About South African Wine

About South African Wine
Today, South Africa ranks as the eight largest producer of wine in the world. The wines however a still largely a secret, as there has not been a serious marketing push for these products.

There are several excellent wine types, both white and red. For the former, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc have excelled, while for the red, international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are recent successes, joining the local variety Pinotage.

The Chenin Blancs offer great varietal purity and are made in a dry to off-dry style. Sauvignon Blancs, especially those from the Western Cape or Stellenbosch areas, offering excellent varietal focus and impressive structure, have been critically praised.

However, the reds, thought quite good, are less recognized, with Pinotage still a bit of a mystery as far as its image. Perhaps they producers will be able to get their message across soon about the quality of its wines, which will lead to better consumer recognition and additional sales.

Top Picks for South Africa

Coastal Vibes NV  Sauvignon Blanc
92 points
$4
Best Buy
Has the herbal components to pair brilliantly with Thai food, but be careful, this wine is totally dry so it won't help to quench the heat.
92 points $4 Best Buy
Sunscape NV  Sauvignon Blanc
92 points
$9
Best Buy
Herbaceous with restrained fruit aromatics; a beautiful, lean, and textbook example of Sauvignon Blanc.
92 points $9 Best Buy
Babylonstoren 2020 Babel Red Blend Paarl Red
89 points
$23
A nicely smoky, chewy red blend that will excel with grilled meats.
Frisky Zebras NV Game Ranger Reserve Seductive Shiraz
89 points
$9
Best Buy
A juicy Shiraz that brings plenty of red fruits and herbal interest to the table.
89 points $9 Best Buy
Babylonstoren 2021 Candide White Blend Western Cape
88 points
$19
A creamy and mellow white wine with interesting nuances.
Stellar Organics 2020  Cabernet Sauvignon
87 points
$9
Best Buy
Hints of dark berries under layers of savory mole and spice make this an fun choice to pair with meals cooked over an open flame.
87 points $9 Best Buy
Babylonstoren 2021 Rosé Mourvedre
85 points
$22
A light savory wine that will be nice with grilled vegetables.
Frisky Zebras NV Game Ranger Reserve Sensuous Sauvignon Blanc
85 points
$9
Vibrant aromas of peppers and herbs steal the show in this sprightly Sauvignon Blanc.
Frisky Zebras NV Game Ranger Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
85 points
$29
An herb and smoke laced weeknight Cabernet with heft and lift.
Kusafiri 2020 Organic Red Blend Coastal Region
83 points
$17
A bold and smoky South African Red.