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located in the Western Cape and just north of Cape stone fruit finish, and pleasing notes of litchi, rose-
Town. The vineyards here appear predominately on water and almonds. You cannot miss the smooth
the northern side of the Paardeberg mountain. The floral aroma that engulfs the senses. It is a wine
hot and dry climate is ideal for producing fruitier that ages with grace and can stand the test of time.
wines. Scorching temperatures also decrease the
negative impact of fungal disease. Bush vines can Donkiesbaai “Steen”
withstand dry conditions and survive due to their Chenin Blanc
ability to pull water from deep layers of soil. Since
they are drought resistant, they are planted in the Steen is still one of South Africa’s
hottest and driest area of the ward. Chemin Blanc most popular white wines made
and Shiraz are key grape varietals harvested in the from grapes in the Witzenberg and
“black land” Swartland. Black Land is a name to Piekenierskloof vineyards. Jean
denote the rhinoceros bush, which turns black after Engelbrecht, owner of the infamous
a rainfall. Rust en Vrede winery and Don-
kiesbaai winery, is the ingenious
Another Western Cape region where the vines winemaker at the helm of the masterful creation of
grow on fertile soils with granite deposits and this robust, smooth tropical wine. Lively aromas of
immense clay volumes is Constantia—recognized pineapple, peach, apricot and lime provide the right
as an early immigration settlement in 1685 of the balance for seafood dishes or rich pasta entrees.
Dutch. The highly esteemed sweet wine touted
by European nobility and celebrated by esteemed Beyerskloof Diesel
authors Charles Dickens and Jane Austen isn’t the Pinotage 2017
only premium wine produced in this region today.
Bordeaux Blends, a combination of deep rich reds This full bodied, deep, dry red wine
ranging from Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon as with deep vanilla, oak, chocolate,
a base coupled with another grape variety, has plum and black cherry aromas has
become an adored South African wine selection. rave reviews from vino connoisseurs
Since this region is surrounded by two oceans and who have been lucky enough to
experiences considerable shade from the moun- get their hands on the Beyerskloof
tains, cooler temperatures are the norm. The result winery cultivation. It is considered a
of these cooling winds is the retention of acidity in premium Pinotage, and limited bottles are available
the grapes. This region is also known for its sublime for purchase. You may have to join the list to get
Sauvignon Blanc. your hands on a bottle of it. This wine pairs well
with spicy dishes or a perfectly seared flank steak.
NOTABLE SOUTH AFRICAN WINES If you are an animal lover, you may be happy to
know that the name Diesel is a tribute to the wine-
Klein Constantia “Vin de maker’s dog.
Constance” Constantia (2017)

A prestigious dessert wine that
almost met its end continues to
dazzle the palate of the wine world-
at-large thanks to its resurrection
in the late 20th century. The Jooste
family acquired Klein Constantia,
who embarked on this revival with
Professor Chris Orffer, a viticulturist. To achieve
their aim of unearthing this golden, unfortified
sweet wine of the past in its most authentic form,
they used the expertise of renowned winemaker
Ross Gower. Vin De Constance, made from Muscat
de Frontignan grapes, is a di-vine sunkissed hued
wine with a beautiful burst of citrus zest, a creamy

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