South Africa

At the southern tip of the African continent, where two oceans meet, lie the breathtakingly beautiful Cape winelands. South African wine farmers are working together to protect the environment and restore the vast species of indigenous flora and fauna that share this stunning landscape with the grapes. To date there are over 100,000 hectares of land, on wine farms, devoted to conservation; that’s an area equivalent to the vineyard footprint.

South Africa is the ninth largest producer of wine and had 102,000 hectares under vine. Total exports of South African wine exceeded 300million litres during 2008, a goal the industry had barely dreamt of achieving by 2010. South Africa currently accounts for just under 10 per cent of total UK wine sales.

South Africa is renowned for the sheer variety of wines it can offer, from fresh, fruity Chenin Blanc to rounded, buttery Chardonnay; there are whites for every occasion. A ‘must try’ red is the indigenous Pinotage, which makes rich, full-bodied wines, perfect for red meats and hearty winter dishes. The styles are often described as a being halfway between the old world’s restrained elegance and the new world’s fruit-driven exuberance.

Source: Wines of South Africa