Encounter South Africa, the first major wine trade tasting held in the UK since 2017, was the perfect place to see how the industry is constantly evolving. South Africa remains one of the most innovative and dynamic wine making centres of the world. Over 80 producers showcased the very best of South African wine and here are some of my recommendations.
Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc Sparkling
This dry, fruity bubbly with notes of tropical fruits such as passion fruit, melon and peach. Forget the Prosecco and favour this for sundowners or celebrations. It is perfect for appetisers or snacks. For mains, it pairs really well with seafood, fish or salads of all kinds. A really excellent bubbly that brings back memories of a most wonderful lunch in The Tangra, the winery’s own estate restaurant, that not only has a stellar wine list but fabulous dishes and an amazing view of Cape Town.
Pongracz Rosé NV
This delightful Western Cape bubbly is made from a wonderful blend of Chardonnay (60%) and Pinot Noir (40%) and made made by the Traditional Method known as Cap Classique in South Africa. The result is a deliciously dry Rosé that is crisp and refreshing. Like the other featured sparkling, this Rosé pairs well with seafood, fish or salads.
Groot Constantia Estate Rosé 2022
This winery traces it origins back to the 17th century and the quality of this wine matches its distinguished pedigree. The pale pink Rosé is refreshing, crisp and fruity. It is made from the Pinotage grape that produces really great Rosé wines in South Africa. It can be paired with a variety of dishes, especially salads and seafood but it also makes a superb sundowner.
Olifantsberg Soul of the Mountain The Matriarch 2019
Winemaker Elizma Visser uses grapes from 7 different vineyard sites on the Olifantsberg Mountain and within each site picking is staggered to produce this really special wine. Roussanne (72%), Grenache Blanc (20%), Chenin Blanc (8%) combine to produce an appealing citrus aroma with “bright” acidity and a very nice dry finish.
Holden Manz Chenin Blanc Reserve 2020
This fragrant and floral wine uses Chenin Blanc grapes from three respected vineyards in the Stellenbosch / Paarl border and from Paardeberg. The grapes come from bush vines that are all over 40 years old. It has a strongly floral and flowery aroma. The wine is deliciously bone dry, medium-bodied and has a long finish.
Holism Garnacha
The Swartberg Wingerde winery from the Olifants River use Garnacha grapes to produce this interesting and elegant wine made by Rudiger Gretschel. Vines from the Piekenierskloof Mountain produce a very appealing wine that combines spiciness with fruitiness. This red wine will pair very well with a variety of beef dishes.
Waterford The Library Collection Edition: Cabernet Franc 2017
This elegant wine made from the Cabernet Franc grape is really a very special red from a legendary estate in the Blaauwklippen Valley. It has blackcurrant, plum and oak flavours with a very smooth, long, dry finish It pairs well with lamb, beef, game and poultry – or simply savoured on its own. This memorable wine is ideal for a special occasion.
Koni Natural Sweet White 2020
The process that makes this crisp and clean wine begins with harvesting the Chenin Blanc grapes from a 11 year-old Chenin block of vines when temperatures are low early in the morning. Naturally sweet wines occur when the yeast is prevented from consuming the sugar content, most often by chilling or filtering the fermentation, or when there is too much sugar for the yeast to consume. The naturally concentrated grape juice that produces a wine with a distinctive pineapple bouquet and a good fruit/acid balance.
Top image: Koni Maliehe, Founder, Koni Wines, at Encounter South Africa, London, 2023.
