South African Wines

June 11th is the start of World Cup and all eyes will be on South Africa. What better time to talk about some of the absolutely fantastic wines that come from this beautiful country.

I know that South African wines don't really get the respect that they deserve. There were a lot of really bad wines out there, for a really long time. I'm going to be blunt, there still are a lot of bad wines coming out of South Africa. But let's be fair, there's bad wine from every country on the planet. Thankfully, I'm not going to be writing about bad South African wines.

So, let's talk wine! First of all, you can find some tremendous values from this country. The first value that comes to mind are the wines from Fairvalley. As most of the wines from South Africa, Fairvalley is a product of a co-op winery. 36 family owned vineyards from different wine regions (mostly from the Stellenbosch and Paarl) team up to create varietal wines that reflect exactly what South Africa is made of. What's brilliant about co-op wines is the pricepoint; Fairvalley sells at most retailers for about $10.

Chenin Blanc is the most widely planted grape in the country, about 30% of all grapes grown in South Africa is Chenin Blanc. The Fairvalley Chenin Blanc (which is also known as "Steen" when from South Africa) is light bodied, with beautiful acidity and bone dry. It would be a perfect compliment to a hot summer day.

Pinotage is a grape that is uniquely South African; it is a hybrid grape, a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault. What that creates is a wine with the fruit of a Pinot Noir with the earthy qualities of a Rhone wine. Great idea, but it's not always executed properly, many Pinotages have a smoky funk that have been compared to wet band-aid. Fairvalley, however, nails it. It has bold fruit up front with a complex mid-palate with notes of cedar, leather and campfire. During barbeque season, it's a must have. Ribs, burgers, steak, oooh portabella mushroom!

One more? Okay, I have one more. Little known fact about me, I love riesling. Make that good riesling, I love a good riesling. Paul Cluver makes the best riesling from South Africa that I've ever tasted. The estate has been in the Cluver family for the last four generations. The wine itself is vibrantly fruity and floral, acidic and lightly sweet. I love spicy foods and this gem would pair beautifully with some pad thai or some tika masala.

While you're watching World Cup this year, maybe a little bored due to lack of goal scoring, make it a little easier on yourself by enjoying the fruits of the land that is hosting this great event.