By Simone Baldwin

No matter the location, the one constant of every wine region around the world is its beauty, and South Africa, home to the heart-stopping scenery of the Western Cape winelands surely ranks as one the most spellbinding.

 

The vineyards of the Western Cape are scattered amongst a vast expanse of majestic mountains, verdant valleys and dramatic coastal shorelines. However, it is not the region’s beauty that makes the wine taste so delicious. The underbelly of South Africa’s scenic splendour is of course its soil, an all-important asset to every superior wine-growing region.

The underbelly of South Africa’s scenic splendour is of course its soil, an all-important asset to every superior wine-growing region

“Variety is in our Nature” is the tag line employed by Wines of South Africa and the natural habitat of the winelands embraces this ancient terroir. The vintners strive to grow wine that is “site specific”, which reflects a sense of place. After all, when drinking South African wine, it is vital that the consumer has a taste of South Africa and not some pseudo Franco “wanna be”.

The biodiversity, coupled with an immense pool of winemaking talent, is South Africa’s winning combination and it is a thrilling prospect to see the rest of the world, in particular Asia, poised to ride the South African wine wave.

While wine critiquing necessitates objectivity, when one has spent time walking through the vineyards and winery, listening to the winemakers speak with immense passion about their vision while tasting the wine en situ, the experience is anything but objective. The privileged visitor gains a glimpse at what lies behind the label. So for this issue of MoneyMatters, I’ve decided to profile a selection of special South African producers in the hope of enticing you to discover more for yourself.

De Wetshof Estate (www.dewetshof.co.za)
Owned and operated by the de Wet family in the Robertson Valley, 160kms from Cape Town, De Wetshof Estate has become synonymous with premium Chardonnay, and its success with this ubiquitous varietal has created a South African benchmark. The range embraces all the hallmark qualities of premium Chardonnay – fullness, complexity, finesse and amazing length. The De Wetshof Estate wines are not only technically brilliant, they are also a superb reflection of their origins.

Kaapzicht Estate (www.kaapzicht.co.za)
Kaapzicht, translated as Cape View, enjoys a magnificent outlook of Cape Town and Table Mountain. The Steytler family established the wine estate in 1946 and today the highly energetic and impassioned husband and wife team of Danie and Yngvild Steytler drive the brand. The estate range includes a bevy of blends and varietals, characterized by their easy drinking style. Its flagship range, which carries the family name, includes the Steytler Vision, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage and Merlot; so impressive it won the coveted Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Trophy. At Kaapzicht Estate, Danie and Yngvild are living the dream, infusing their wine and the brand with the same spark that ignites their reverie.

Kanonkop (www.kanonkop.co.za)
A red wine specialist and icon, Kanonkop is South Africa’s answer to a Bordeaux First Growth. Situated in Stellenbosch, this extraordinary patch of dirt is planted to Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot as well as the South African cultivar, Pinotage. Kanonkop consistently produces wines of a high quality – age worthy and captivating in their ability to hold the taster’s interest until the very last drop.

KWV (www.kwv.co.za)
The KWV stable of brands includes Pearly Bay, Robert’s Rock, KWV Lifestyle and Laborie. A large company, KWV is blessed with a vast and impressive wine making facility along with substantial vineyard holdings and contracted grape growers, allowing the winemakers to draw on a sizable resource of quality fruit. KWV is an accomplished and creative marketingdriven outfit targeting niche brands to segmented wine consumers. There is something for everyone here, from the soft, fruit-driven quaffing wines of Pearly Bay and Robert’s Rock to the stylish, varietalfocused KWV Lifestyle range, moving up the quality scale through to the estategrown Laborie brand. (The sparkling Laborie Blanc de Blancs is a particular winner made by the Methode Champenoise, loaded with yeasty complexity and character.)

Leopard’s Leap (www.leopards-leap.co.za)
Leopard’s Leap is the freshest and most innovative wine brand to come out of South Africa in recent years. A newcomer to the scene, it was established in 2000 by the Koegelenberg family with the intent to create a mass-market wine aimed at the export market. The brand has already achieved enormous success in the United Kingdom and the United States where Leopard’s Leap has hit the consumer sweet spot. Made under the vastly experienced direction of winemaker, Eugene Van Zyl, the range is far from cheap and cheerful but rather classy and affordable. Consistently prized with over delivering on taste versus price point, this is a brand that is sure to strike gold throughout

Asia Muratie (www.muratie.co.za)
Muratie wine estate possesses a magical quality and a visit to the property is an unforgettable experience. With a story that dates back to 1685, Muratie’s philosophy is to retain a traditional approach to grape growing and winemaking, and as such the wines are hand crafted from vine to glass. With the exception of the Isabella Chardonnay, the range is red driven with the stellar line up culminating in the Ansela van de Caab, a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. These wines will mesmerize the taster with their old world charm, yielding from vineyards that have been carefully tendered over the centuries.

Ridgeback (www.ridgebackwines.co.za)
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a pedigree of dog described as well balanced and muscular and, in many ways, the wines which borrow the same name reflect a similar character, especially the reds which display power and body. Ridgeback was established in the late 90s by tobacco merchant Vernon Cole and, in the short time that the wines have been made by super talented winemaker Cathy Marshal, has inspired a cult following. The Rhone Valley has certainly been one of Cathy’s inspirations and the delicious Shiraz Viognier is a proud testament to one of France’s most notable wine growing areas. The vineyard is located in Paarl and lies on 65 hectares of glorious land surrounded by the majestic Paarl mountains. This is another wine farm that will dazzle the visitor.

Becoming a competent wine taster does not require special skills, however it does demand diversity in tasting. So, to practice proficiency, sample the globe over, taste with an inquisitive mindset and revel in the new as well as the old. This is a salute to South Africa. Gesondheid! Simone Baldwin is the principal at Must Wine Consultancy, which specializes in wine event management and wine training to the hospitality trade in Indonesia. The family home and vineyard is located in the Yarra Valley, Australia. Her current studies with the Institute of Masters of Wine hope to see her in the future joining an elite number of recognized world wine experts.