Celebrate South Africa’s 366th wine harvest with the country’s two signature varieties, Chenin Blanc and Pinotage.
South Africa has become one of the hottest new world wine destinations to visit in recent years. Though the term ‘new world’ in this case exclusively refers to the location being outside of Europe, not the winemaking industry itself.
The first vines were brought to South Africa by the Dutch East India Company in the mid-17th century. More precisely, it was Jan van Riebeeck who planted the first vineyards in 1655, and thanks to a diary entry he made on 2nd February 1659, South Africa is perhaps the only country in the world that can determine the exact day on which the first grape harvest started.
The wide diversity of microclimates and soil across the Cape Winelands offers excellent growing conditions for a wide range of different grape varieties. The list ranges from the well-known leading international varieties including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Pinot Noir while even Riesling, Vigonier, Malbec, or Mouvedre are not uncommon.
Locally, two varieties stand out as South Africa’s signature grapes, one white and one red: Chenin Blanc and Pinotage.
Read on to learn more about the two most iconic grape varieties planted across South Africa’s Cape Winelands.
Get to know South Africa’s two signature wine varieties
There are many great wines being made across the vast Cape Winelands, and these days wines from South Africa easily compete with the best in the world.
But you do not know anything about South African wines if you are not familiar with the country’s two signature varieties, white Chenin Blanc and red Pinotage.
To get you started, here is a quick introduction.
Chenin Blanc – What to know
While Chenin Blanc originates in France, or more precisely in the Loire Valley, it is often regarded as a fairly unspectacular wine variety.
Locally, the grape is also known as Steen and today is the most widely planted grape variety in South Africa. Though it is not as firmly documented like the start of the country’s very first harvest 366 years ago, it is believed that Chenin Blanc was one of the first varieties grown at the Cape, already planted by Jan van Riebeeck. Another theory is that the grape was brought to South Africa by Huguenots escaping France after 1685.
Early on, the base wine obtained from Chenin Blanc was largely used to make South African brandy. This has changed, and today South Arican Chenin Blanc easily competes with the best white wines globally.
As an early ripening variety, Chenin Blanc grapes particularly benefit from the warmer growing conditions in South Africa. Still, the variety particularly thieves in regions with temperate climate and well-drained calcareous soils. Though it is an adaptable grape that can be grown in various regions, particular excellent examples are made in the Stellenbosch, Swartland, and Tulbagh regions.
South African Chenin Blanc can range from dry to sweet and typically offer aromas of green apples, pears, quince, and tropical fruit, followed with notes of honey and minerality. A high acidity makes them highly versatile and food-friendly wines.
Most Chenin Blanc are still fresh and fruit-forward wines that are best enjoyed young. However, several South African winemakers now tend to produce age-worthy Chenin Blanc matured in oak.
10 top South African Chenin Blancs to try
You will have a hard time finding a winery in South Africa that does not produce a Chenin Blanc wine. However, if you are new to the variety or Chenin Blanc from South Africa in particular, below is a list of local Chenin Blancs you should try.
- David & Nadia, Plat’bos Chenin Blanc, Swartland
- Ken Forrester, The FMC Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch
- Zevenwacht, Z Collection Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch
- Avondale, Jonty’s Duck Pekin White Chenin Blanc, Paarl
- Surviver, Reserve Chenin Blanc, Swartland
- Beaumont, Hope Marguerite Chenin Blanc, Bot River
- DeMorgenzon, Chenin Blanc Reserve, Stellenbosch
- Kleine Zalze, Family Reserve Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch
- Oldenburg Vineyards, Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch
- Warwick, Old Vine Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch
Best Chenin Blanc Food Pairings
Chenin Blanc’s high acidity makes it a perfect wine to be paired with Asian food with a sweet or sour component. They also match perfectly with Malai curry and vegetarian dishes such as aubergine bakes.
Richer and sweeter style Chenin Blanc are an excellent match to pork chops with apples, warm fruit desserts and fruit tarts.
Otherwise, pair your Chenin Blanc with veal, poultry, smoked salmon, fish, light pasta dishes, and soft cheeses.
Pinotage – What to know
A grape variety that was created as recently as 1925 in South Africa from crossing Cinsault and Pinot Noir. The name is actually derived from the two parent grapes. Pinot and, well if you wonder locally Cinsault was called Hermitage. The first Pinotage wine was bottled in 1961, resulting from the 1959 harvest.
While the grape has spread to some other new world winegrowing regions, it is only rarely planted outside of South Africa. Which in part is owned to the fact that the wine is hugely controversial. As a wine drinker, it’s either love or hate.
However, as with all other wine varieties, if you pick a well-made, good-quality Pinotage, you won’t get disappointed.
Pinotage is an easy ripening grape that yields bold flavours of dark berries together with notes of chocolate, coffee and earth.
While some age-worth Pinotage wines exist, the majority is made to be enjoyed young. Typically, the wine offers aromas that range from fresh red fruits when grown in cooler areas and to juicy black fruits in warmer growing areas. Good-quality oak-aged Pinotage will express hints of vanilla and spice, and those longer-aged Pinotage also add notes of smoked meat, leather, and chocolate.
Many Pinotage are still bold, concentrated, powerful wines but current winemaking techniques typically create improved balance and complexity.
Pinotage can be high in tannins, so attention to gentle extraction and careful oak maturation are essential to create rich, long-lasting wines. But when done right, they can age for well over 10 years in the bottle.
This full-bodied wine is best served at cellar temperature, at around 15°C to 16°C to intensify its aromas.
10 top South African Pinotage to try
- Neethlingshof, The Owl Post Pinotage, Stellenbosch
- Du Toitskloof Wines, Granite Pinotage, Swartland
- Diemersdal, MM Louw Pinotage, Durbanville
- Kanonkop, Black Label Pinotage, Stellenbosch
- Simonsig, Redhill Pinotage, Stellenbosch
- Delheim, Vera Cruz Pinotage, Stellenbosch
- Rijk’s, Reserve Pinotage, Tulbagh
- Alvi’s Drift, Verreaux Pinotage, Breede River Valley
- Hamilton Russel Vineyards, Ashbourne Pinotage, Hemel-en-Arde Valley
- L’Avenir, Single Block Pinotage, Stellenbosch
Best Pinotage Food Pairings
Generally speaking, you can’t get wrong pairing Pinotage to the food you would pair with Pinot Noir.
Some of the best easy matches are hot pepperoni pizza, beef stew, mushroom risotto, baked pasta dishes like lasagne, smoked or roast duck, and pulled pork.
For more mature Pinotage wines, serve with braised short ribs, a pepper steak, or barbequed meat. It will also go well with hot Indian-style curries.
Finally, it’s a match made in heaven with chocolate desserts, chocolate cake or simply enjoyed with a dark chocolate.
Are you familiar with South Africa’s two signature wines? Let me know how you like them.
Carrots and Tigers 