I have started this blog as I sit here in the lovely winelands of South Africa (near Cape Town). I will periodically comment on South African wines and events, and will also share some of my travel adventures as I travel around Africa (for my "other" work, in HIV/AIDS).....
I admit I am partial, because I live in South Africa (a transplant here from the US since Jan 2001) and import South African wines into the US. But we just wish there was more appreciation, awareness, and interest in the US toward the great wines coming out of this gorgeous, exciting country. There are some serious pockets of intense interest among some American wine drinkers, retailers and distributors, but there are also many who "dis" the category and relegate it to the back corner of their shops (and minds). This should not be so.
The South African winelands are among (if not THE) most beautiful in the world (think craggy mountains, rugged coastal areas, sloping vineyards, quaint wine towns, flowering trees), the weather is phenomenal, the flora and fauna are diverse and interesting to novices and scientists alike, the SA winemakers are a talented and innovative bunch (and some of the nicest people you ever want to meet), the exchange rates are in our favor (this is one place the dollar is actually stronger than ever), and this should be a premier destination for tourists and wine lovers from the US as it is for many Europeans. I haven't even mentioned the restaurants, which are some of the finest in the world, serving everything from traditional Cape Malay curries to Asian fusion to European nouvelle cuisine, to sushi.
This country -- known as the "Rainbow Nation" for its incredible ethnic diversity -- is on the move (with bumps along the way) economically, politically, and socially and has changed and grown dramatically in its 15 short years of democracy (since the end of the much-loathed Apartheid). Nelson Mandela is still around (at 90) to inspire and make people want to do better. He was instrumental in helping South Africa win the much-coveted rights to host the soccer World Cup in 2010 -- a very big deal, which will see hundreds of thousands of soccer fans descending on the 9 stadium cities around the country in June-July 2010. The country has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, and is the envy of many Middle Eastern governments for its peaceful transition to democracy and end to Apartheid.
Like everything else, winemaking in South Africa is also on the move. The wines coming out of South Africa have developed since the bad old days, and are now winning awards and recognition around the world. More on some wines to watch in the next post.
Most people call South Africa a "new world" wine producer, and in a way it is. But it is by far the OLDEST of the new world wine regions, and has just had its 350th anniversary of winemaking. The first grapevines were planted in the Cape of Good Hope (now Cape Town) after the establishment of a colony there in 1656 to serve as a stopping place for traders/travelers between the East Indies and Europe. The first grapes were pressed in 1659, and the settlers quickly realized how ideal the growing conditions were in this part of the world. Napoleon and Marie Antoinette reportedly used to enjoy South African wines, especially the dessert wines of the Constantia region. So, this is not your typical "New World" wine region.
