SOUTH AFRICA
With vineyards spread throughout the country, South Africa has
been producing fine wines since the 17th century. Because of
international politics and economic policies, however, its wine
industry has just begun to emerge over the past few years, producing
wines that are high in quality if not quantity.
The Cape's
Mediterranean climate
and mountainous terrain
provide excellent grape growing conditions. Rain falls mostly
in winter, and dry summers allow grapes to mature evenly,
developing a full, ripe flavor. The main wine growing region
in South Africa is the Cape of Good Hope, at the southern
tip of the continent.
South African white wines, particularly
Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, account for 85 per cent of the country's
vines. They are renowned for their light, crisp quality.
There are also popular South
African reds, including Shiraz, and Pinotage, a cross between Pinot Noir
and Cinsault grapes from southern Rhone. The Pinotage grape is grown exclusively
in South Africa, and many consider it to be the country's "national
grape."
In recent years, the Constantia
grape -- responsible for the famous South African dessert wine prized
by royalty in the 18th century, requested by Napoleon, and praised in
the novels of Dickens and Jane Austen -- has been reintroduced in recent
years to South Africa's Constantia region, the birthplace of its wine
industry.
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