South Africa is one of the world’s more prolific wine producers, with incredible varieties made by family-run vineyards and major businesses alike.
South Africa’s presence in the wine aisle is felt keenly, but the total amount of South Africa ‘under vine’ only comes to less than 480 square miles – placing it outside even the top ten for vineyard plantings by country. This hasn’t stopped the country from making a name for itself as a prolific producer of great wines.
Though it is considered a ‘New World’ country of origin for wine, South Africa’s viticultural history stretches back to the 1600s, and the Dutch East India Company. The early efforts of budding vintners in the 17th Century would not pay off until the end of Apartheid at the end of the 20th, when new technologies and export opportunities stoked international interest, and revealed some of the country’s best-kept boozy secrets.
The vast majority of South African wines are produced in one region: the Western Cape, which is an expansive swathe of the southwestern tip. Though large, this area constitutes little more than a sixth of South Africa’s area, with even less devoted to winemaking. A small amount of South African wine is also produced in the Northern Cape, which is largely arid and sparsely populated as a result – making precious few areas suitable for the planting of vineyards save for the well-watered banks of the Orange River.
What to look for in a South African Wine
Between different regions, wards and grape varietals, it can be difficult to know exactly what to look for in a South African wine.
There are few secrets though, and hunting for a good wine is the same here is it is for any European country of origin. For example, while there is absolutely nothing wrong with blended wines from South Africa – indeed, more than a few have made it to this round-up – an excellent crib by which to narrow down your wine search is to look for ‘wines of origin’.
Best South African wines to buy at a glance
Best overall/white: Journey’s End Queen Bee Viognier 2024 – £14.99, LaithwaitesBest red: Vergelegen Millrace Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2019 – £13.99, MajesticBest for early Shiraz adoptees: Dynamite Factory Shiraz 2021 – £8.50, MorrisonsBest for righteous quaffability: Amandla ‘Our Future’ Sauvignon Blanc 2022 – £9.50, Sainsbury’sBest for the second wine of the evening: Dynamite Factory Sauvignon Blanc 2022 – £8.50, MorrisonsBest for a sophisticated, complex experience: Vergelegen Millrace Sauvignon Blanc 2022 – £13.99, MajesticBest for red meats and warm evenings: Amandla ‘Our Power’ Shiraz-Zinfandel 2022 – £9.99, WaitroseBest for heady flavour: Bosman Family Vineyards Nero 2021 – £10.50, Sainsbury’sBest for summer picnics: Nature & Sun Organic Grenache Noir 2020 – £12.99, WaitroseBest for garden parties: Amandla ‘Our Freedom’ Blush 2022 – £9.50, Sainsbury’sBest for accessible complexity: Bosman Pinot Noir 2021 – £14.99, Waitrose
In a somewhat similar fashion to the EU’s PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) appellation scheme, which protects the likes of Champagne and Bordeaux from non-regional namesakes, South Africa has the WO (Wine of Origin) scheme.
The W.O. scheme ensures only wines made from grapes within a single ward can claim to be a wine of said ward. For example, a vineyard in Stellenbosch that only uses its own grapes can call each of its wines a Wine of Origin Stellenbosch, whereas a blended wine containing grapes from multiple wards can only signify the region in which it was made.
Choosing a WO wine will, at the very least, give a much clearer picture of how the climate and terroir impact flavour – hence giving you a much more sophisticated snapshot of South African wines at their best.
That said, there are some accessible and exciting blended options from a broad range of vintners that still achieve astonishing things. Speaking of which…