{"id":8679,"date":"2019-07-11T12:54:43","date_gmt":"2019-07-11T12:54:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/divinonyc.com\/?p=8679"},"modified":"2021-04-19T20:56:16","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T00:56:16","slug":"the-ultimate-guide-to-south-african-wines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/divino.wine\/the-ultimate-guide-to-south-african-wines\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to South African Wines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
DiVino may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Granted, South Africa may not the first place that comes to mind when you think of impressive wines and vineyards. You might not even give South African wines a glance when you\u2019re browsing your local wine shop or ordering a bottle of wine at dinner, but the country is beginning to garner attention around the world for its high quality and reasonably priced wines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of us just sip our way through our favorite \u201cOld World\u201d wines without ever realizing that there is a whole other world of amazing options worthy of our attention. South Africa is also home to a hybrid grape variety Pinotage, which has yielded magnificent wines that are getting rave reviews the world over. Yep, there are other wines out there beyond French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese that you will relish if you would only try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wine lovers, if you\u2019re seeking out remarkable wines at unbelievable prices, give South African wines a shot. Exploring South African wines was a whole lot of fun for me and here is everything you need to know about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n South Africa\u2019s winemaking history is nowhere nearly as old as Europe\u2019s, but the county is not an inexperienced newcomer either. Did you know that their wine industry started with the arrival of Dutch colonists in the mid-17th century?<\/strong> The Dutch settlement in the Cape was initially established as a refueling stop for sailors traveling between Europe and India to pick up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to historical records, Governor Jan Van Riebeck of the Dutch East India Company was tasked with planting grapes in the region. The first vines were planted in 1659 in Constantia, now in the suburbs of Cape Town in the southern tip of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s thank Scurvy for South Africa\u2019s wine industry. In the olden days, people wrongly believed that wine had miraculous healing powers and even the ability to fend off diseases like scurvy. Slowly but surely, the region became a popular port of call for sailors traveling between Europe and Asia to replenish their stock of produce and wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the first wine production stint in 1659 was a success, the wines themselves were of mediocre quality. The Dutch weren\u2019t famous for their wine-making skills! It wasn\u2019t until the arrival of the French that the art of winemaking truly came to South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1685, Governor Van Der Stel made an effort to step up wine production in the Cape and introduced grape varieties like Semillon, Chenin Blanc and Palomino to the region along with the most important ingredient- French winemakers. The quality of South African wines improved, and they became known all over Europe for their quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After Van Der Stel\u2019s time, his vineyards were divided into three parts but largely neglected. Thankfully, Hendrik Cloete who purchased Groot Constantia revived the vineyards to its previous glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the 1900s, Constantia became a veritable wine wonderland with millions of wines planted all over the region. At one point, wine production was so disproportionately higher than the demand that barrels of wine were just being poured down rivers and lakes! Can you imagine that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prices of wines took a nosedive. Farmers were desperate. To save winemakers and farmers from complete ruin, an organization called KWV was formed. They imposed a minimum price on wine and assured farmers that they would buy all the excess wine that remained unsold<\/p>\n\n\n\n What ensued was a tragedy for the South African market. Since farmers had a guarantee that excess wines would be purchased no matter what, they had no incentive to sustain the quality nor compete with other wine makers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, most of the grapes harvested were simply sold to distilleries for making brandy. To make matters worse, Apartheid era sanctions kept South African wines away from the global market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n After Apartheid ended, South Africa\u2019s wine market opened up once again. Trendy boutique wine shops and cellars sprang up everywhere. Winemakers shifted their focus from quantity to quality. The country\u2019s wine industry came out of isolation and began to build a good international reputation. Today, exciting wines are produced all over South Africa and many of them are exported to different parts of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more about South Africa’s first Black, female winemaker, and her winery, Aslina<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n South Africa has a Wine Origin system similar to the French Appellation d\u2019Origine Controlee. For a wine to be labelled as from a region, all grapes used in the wine must be from that region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyone familiar about the world of wines will know about Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, but the South African wine industry is much more than just these two places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking for a wine getaway, I\u2019ve put together a list of South Africa\u2019s stunning wine regions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nHistory of South African Wine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Early history of South African Wines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
So, why was winemaking so important for the Dutch? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
South African Wine in the Late 1700s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Decline of South African Wines in the early 1900s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Revival of South African Wines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Stunning Wine Producing Regions of South Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n