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South African wine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
South African wine has been produced since 1659, when the first wine was produced by the Commander of the Cape, Jan van Riebeeck. Production is concentrated in the south-west of the country, with major vineyard and production centres at Paarl, Stellenbosch and Worcester.
SAWIS (South African Wine Information and Systems) reported in 2005 that the country had 100,207 hectares of vineyards, with about 55 percent planted in white varieties. 19.1 percent of vineyard area was planted in Chenin Blanc; 11.2 percent in Colombard; 11 percent in Sultana (a grape also used for raisins and table grapes), with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc each accounting for less than 7.5 percent of the national vineyard area.
The 2005 statistics indicated that 13.5 percent of South Africa's vineyard area was planted in Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9.4 percent in Shiraz, with Merlot and Pinotage planted in seven percent and 6.7 percent of the national vineyard area respectively.
A Wine of Origin system was implemented in 1973 with designated production regions, districts and wards. There are nearly 60 officially declared appellations. Many South African wine estates are national monuments because of their age and historical importance.
Dr. Abraham Izak Perold, the first Professor of Viticulture at the University of Stellenbosch, developed the Pinotage grape variety in 1925 through crossing Pinot Noir and Cinsault. Pinotage is a wine for which South Africa is well known.
Other notable varieties include Riesling, known in South Africa as Weisser Riesling, Crouchen, a French varietal known as "Cape Riesling", Trebbiano, an Italian grape known as "Ugni Blanc", and Muscat. [1]
- ^ Stuart Walton, Understanding, Choosing and Enjoying Wine Hermes House 2006, pg. 226
| Wine styles: | Red/White • Rosé/Blush • Sparkling • Dessert • Fortified • Fruit • Ice Wine | |
| Notable varietals: |
White Albariño • Chardonnay • Chenin blanc • Gewürztraminer • Muscat • Pinot blanc • Pinot gris • Riesling • Sauvignon blanc • Sémillon • Viognier |
Red Cabernet Franc • Cabernet Sauvignon • Carmenère • Durif • Gamay • Grenache • Malbec • Merlot • Petit Verdot • Pinotage • Pinot noir • Sangiovese • Syrah/Shiraz • Tempranillo • Zinfandel |
| Notable regionals: |
Amarone • Asti • Barolo • Barossa • Beaujolais • Bordeaux • Burgundy • Chablis • Champagne • Chianti • Commandaria • Dão • Egri Bikavér • Madeira • Marsala • Port • Retsina • Rhône • Rioja • Sancerre • Sauternes • Sherry • Tokaji • Valpolicella • Vermouth • Vinho Verde • Vouvray | |
| See also: | Glossary of wine terms • List of grape varieties • List of wine-producing regions • List of wine producing countries • Winemaking | |
Argentina • Australia • Bulgaria • Canada • Chile • China • Cyprus • Czech Republic • France • Germany • Georgia • Greece • Israel • Italy • Lebanon • Moldova • New Zealand • Portugal • Romania • South Africa • Spain • Switzerland • Ukraine • United Kingdom • United States of America
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