Top Wines In South Africa

What is Wine?

Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes.

Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. 

Top Wines In South Africa

Best overall South African wine – Raats bush vine chenin blanc

Best champagne alternative – Journey’s End methode cap classique brut

Best chardonnay – De Wetshof Estate bon vallon ‘sur lie’ chardonnay

Best cabernet sauvignon – Billy Bosch Paarl cabernet sauvignon

Best supermarket buy – Tesco Finest South African chenin blanc

Best rosé – Mount Rozier reserve frog chorus Fairtrade rosé

Best sauvignon blanc swap – Adnams South African Stellenbosch chenin blanc

Best syrah – Boschkloof syrah

Best for summer drinking – Rustenberg wild ferment unwooded chardonnay

Best red wine – Bouchard Finlayson galpin peak pinot noir

Best budget red – M&S Classics South African pinotage

What wines are popular in South Africa?

The Top Wines of South Africa.

Route 62.

Chenin Blanc.

Cabernet Sauvignon.

Shiraz.

Sauvignon Blanc.

Wines of South Africa

What is the most produced wine in South Africa?

Chenin Blanc also known as Steen is the most planted wine grape variety in South Africa accounting for around 18% of wine grape plantings.

In terms of red grape varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted red wine varietal at 11% of total plantings.

Where is the best wine in South Africa?

Stellenbosch is home to nearly 31,000 acres of vines and is perhaps the best known of South Africa’s wine regions.

Winemaking here dates to the end of the 17th century, and preserved Cape Dutch architecture still abounds.

Do you drink wine cold or warm?

Over chilling white wines can mute their flavours. Light, acidic whites, sparkling and very sweet wines should be served no higher than 10 deg C. 

Reds are best served slightly cooler than room temperature. Lighter fruity reds and the rose wines are best served lightly chilled, maybe an hour in the refrigerator.