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World Wine Education: South Africa
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 1. Cooperatives dominate the wine industry. Five thousand farmers take their grapes to one of seventy cooperatives. Their sheer size enables them to produce wine that is an excellent value.
2. Pinotage is unique to South Africa, born in 1925 and a cross between Cinsault and Pinot Noir.
3. South Africa is the eighth largest wine producing country.
4. Whites are more dominant than reds and Chenin Blanc or Steen as it is known in South Africa represents 30% of white wine production.
5. South Africa is the only wine country with an exact start date, February 1659 wine was pressed for the first time.
6. French Huguenots influenced the Cape wine making tradition.
. 7. The Famous Constantia Winery has been split into three wineries, Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, and Buitenverwachting.
South Africa in Brief South Africa Features
We love South African wines and we hope to represent more and more in the months to come. First, at the top level they are concentrated and flamboyant in their styling. Thelema is an excellent example of a top quality winery. At the everyday level they represent incredible values.

History

The French Huguenots arrived in the Cape area in 1688 and brought with them their wine making tradition. In the 18th and 19th centuries South Africa was famous among European courts for Constantia, one of the most famous wines of the day. Since this time the industry has had its ups and downs with too much government control and then not enough. In 1957 cold fermentation was introduced which helped the quality of white wines immensely. With the fall of apartheid the wine industy is evolving quickly. Freedom Road is a wine made by a cooperative of farm workers that have joined together to make their own wine and all proceeds go to buying housing for the members.

Geography And Climate

South Africa enjoys a Mediterranean climate and many of the best wineries are located around the Cape. The Paarl and Stellenbosch regions are the most famous for quality wine production.

Trends And What To Expect

In 1995 South African wineries were allowed to buy grapes from other areas thus enabling wineries to offer more single vineyard wines and more experimental blends. This development should greatly influence the introduction and experimentation of more varietals in new and existing vineyards. The potential of new vineyard land and the introduction of different varietals promises to keep the industry exciting in the near future.
KWV Featured Winery

KWV makes great valued wines under two labels, KWV and Robert’s Rock. The company is a cooperative consisting of 4500 farmer/shareholders and was founded in 1918 with government support. Their clout and high standards makes it possible for them to produce excellent wine at very reasonable price. I highly recommend their Pinotage.
ProducerVarietalVintagePriceBuy Now
KWVMerlot19979.99Details
KWVPinotage199810.99Details
KWVChenin Blanc/Steen19987.99Details

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