South African Wine
Jan van Riebeeck was the first man to produce wine in South
Africa and since South Africa has developed their own grape
variety, the Pinotage. The Pinotage grape was cultivated by
Dr. Abraham Izak Perold in 1925.
Also popular in South Africa is the Chenin Blanc, locally called
Steen.
South African wines have greatly increased in international
popularity in recent years. Like Australian wine, South African
wine has taken a huge slice of the market share cake for wine
bought in bulk by the big supermarket chains. South African
wine today offers the everyday wine drinker a wine they can
share with their friends confident that the wine will be more
than acceptable in all general social circles. The mass market
popularity of Australian and South African wines has began to
challenge France and Italy for the biggest producers title.
I for one am a big fan of South African wine. It generally has
excellent quality for the targeted price band and adds its own
distinction to a party with typical flavours and aromas of the
South African veldt.
It was reported in 2006 that South Africa has 100,146 hectares
of vineyards producing wine. |
