Tag: south africa

Winemaking has been around for hundreds of years.  We are very familiar with wines coming from Europe, in particular France, where we talk about Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne.  We typically call Europe the “Old World” wine region, while wines made from the southern hemisphere, are known as the “New World“, plus North America.  But where did the grapes come from…

Wanderlust.  We must all have it after staying in our homes for the past two years due to COVID.  Maybe venturing out to a nearby city or town within a day’s driving distance, but not getting on an airplane and going where your heart desires.  I love wine, and I enjoy going to wine regions around the world, meeting winemakers…

Do you have a coterie? A small group of people with shared interests or tastes, especially one that is exclusive of other people? I think you probably have a small group of friends that you enjoy drinking wine with. I do. They are my coterie. Today I sampled the Wildeberg Coterie Cabernet Franc & Malbec 2018 wine from the Franschhoek…

Today I have wines from the two signature grapes of South Africa; Chenin Blanc and Pinotage.  Chenin Blanc hailing from France but has flourished in South Africa. Pinotage, a red grape, was created in South Africa in the early 1920s, by crossing Pinot Noir and Cinsault.    Kanonkop Wine Estate and Ken Forrester Vineyards are both located in the quality…

Can BC wines age well?  That is a question that has been asked for a while.  A few years ago at a VQA Trade Seminar, I was able to taste a sample of aged, 10 years +, wines.  The wines were not past their prime and some could still age I believe.  So I was very curious about this bottle…

You may say that 1990 was when South African wine came on the international scene.  That is the year that Nelson Mandela was released and sanctions against South Africa were subsequently lifted.  Before that time South African wines were made in a style that pleased the South Africa palate.  But opening their wines up to the world and a more…

How would you like to do a guided virtual wine tasting from the Champagne region in France or with someone in Napa Valley, California?  You can on June 17 through the “Wine on Earth Taste-A-Thon”.  Here is the press release about this global wine event. ~~~ A series of virtual tastings hosted by 16 wine regions from Australia, France, Italy, Japan,…

Wines come in all categories from inexpensive to ultra-expensive, with associated levels of quality.  But there are exceptions, such as when a wine delivers higher quality than the price point.  Have you ever tried wines from South Africa?  South Africa has been producing wines longer than some Old World wineries yet is viewed as New World, like Canada, the USA…

Wine has been produced in South Africa since 1659, that is a lot longer than wines made in North America.  2059 will be 400 years of winemaking for South Africa. They have had time to figure out their terroir; to know which grapes grow best in different parts of the country.  South African wine is in general neither as austere…

My first Trade tasting for 2019 was this week, with agents showing the latest new wines they have brought to Vancouver or new vintages of wines that are currently in our market.  I was quite surprised by how many sparkling wines I had a chance to try.  I normally see a peak interest in sparkling wine leading up to the…