The wines of South Africa carry an eclectic mix of Old World and New World styles. While typically selling under the New World umbrella, South African wines often show an Old World soul with earth and elegance laying the foundation for forward-fruit design and approachability. Grapes have been grown in South Africa, concentrated around the southwest Cape, for several hundred years, thanks to ambitious Dutch colonists eager to plant French vines, thought to be predominately Chenin Blanc and Muscat.

In the early 1900s, the country’s wine market was originally built on bulk wine made in cooperatives with little care to quality or distinction. Yet, behind the bulk wine scene several key estates still pursued quality and character in their private wine labels, though these wines were virtually inaccessible due to trade sanctions that prevented exportation. Said sanctions were finally lifted in the 1990s with the arrival of Nelson Mandela and the end of apartheid, and South African wines were finally released to the world. Today, South African wines cover all ends of the wine-buying spectrum, offering an out-of-the-box wine adventure in the sub-$20 category and turning things up in the premium wine league with top notch Bordeaux-inspired red blends. 

The crisp, refreshing white wine personality of Chenin Blanc still reigns on South African vines as the Cape’s most widely planted varietal, along with the distinctly South African wine known as Pinotage, a crazy albeit compelling cross of Cinsault and Pinot Noir.

 

Indaba Chenin Blanc 2013 (South Africa) $10 This fresh-faced white wine brings Chenin Blanc’s signature citrus flavors front and center with the unexpected richness of mango and melon playing second fiddle on the mid-palate. This medium-bodied wine shows bright minerality and lingers on the finish. Pairing Picks:  Goat or feta pizza and pesto, shellfish with a splash of lemon and a natural for hard to please salads with vinegar-based dressings.

Spier Pinotage 2012 (South Africa) $12 – A fairly heavy duty red showing plenty of plum and tobacco on the nose. The plum character continues on the palate joined by warm spice and black licorice. Pairing Picks: Densely built and fuller-bodied this red is cut to handle game, hearty stews and burgers or spicy barbecue. 

Mulderbosch Faithful Hound Red Blend 2012 (South Africa) $20 – A Bordeaux-based blend (29% Cabernet Sauvignon; 27% Cabernet Franc; 21% Merlot; 13% Malbec; 10% Petit Verdot) crafted with signature South African style, the 2012 Mulderbosch Faithful Hound offers spicy aromatics loaded with black cherry fruit and a heady whiff of tobacco leaf. The palate profile leads with ripe blackberry and raspberry fruit and a swirl of mocha followed quickly by earthy undertones, all wrapped around well-woven tannins. Pairing Picks:  Made for braised beef, roasted lamb and a variety of choice cheese options – Brie, Camembert, Blue or Gouda.