For years I’ve heard colleagues and friends speak of the beauty of South Africa’s Winelands.  Comments such as “the Western Cape is the world’s most beautiful wine country” and “you can’t imagine how beautiful Stellenbosch and the surrounding Winelands are”, have made me want to see for myself.

I have always dreamed of coming to South Africa.  However, if truth be known, I had often wondered if some of the talk about the Cape’s beauty might be a bit of hyperbole.  After all, I have been fortunate to have visited most of the world’s wine regions, and I have found each to exude a distinctive charm and give me pause to wonder.  Burgundy, Germany’s Rheingau, Napa Valley, Provence, Tuscany, and Chile’s Colchagua Valley whose vineyards soar skyward on the majestic slopes of the towering Cordillera of the Andes, to name just a few special wine regions are all quite special and offer excellent photo ops.  However, after visiting South Africa’s Western Cape to sample the wines of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, and Swartland, I must confess there is no more dramatic and stunningly beautiful wine region on earth than South Africa’s Western Cape.

 

A Votre Santé!

Don

South Africa is the world’s ninth largest producer of wine and in recent years, South African wine has become the fastest growing imported wine into the United States.  Although hardly a match yet in sheer volume for Argentina, Australia, France, Italy, or Spain, there is no denying that South Africa is making an array of exciting wines that appeal to Americans.  The South African wine industry has transformed itself since the end of Apartheid and continues to evolve in new and exciting ways.  Not only is there now no shortage of world class red wines being made in South Africa, there is also a bevy of delectable white wines to choose from.

On my recent trip to the Western Cape, I was particularly impressed by the delicious Sauvignon Blancs, Chenin Blancs, Viognier blends, and even by a number of outstanding Chardonnays.  Yet, red wine still reigns supreme in South Africa.  Stellenbosch and the surrounding regions have long been known for distinctive, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz based wines as well as South Africa’s unique grape variety, Pinotage, and these wines are all better than ever.  I also found a number of South African Merlot wines to be especially tasty.  Consequently, in 2012 you should look for a number of South African beauties, both red and white, to show up at your doorstep.

 

A Votre Santé!

Don