Wine: South Africa

The end of Apartheid in 1980 was the final catalyst that triggered a revolution in the wine industry of South Africa. A head of innovative steam had built up in the preceding years as South Africa’s wine producers gradually dragged their industry into the twentieth century. Global acceptance of the new state enabled this pressure to drive a wealth of modern wines and wineries into the worldwide market.

From a stagnant, state controlled industry producing bland mass produced wines, South Africa has seen the introduction of many new wineries and wines some producing distinctive individual styles while others have focussed on the volume blended market. Both sectors have enjoyed considerable success initially buoyed by the favourable exchange rates.

Allied to this wine revolution considerable effort is going into enabling a broader ethnic spread across all areas of the wine industry in South Africa.

Wine exports have grown from 50 million litres in 1994 to more than 400 million litres in 2008 and South Africa now accounts for 5% of the world’s trade in wine. South African wine is on an upward spiral and while exchange rates may have hampered exports recently, the energy created by the revolution has sparked plenty of interesting world class wines of interest and individuality. I have no doubt that the best South African wines will have their reputations enhanced by all the attention. My Favourites at the moment are;

Journey’s End Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 92% Cabernet Sauvignon 8% Merlot; 14.5% abv, RRP from: £12.99 Bibendum Wine Ltd: www.bibendum-wine.co.uk; The Wine Shop, www.wineandwhisky.com; Wimbledon Wine Cellars; Planet of the Grapes; www.classic-wine.co.uk. Has a smoky intense deep blackcurrant nose and a minty edged, ripe, blackcurrant and blackberry flavour. It is deep and long with notes of fruit compote, delicious.

Journey’s End Chardonnay 2007 100% Chardonnay, 13.5% abv, RRP £12.99 Bibendum Wine Ltd: www.bibendum-wine.co.uk; Adam Fine Wine & Spirits, London; Red Red Wine Ltd, Richmond , Surrey; www.wineandwhisky.com Wimbledon Wine Cellars, London; www.sawinesonline.co.uk. Has a lime edged honeydew melon nose and a zesty, clear pure, rounded melon palate with lime and pineapple edge in a reserved style. Classy.

Eikendal Chardonnay 100% Chardonnay RRP from: £11.99 Majestic: Has a stylish vegetal edge to the ripe melony lemon nose in the classic Chardonnay style. Weighty and serious on the palate with the French style and reserved opulence of rounded ripe lemon fruit and a firm vanilla oaky edge.

Journey’s End Shiraz 2005 100% Shiraz, 14% abv RRP from £12.99 Bibendum Wine Ltd www.bibendum-wine.co.uk, 02077225577; Wholefoods Ltd (Kensington); www.sawinesonline.co.uk. *Warm plummy depth with red berry highlights. Smooth weighty plum damson lively berry fruit tones.

Diemersfontein Pinotage 2008 £7.99 Waitrose. Has the classic Strawberry and Pineapple scent of Pinotage with a dark berry undertone to the leathery tangy, peppery taste of strawberry and pineapple which has an easy tangy finish.

2008 Mullineux White, Swartland, Berry Bros £14.25 first vintage from the husband and wife team (who also do a red wine, which we have sold out of). This is a lovely white with a honeyed, lemon fruit nose with a coconut and honey edge. Sweet ripe lemon and melon fruit on the palate with good length and savour.

Zalze Pinotage 2008 £6.65 Majestic has a full ripe plummy tangy nose with a strawberry edge. Hint of pepper on the rounded firm but balanced dry red fruits flavour with trace of orange on the finish.

Graham Beck 'Antony's Yard' 2008 £7.99 Majestic has a dark blackcurrant plum jam richness on the nose with a chewy grippy stalky blackcurrant flavour that finishes warm and good.

Flagstone Fish Hoek Shiraz 2008 Swartland, South Africa 25% off £6.29 to £4.69 Warm Plum jam nose hints of tobacco, soft juicy peppery plum fruit sweet scent. A stewed fruit style to the palate with dark berry underpinning firmness.