South Africa
The breathtakingly beautiful Cape Winelands are spread over a relatively small area, but the biodiversity of its winegrowing sites ensures that the area can produce an extensive range of wines to excite wine lovers the world over.
Ironically, South Africa is often labeled as a “New World” wine-producing country; however, winemaking is anything but “new” at the tip of Africa. Vines were originally planted in the Cape of Good Hope in 1655 after the first cultivars were imported by the Dutch.
In the South Africa winelands, the constant interplay between ancient geology, valley slopes, soaring mountains and coastal breezes results in an extraordinary biodiversity which is reflected in its indigenous flora. The Cape floral kingdom is the smallest yet richest plant kingdom on earth. Recently declared a world heritage site, it is home to some 9600 plant species and tens of thousands of animal species.
This biodiversity is the result of a complex terroir, which is also the fundamental influence on the unique diversity and quality of wines from the Capes vineyards.
Coupled to this, a winemaking tradition and history dating back 350 years blends the restrained elegance of the Old World with the accessible fruit-driven styles of the New, making for wines which eloquently express the unique terroir of South Africa.
|
