Wines of south africa
In 1652, Jan Van Riebeeck and The Dutch East India Company established the first European settlement in the Cape of Good Hope. In the spring of 1659, Van Riebeeck announced that he had made the first wine, thus beginning the South African wine industry.
Constantia Estates became a famous producer of Muscat de Frontignan Pontac, red and white Muscadel and Chenin Blanc. It became the drink of choice for Kings and Emperors across Europe. Napoleon was a huge fan, and after his exile in 1815, he was supplied with South African wines until his death in 1821.
However, after years of success, the South African wine industry suffered a series of major setbacks. A phylloxera plague, the Anglo-Boar War and the collapse of the British wine market hit South Africa hard. The National Party, who came to power in 1948, implemented harsh racist laws and resulted in drastic international boycotts on wine. South Africa was politically and culturally isolated for decades, and the wine industry stagnated until the end of apartheid in the 1990’s.
In recent years, new vineyards have been established and wine techniques have improved so dramatically that South Africa is now considered the success story of the New World. South African’s signature grape varietal is the Pinotage grape. It is a cross between Cinsault and Pinot Noir. In was met with mixed reviews, some calling the flavor “rusty nails.” Now Pinotage is being valued as a “local treasure.” The trend has shifted to making new fashionable red with typified smoky, earthy flavors, sometimes with banana and tropical fruit overtones.
South Africa is considered one of the most dramatically beautiful wine countries of the world. A near perfect grape-growing climate, comparable to the Mediterranean, is complimented by cooling winds and rains. At one time the wine of Constantia, Cape Town, was thought to be the finest in the world. Now after many difficult years, resurgent South African vineyards are now beginning to reclaim their place on the international wine market.