South Africa has been producing wine for over 350 years, earning a reputation as one of the most exciting wine regions in the world. Although South Africa’s wines are considered to be from the New World, winemaking has been taking place there since the 1600s. South Africa is also where New World and Old World winemaking styles meet.
In these areas and others spanning the Western half of the country, bright and vibrant New World fruits combine with Old World complexity. With its diverse climates and soils, the country is home to a wide range of wine styles that cater to every palate. Whether you’re looking for a bold red to pair with grilled meats or a zesty white for a warm afternoon, South Africa’s wines provide something special for every occasion. So you can find both New World wine with fresh and fruity notes and more traditional reds with rich complexity and subtle earthy undertones.
Let’s take a deep dive into the world of South African red wine and explore some of the best red wines, the most popular red wine regions, and some delicious food pairings.
Top 10 South African Red Wines
Here are some of the best South African red wine bottles that you can buy now:
- 2015 Tokara 'Telos' ($388): This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec. It’s a great wine with crisp acidity and a complex yet well-balanced palate with notes of red fruit and blackberries.
- 2012 De Toren The Black Lion Shiraz ($378): This is a high quality wine - intense and deep with clean aromas of coffee, chocolate, and plum. It has a brilliant, long finish of oaky and black fruit flavour notes that linger on the palate.
- 2009 Delaire Graff Estate Laurence Graff Reserve ($446): This robust Cabernet Sauvignon has a vivid mix of oak, black fruit, and tobacco flavor notes. The wine has a great balance of elegance and intensity with opulent vanilla and spice aromas.
- 2016 Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage ($210): This exceptional Pinotage from the Kanonkop estate has complex forest floor, smoke, and leather aromas. It’s bold and smooth with enticing flavour notes of chocolate and oak - the perfect match for any red wine enthusiast.
- 2017 Bouchard Finlayson Tete de Cuvee Galpin Peak Pinot Noir ($115): This delectable red wine is made exclusively from the Pinot Noir grape variety. It’s refreshing, smooth, and easy to drink with gorgeous notes of juicy plum, red fruit, and forest floor.
- 2016 Vilafonte Series M ($52): A Malbec-Merlot blend, this red wine is layered with crisp acidity and a subtle sweetness. After some aeration, the palate reveals rich flavor notes of chocolate, plum, and blackberry.
- 2013 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir ($71): This elegant red wine has a delicate nose and a flavorful palate. It has a smooth mouthfeel with notes of ripe fruit, earth, and a genial strawberry aftertaste.
- 2016 Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block ($37): This classic Syrah has a full-bodied mouthfeel and a bold, complex nose with strong notes of dark chocolate, blackberry, and leather.
- 2012 Neil Ellis 'Webb Ellis' ($69): This red blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot is an elegant wine with an exciting nose of dark fruit, cherry, and spice. It has a smooth, balanced, and full-bodied palate.
- 2013 De Wetshof Danie de Wet Nature in Concert Pinot Noir ($65): Hailing from the Breede River Valley, this Pinot Noir is smooth with a dry finish.
These red wines have also shown some price appreciation in recent years. For instance, the 2016 Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage appreciated in value from $158 in 2019 to $210 in 2021 - a 32% increase.
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South African red wines also perform well at auctions. At a Christie’s auction in 2018:
- Six bottles of the 2007 Vilafonté Series "M" sold for $1728.
- A mixed case of South Africa Grand Crus featuring wines such as the 2009 Boekenhoutskloof and the 2009 Kanonkop Paul Sauer sold for $785.
The 2016 Black Label Pinotage was awarded 96 points by the renowned wine critic Tim Atkin for its rich, layered complexity and tannins.
The History of South African Wine for WSET Level 4 (Diploma)
Key South African Red Grape Varieties
South Africa boasts several signature grape varieties that contribute to its unique wine profile:
- Pinotage: A uniquely South African grape, Pinotage is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault.
- Chenin Blanc: Known locally as "Steen," Chenin Blanc is South Africa's most planted grape.
Winemakers are experimenting with other black grapes, including Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsault, but the big hitting varieties make up the bulk of this year’s award-winning bottles from the IWSC.
Stellar Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage and more are now produced in the major vine-growing areas of Stellenbosch, Constantia and Paarl.
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In an impressive year for South African reds, twelve Gold Medals were awarded to producers. Pinotage made a splash this year too, with the peppery Fairview Barrel-Aged Pinotage 2020 and Kanu Wines Pinotage 2019 both picking up Silver Medals.
