South Africa has been producing wine much longer
than most people realise. Over 350 years, to be specific. Colonisation
and changes in government have prevented the area from becoming
acknowledged for its wine production until recently, but as international
interest in South African wine production increases, so does the
quality of the wine. African wines are expected to be significant
contenders in the years ahead, assuming political stability in the
area.
The best African reds are made mainly from Pinotage
(a hybrid of Pinot Noir and Cinsault) and suggest the restraint
and subtlety of classic French Wines. The better whites are mostly
Sauvignon Blanc, and suggestive of New Zealand wines from the same
grape.
