can save yourself aimless driving and preserve your palate at the same time by getting insider knowledge.

Thanks everyone and I will take your advice and recommendations.

Also Cabriere Estates in Franschoek does fantastic Pinot Noir and Sparkling wine - pretty good Cognac as well.

http://members.africa-adventure.org/c/cabriere/

I've been a bit disappointed about wines from South Africa. The characteristic is a bit of a vegetal taste (which is also common in wines from the French Basque country - can't remember the origin name). It appears there is an endemic vine disease that doesn't really harm the vine but prevents the fruit from fully ripening.

Quote:

Originally posted by NickP 1K:

http://www.vergelegen.co.za/

I love Vergelegen! My cousin (with whom we stayed) lived (and will move back soon) just a few blocks away from it!
Basically, you can just take your car and drive around, most farms have signs posted and you can just drive up and see if they do a tasting.
I am not big into wine, actually know nothing of it, I like some, dislike others. But the beautiful gardening on some of these wine estates, the gorgeous setting of the vineyards, the friendliness of the people, its just a nice place on earth!
According to my cousin, who loves wine, are the whites from down there very good, but he usually brings a few selected bottles from Europe back with him. Not that he goes by the red ones from down there for everyday use, lol.

Last evening we shared a bottle of Fairview Viognier with some friends. A great wine. It's not as fruity as some of the California offerings.

Quote:

South Africa has much to offer. They label their wines much like we do, by varietal like Cabernet Sauvignon, and they have a distinctive earthy quality. Rarely will a South African wine shoot a monster fruit burst in your mouth, but that's OK. It tells us they want to be different and explore what the grapes are made of.

South Africa also has some special treats. They bottle Chenin Blanc as "Steen" or "Stein," featuring a flowery nose and nice, stern acidity. Steen also becomes a delicious sweet dessert wine, bottled as "Late Harvest."

As early as 1925, South African winemakers developed an entirely homespun grape varietal called Pinotage, a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault (or Hermitage in France). Since then, South Africans have loved Pinotage as Americans love their Zinfandel. But it's something of an acquired taste. Pinotage is similar in body to Pinot Noir, but it carries a unique dirt-like flavor. You pretty much either love it or hate it.

There are over 260 wineries in South Africa's wine country, and that number grows every day. Notable appellations, or wine areas, to look for on South African wine labels are Paarl, Cape Town and Stellenbosch, all located on the southernmost tip of the African continent.

Recommended Wines

Neil Ellis 2002 Stellenbosch Chardonnay. $16. Wow ... is this stuff is dee-licious. Oaky and buttery without being overly bold, with green apple and peach floating in the mouth long after the sip has disappeared. Easily as good as a $40 California Chard. Beautiful.

Goats do Roam 2002 Western Cape. $10. Ragging on France's Cotes du Rhone name, this South African blend uses similar red grapes in this mix. Whiff the strawberry jam aroma on this wine, then dive into the soft, cherry flavors.

Fairview 2002 Pinotage $16. If you've tasted, and hated, Pinotage in the past, stick your tongue out for this one. Not as earthy as typical Pinotage, featuring dark baked cherry and sensuously smooth tannins.

http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/corkscrew.html

Quote:

Originally posted by LH738:

Quote:

Originally posted by NickP 1K:
Some (repeat Some) of the ones I visited a few weeks ago:

http://www.blaauwklippen.com/

...

Thats because ArabellaGroup (which owns part of Arabella Sheraton holdings) also owns Blaaauwklippen...
Sheraton properties have a wine from Blaauwklippen on their wine list.

A fellow by the name of Platter has a great book on South African Wines. Meerlust makes some of my favourite SAfrican wine, although there are many others.

Goats do Roam...Cotes du Rhone The winemaker's in trouble with the French for that one...

After going to SEVERAL wineries in S. Africa, I can tell you Goats Do Roam is NOT very good... There are MUCH better S. African wines that never get exported to the US (or Europe)... Seems like alot of "swill" goes to Europe and the good stuff only goes to certain brokers.