Celebrating South Africa

by Kato on July 4, 2010 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with 1 Comment

Football (soccer) may not be your passion, but I hope that the next few weeks will prompt you to explore the wonderful wines of the World Cup host nation, South Africa. This country is unique in the New World/hot climate context in that while the wines are rich with big flavours, they don’t feel heavy. You’ll find lots of vitality and easy drinkability. And prices are low as the country struggles to compete with sexy Australia and value-king Chile.

Fans of Rhone Syrah will notice a similar earthiness in most South African reds. I’m told it has something to do with the country’s billion-year-old soils. Earthy reds are the perfect partner for BBQ’d meats – which is the chief diet of South Africans.

Recommended South African Wines

WHITES
NEDERBURG 08 Sauvignon Blanc 283713 $10.95
. . . crowd-pleaser

BEACH HOUSE 09 Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 22390 $9.95
. . . zesty, party refresher

KWV 09 Chenin Blanc 18689  $7.95
. . . best value house wine

GRAHAM BECK 09 Chardonnay/Viognier 140608 $11.95
. . . yummy, yummy

REDS
NEDERBURG 08 Shiraz 527547  $10.95
. . . lively and lovely

SEBEKA 09 Shiraz 129635 $10.95
. . . spicy, smooth, super nice

BELLINGHAM 07 Shiraz/Viognier 554360  $13.65
. . . flavourful, earthy and good with everything

FAIRVIEW 08 Goats do Roam 718940
. . . smoky, rustic BBQ wine

KWV 07 Roodeberg 7187 $12.55
. . . earthy, gutsy

PORCUPINE RIDGE 09 Syrah 595280 $14.95
. . . bold flavours

Kato
Kato Wake is an entrepreneur – a creative thinker and a visual maker with over twenty years experience in the design business. She possesses strong communication skills and has managed teams and groups of many sizes. Creative, resourceful and curious by nature – Kato is an ideas person and a problem solver. She sees the big picture, the practical steps needed to achieve it and the means to do so. Experienced with both print and web, she is motivated by serving the client and communicating ‘their story’ – however it needs to be told. She has been involved in the restaurant and hospitality industry for almost as long as Billy – but hasn't drunk quite so much. Over the years, Kato has instructed hundreds of hospitality workers in 'the art of service' and has implemented training programs for several restaurants. Presently, Kato manages both the print and web for Billy’s Best Bottles (www.billysbestbottles.com) and has designed 10 editions of Billy’s Best Bottles annual wine book – which has been a Canadian best seller each year. She also designed Kathy Guidi’s book on Canadian Cheese (published by McArthur and Company) and is currently designing a breakfast cookbook for County resident Elizabeth Pulker. As Billy's 'right hand woman', she helps him conduct seminars is is the 'operations manager' behind the Wine with Life Tours. :)
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One Comment on "Celebrating South Africa"

  1. Paul B. says:
    July 5, 2010 at 11:52 am

    Thanks very much for the info on these SA releases. I really miss the old Zonnebloem Pinotage. I wish that Pinotages of a similar style were still imported. Everything now seems to be getting so sweet and innocuous … and expensive! I don’t like the new-style wines nearly as much.

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