south african wines
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SOUTH AFRICAN WINES
• South African Red Grape Varieties :
Pinotage, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon.• South African White Grape Varieties : Sauvignon Blanc,
Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc.• Key Regions : Stellenbosch, Constancia, Robertson,
Walker Bay.• Key Wines : Beyerskloof Pinotage, Cordoba Merlot
Stellenbosch, Vergelen Cabernet Sauvignon.• Characteristics of South African : elegant, complex,
similar in style to French wines with more fruit flavours.
Cherry
Plum
Rose
MERLOT
Merlot gives soft, undemanding, easy-todrink wines with soft tannins.The best quality merlot tend to follow one of two styles • International Style : Some are made from grapes that are harvested as late as to generate the maximum degree of purple colour, blackberry and plum fruit, and soft, velvet-textured tannins, combined with a rich, full body due to high alcohol and concentrated fruit.
• Bordeaux Style :The other approach is to harvest earlier and make a wine with lighter body and alcohol, but with higher acidity and more of a red fruit character ( raspberries, strawberries ) and even some vegetal flavours.
The South African Merlot is capable of producing very dark, plummy wines,that are similar to Bordeaux style.Key regions : StellenboschKey wines : Cordoba, Meerlust.
PINOTAGETHIS IS THE FLAGSHIP OF
SOUTH AFRICA.
This grape variety creates wines in arange of styles. It is sometimes blendedwith international varieties, as a part of aCape Blend.On its own, typical Pinotage has a red berry fruit character, full bodied, withwich, spiced, berry fruit.
Key South African Regions : Stellenbosch
Key wines : Beyerkloof
Blackberries
Spices
Pepper
CHENIN BLANC
The most planted vine of South Africa. It iscapable of producing a broad range of wines
from the bone-dry to great sweet wines. Wines made fromChenin Blanc tend to be high in acidity, with some vegetalnotes, aromas of green apples and flavours of citrus notes.Late harvested sweet versions can have powerful aromas
of exotic fruit flavours, pineapple, and their intense sweetnesswill be balanced by high acidity.
Key South African Regions : Stellenbosch
Key wines : Steen Op Hout
Flowers
Nuts
Peach
South African Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc in South Africa is alsogrown with great success, showing a range
of possible styles. Some are light, crisp and fullof the grassy varietal character. Others take advantage
of oak to supply strucuture and complexity, and are able todevelop nutty and vegetal flavours in the bottle.
Key South African Regions :Constancia.
Key Wines : Steenberg, Buitenverwachting.
Apple
Grass
Asparagus
SPANISH WINES
• Red Spanish grape varieties : Tempranillo,
Carignan, Mourvèdre, Grenache.
• White Spanish grape varieties : Parellada,
Macabeo, Chardonnay.
• Key regions : Penedes, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Somontano, Navarra, Catalunya.
• Key wines : cabernet sauvignon from Penedes, Chardonnay from Somontano
SPANISH WINE GROWING REGIONS
Grenache
Blackberries
Spices
Herbs
A strong grape variety for red wine that supports extrem heat. The grape has a thinskin with little colour in it, which makes it verysuitable for producing rosé. The grape is ripening slowly and thus develop a high level of sugar.The wines are highin alcohol, very fruity, almost sweet taste. It tastesblack berry and some pepper notes.
Key Regions : Rioja, Navarra.
Key Wines : Sangre de Toro Torres
Carignan
Deeply colour wines, powerful with strong tannins. Usually used as a blend, it brings some power and Character to the wine. It ripens quite late, so can only be grown in warm to hot climates. It gives wines that are high in acidity, tannin and colour.
Key Regions : Catalunya
Key Wines : Torres Sangre del Torro
Pepper
Plum
Black pepper
TEMPRANILLO
Strawberries
Spices
Dried Fruit
Tempranillo takes its name from the Spanish wordTremprano, which means early, and its great advantage is that it is early ripening. The wines are low in acidity, tastes strawberry, spices and it shows its best when blended with other varieties.
Key Regions : Rioja, Navarra.
Key Wines : Coronas Torres