Wines of South Africa

In South Africa, viticulture was introduced in the 17th century by the Dutch. It really took off in the following century, thanks to the arrival of French Huguenots with their knowledge of vines. The vineyards were ravaged at the end of the 19th century. It was only with the end of Apartheid and the opening up of international markets to South African products, which had previously been boycotted, that production was able to take off again.

Today, vineyards cover some 110,000 hectares, located around Cape Town, in the south of the country, and particularly in the Stellenbosch region. Winegrowing was made possible by the Benguela sea current, which cools the country's west coast. South Africa has a system of appellations d'origine that divides the vineyards into wine-growing regions, districts and estates. The name of a vineyard or its translation cannot be used as a geographical indication; it can only be used as a brand name.

Almost 50 grape varieties are grown in South Africa today. This great diversity is due not only to the significant climatic differences in the Cape Province, but also to the enthusiasm and initiative of winemakers who are often ready to try out new varieties. Traditionally, South Africa has mainly produced white wines such as Avenir Chenin Blanc 2006 orOude Kaap 2016 (85%), but this proportion is tending to decrease due to the growing and almost exclusive export of red wines (such as Columella 2017 or Avenir Pinotage 2006).

Discover the South African estates: Klein Constantia, Sadie, Man, Alheit.