South Africa is a “New World” wine country, meaning it is newer than Europe and Israel to growing wine grapes and making wine that is marketed worldwide. A warm weather wine region, South Africa produces lush red and fruity white wines. Pinotage is a trademark wine of South Africa, because it is the only varietal that is native to South Africa, and it is made only in South Africa. Although Pinotage is mentioned twice in this article because of its unique flavor and slightly obscure status, South Africa produces other red wines, and some white wines. Two other wines are mentioned in this article — Syrah and Shiraz. Pinotage has been bred in South Africa since 1925 as a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (Cinsaut was known as “Hermitage” in South Africa in 1925, hence the varietal name of Pinotage). Pinotage typically produces deep red wines with smoky, bramble, and earthy flavors.
Graham Beck Pinotage, West Cape South Africa, 2010
The wine starts smelling funky, and after some time, emits the odor of pleasant red fruits as well. While the red fruit flavor is in this wine, smoke and cheese are also tasted in the wine — which naturally makes you want to eat cheese with it. The wine has a heavy mouth feel and is very smooth. The flavor is so much more interesting than the standard red wines that people know, which is typical of Pinotage wines. This one is tasty and easy to drink. Tip: This wine is a little sensitive to environmental temperature. Do not refrigerate, but if you have been keeping this wine in a heated environment, use a wine cooler (like the kind you put in the freezer) to cool it down. The flavor comes out more when this wine is not too cold or too hot.
Six Hats, Western Cape South Africa, 2011
Another Pinotage! The style of this wine is a bit different, which only lends charm to the Pinotage grape. It would be boring if they are all the same. Smelling mostly of red fruit and with the dense color of rubies and garnets, this wine has the peppery flavor you sometimes find in Shiraz, but is not as fruit-forward. Other flavors that arise when the wine has opened a little are violet and tinge of metal on the finish. Easily drinkable if you like peppery and floral red wines, the alcohol content is 14.5%, so find a food for this wine too — pork comes to mind. This particular wine company is a fair trade company, meaning the workers such as those who work on vineyards are treated better. On the back label, the wine displays a cute rack of hats, and above each hat is a label. Each label is a different value, and together they are: partnership, change, potential, equity, dignity, and sustainability. When you combine responsible business practices with great taste, it is a hard wine to resist!
The next two wines are together because they are made with the same grape, but a different varietal name!
Noble Hill, Paarl South Africa, 2002
Paarl has a warm climate that is reminiscent of the Mediterranean, with a variety of soils that accommodate red wines well. The soils are sandy, decomposed granite, and shale. All those substances help the soil retain heat — and warmer soil grows lush red wine grapes best. This wine is a Syrah whose grapes were harvested by hand and the wine has an ink and petroleum odor. The flavor is remarkably unique. There is a flavor of cedar and pepper balanced with dark fruits like cassis and plum. This Syrah is unlike any other I have tasted, fuller and more varied than a French one and less fruit-forward than an Australian one. Pairing food with this wine should be guided by what you want to taste. If you want to emphasize the pepper, drink it with pepper steak; if you want to taste more fruit, drink the wine with duck with plum sauce, or something similar. This wine is for adventuresome drinkers who like to be surprised!
Pumphouse by Backsberg, Coastal South Africa, 2007
This Shiraz has a darker, more inky color than Noble Hill, and smells of petroleum and dark fruits. The flavor is smoky and peppery, making it perfect for a grilled pepper steak, and other similar foods. The smokiness probably comes from the 18 months that the wine spent in French and American barrels, and the pepper is reminiscent of Syrah from the Rhone valley. This wine, however, is much bolder and bigger than a Crozes-Hermitage, making it perfect for that grilled pepper steak! Something to keep in mind as BBQ season approaches.
