WINE & FOOD IN SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa is a paradise not only for holidaymakers but also for lovers of fine food and wine. The wine estates around Stellenbosch in particular are likely to seem like a Garden of Eden to you. South African winemakers produce outstanding wines at very fair prices. Swiss wine merchant Andy Zimmermann lived in Cape Town for many years. He knows the best wine estates, the best vineyards and the best wines. In an interview with REISEWELTEN, the founder and managing director of KapWeine explains why South African wines are among the finest in the world.

Mr Zimmermann, what makes South Africa’s wines so good?

The soils, the climate and the winemakers, who just keep getting better. South Africa has the oldest soils in the world, and they are also extremely varied. On top of that comes a Mediterranean climate that benefits from the cool Atlantic. Together, these create a terroir that can hold its own with the best in the world.

Which is the country’s most important wine-growing region?

The heart of the South African wine industry is undoubtedly Stellenbosch, where most of the great wines have been produced for a long time. Stellenbosch was founded in 1679, after the first vines had been planted in Cape Town and Constantia in 1652.

Which grape varieties produce South Africa’s best wines?

South Africa has traditionally shone with its Bordeaux blends. Cuvées dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon are among its great strengths. Among the reds there are also superb single-varietal wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and the indigenous Pinotage. Among the whites, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc stand out.

How good is the value for money of South African wines?

South Africa offers excellent value for money, especially in the price range between 20 and 50 francs. There you will already find a number of wines with 90 to 93 Parker points for 20 to 30 francs.

Stellenbosch tempts visitors not only with great wines but also with beautiful wineries.
That’s true – that alone makes a trip to the Cape worthwhile, where wine has been made for over 350 years. A journey through the wine regions is therefore also a kind of journey back in time. The architecture of the wine estates reflects the country’s history – from its discovery by the Portuguese, through settlement by the Dutch and the British takeover, to independence and the end of apartheid. You will find the whole spectrum here, from the Dutch-influenced Cape Dutch style to ultra-modern wine estates.

Delaire near Stellenbosch is one of the flagship wine estates. Why should a wine connoisseur visit Delaire?

Its owner, Laurence Graff, is one of the most famous diamond dealers in the world. At the age of just 20 he learned how to turn a rough diamond into a piece of jewellery. And that is exactly what he has done with the Delaire Graff wine estate.

Which is your favourite wine from the Delaire range?

Delaire has more than ten different wines, and all of them are above average – good to very good at the very least, and some of them outstanding. My absolute favourite, though, is the Bordeaux blend Botmaskop: a wine with fine fruit aromas paired with delicate tannins, complexity and density, combined with a classic structure – but always with just the right touch of elegance, leading into a long, intense finish.

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