Examples of award-winning South African Red Wines:
- Vilafonté, Series C 2014, Paarl
- Origin Wine, Tesco Finest Shiraz 2020, Swartland
- Old Road Wine Co, 12 Mile Syrah 2018, Coastal Region
- Kleine Zalze, Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Stellenbosch
- Boschendal, Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Stellenbosch
- Vergelegen Wines, G.V.B 2015, Stellenbosch
- Distell limited, Nederburg Private Bin Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Coastal Region
- Bartinney, Skyfall Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Western Cape
- Bouchard Finlayson, Galpin Peak Pinot Noir 2019, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
- Fairview, Barrel-Aged Pinotage 2020, Paarl
- Kanu Wines, Pinotage 2019, Western Cape
- Glen Carlou, Syrah 2019, Simonsberg-Paarl
- Beyerskloof, Diesel Pinotage 2015, Stellenbosch
- Beau Constantia, Aidan 2017, Constantia
- Spier, Creative Block 3 Shiraz-Mourvèdre-Viognier 2017, Coastal Region
- Kanonkop Wine Estate, Black Label Pinotage 2011, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
- Babylonstoren, Nebukadnesar 2019, Simonsberg-Paarl
- Peter Falke Wines, Signature Kanoa Exclusive Blend 2016, Stellenbosch
- Saronsberg, Full Circle 2019, Tulbagh
- Accolade Wines Europe, Flagstone Music Room Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Western Cape
South African Red Wine Regions
South Africa is home to some great wine regions - the most well-known of these are found around the Western Cape. Let’s take a look at them:
- Stellenbosch: With over 200 operating wineries, Stellenbosch plays an important role in the South African wine industry scene. Its vineyard lands benefit from the hot summers and cool, humid winters. The area has rich sandy and granite soils. The wine region produces mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, and the traditional Cape Blend (a blend of Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot). Apart from red wine, the region is known for its world-renowned Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Pinot Gris wines.
- Paarl: Paarl is the second-largest South African wine region. Its vineyard plots are located in the middle of two mountain ranges with the Berg river flowing right through. It’s the hottest wine region in the Western Cape and has lots of different soil types. This creates excellent conditions for growing red and white wine grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Chenin Blanc, and Chardonnay. In the past, the area was known for its white wine, but in recent years it has established a great reputation for its well-crafted red wine styles.
- Swartland: Swartland grows the following Pinotage and Pinot Noir wine grape varieties: Pinotage, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chenin Blanc. The hot climate gave way to the growing of bush vines which produce concentrated, high-quality grapes. The soils are sandy with granite deposits.
- Walker Bay: The Walker Bay wine region has a relatively cool climate which provides ideal conditions for the long and steady ripening of its grapes. Today, Walker Bay produces some of the best Pinotage in South Africa. The region also grows Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. Some of the most renowned wine estates in the region include: Hamilton Russell, Newton Johnson, and Bouchard Finlayson.
Best Food Pairings with South African Red Wine
Most South African red wine styles are rich, aromatic, and hearty. This makes them a great accompaniment to South African dishes.
- Boerewors casserole: This dish pairs well with rich, full-bodied red like Pinotage.
- Chakalaka: This vibrant chili dish goes well with Merlot and Syrah.
- Bobotie: This dish is a South African version of Moussaka. It pairs beautifully with Pinot Noir and Pinotage.
These classic South African meals are sure to please any red wine lover looking for some hearty food pairings during their wine tasting.
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The IWSC Wine Judging Process
We run a tightly structured, rigorous wine tasting process. That means that each wine sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC wine judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the wine industry. Only the best wines sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, wines have to score between 95 and 100 points.
Club O is an exclusive community and the go-to platform for wine and spirit lovers. Our flagship Club Oenologique magazine offers even more insights for enthusiasts and collectors. Based in London, our editorial team tells informative, inspirational stories from the world of wine and spirits, gastronomy and travel, as well as covering recommendations and the latest trends in drink. You can take a look at our Explained series, for instance, where we’re tackling grape varieties, regions and styles of wine and spirits.
South African wines offer a unique combination of quality, value, and diversity.
Table: Key Characteristics of South African Red Wine Regions
| Region | Climate | Soil Types | Key Grape Varieties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stellenbosch | Hot summers, cool humid winters | Sandy, granite | Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Cape Blend |
| Paarl | Hottest in Western Cape | Diverse | Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay |
| Swartland | Hot | Sandy with granite deposits | Pinotage, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc |
| Walker Bay | Cool | - | Pinotage, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc |
