Last year I shared a list of my top wines for summer, which I have updated with my Top South African Wine for Summer 2017. A few of the previous selection have remained unchanged, with the addition of a few newcomers.
Top South African Wine Summer 2017
Summer in the Cape means spending a great deal more time outdoors and enjoying the glorious weather! In the heat of the season fresher, lighter wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Rose, Chenin Blanc and MCC tend to replace heavier, full bodied wines.
Our list of Top South African Wine for Summer 2017 includes my favourites, as well as Grant’s picks, to give you a male perspective. Included in our write-up are our personal tasting notes, as well as notes from the vineyards or winemaker. The majority of the wines we have picked are affordable but still in our opinion premium South African Wine.
White Wine
Nitida Sauvignon Blanc
We first tasted this wine at the Durbanville Season of Sauvignon, and it has remained a favourite throughout 2016. Admittedly Sauvignon Blanc is not my wine of choice, but if I had to choose one to share with my friends, this would be it. It is a wonderfully balanced wine with a crisp, fresh finish. Think spritely lemongrass and fresh apples, giving way to mellow green fig and white peach around a heart of pure minerality. RRP 85.00 available from Nitida.
Fairview Sauvignon Blanc
Another one of Grant’s favourites and the perfect sushi wine {in his opinion}! Fresh melon flavours give way to lime undertone, which contributes to the wines generous mid-palate and clean, crisp finish. RRP 83.00 available from Darlingwine.co.za
Jordan The Outlier Sauvignon Blanc
Jordan’s The Outlier is a new favourite, which we first tasted on our trip to Jordan Wine last year. The Outlier is a barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc, which has incredible depth and complexity, with delicious tropical fruits on the pallet. Although barrel-fermented the oakiness is subtle and delivers a wonderfully rounded, full-mouth feel. It is a particularly good food wine, which I think pairs particularly well with fish. RRP130.00 available from Jordan or online from Cybercellar.com.
Lanzerac Sauvignon Blanc
The Lanzerac Sauvignon Blanc delivers fresh aromas of green fruit on the nose. It has zingy lemongrass on the palate, with subtle minerality, rounded off by a soft creaminess in the long finish due to extended lees contact. The lively acidity pairs very well with soft cheeses. RRP 80.00 available from Lanzerac.
Neil Ellis Cool Climate Sauvignon Blanc
This cool climate Sauvignon Blanc is a favourite of both Grant and myself. The wine is lively and aromatic with notes of passion fruit, pear and nettles. Intensely flavoured with fresh lime fruit, balanced acidity and purity. It is a great summer wine and pairs extremely well with seafood. Produced exclusively for Woolworths RRP 74.95.
Rose
Avondale Camissa
I immediately fell in love with this wine, when I tasted is it in the Vineyards on Avondale Wine Farm! Camissa is a blend of three flavourful varietals – 42% Muscat de Frontignan, 39% Mourvedre grapes and 19% Grenache. The aroma hints at rather sweet notes, but it is anything but on the palate. Camissa arrests the nose with rose petals, scented pelargonium and fresh red fruits of the earth. Hints of Turkish Delight and lemon zest attest to the perfect acidity of this wine. The bottle is particularly lovely as well. RRP 161.00 available from Avondale.
Domaine Grier French Rosé
This Rose is possibly my favourite summer wine! It is a typically dry, refreshing Rosé from the South of France, not technically South African I know but I still love it! Great to sip on its own and equally as good with food, especially seafood. The Domaine Grier French Rosé is well balanced with a classic minerality and soft fruit flavours of fresh strawberries and watermelon. RRP R74.95 Available from Woolworths.
Lanzerac Dry Rose
An iconic wine held in high regard by many generations of Stellenbosch wine-lovers, the Lanzerac Dry Rosé lives up to its name with soft aromatic notes of perfume and rose petals, crushed strawberries and redcurrants. Made from 48% Shiraz, 21% Malbec and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, it enjoyed a mere 2 hours of skin contact to give it its delicate pink colour and soft fruit flavours. RRP 80.00 available from Lanzerac.
Simonsig Chenin Blanc Pinotage
This wine is one of my more recent finds and one of my favourites. It is an enticing fruity blend of native South African grape varieties that accurately represents the Cape. The Chenin Blanc provides guava and tropical fruit flavours and a refreshing crispness, while the Pinotage brings plum and red berry and structure to the palate. RRP 54.95 available from Woolworths.
Fairview Rose Quartz
My first introduction to this wine was at Willoughbys at the V&A Waterfront. Pale rose quartz colour in the glass. Displaying notes of quince, rose petal and pomegranate with hints of cherries on the nose and a crisp mineral finish. This pale, fresh style rose is a welcome new addition to the Fairview range. A great summer wine, packed with fruit and complexity.Our rose petal pink Rose Quartz is a more serious style of rosé, made combining Carignan, Grenache and Cinsault. RRP 100.00 available from Fairview {currently out of stock}
Blends
Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir
Other than Sauvignon Blanc and the odd Chenin Blanc this is Grant’s wine of choice. The nose has both citrus and underlying red berry flavours. The Chardonnay provides creaminess and the Pinot Noir intensity. It is unwooded which is fresher and lighter than traditional Chardonnay wines. RRP 85.00 available from Haute Cabriere.
Sparkling Wine
Simonsig Pinot Noir Brut Rosé
The Pinot Noir Brut Rosé, which contains no-added-sulphur, is made exclusively for Woolworths. It is made with 100% Pinot Noir grape and has the palest salmon tinge with an enticingly fruity nose. In my opinion, it also has a faint flavour of whisky on the palate – leading to a crisp, dry finish. RRP 119.95 available from Woolworths.
Graham Beck Brut Rose
This wine will not need much introduction as I think it is a popular choice for most bubbly drinkers. The Graham Beck Brut Rose has a beautiful silver pink blush and is crafted in the traditional Methode Cap Classique. The combination of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes create a bubbly that bursts with flavour on your tongue.RRP 139.95 available from Woolworths.
L’Ormarins Brut Rosé
The L’Ormarins Rosé is a tantalising discovery! The first appeal of this wine is the gorgeous pale salmon colour. I love the mouthfeel, which is wonderfully lively, with crisp fruit flavours on the palate. From the first sip, I knew that this MCC would be a firm favourite this festive season! Available directly from the Anthonij Rupert Wine or online from Cybercellar in a gift box at R209 per bottle.
Lanzerac Blanc de Blancs Brut NV
This classic MCC is one of my more recent discoveries. Entirely made from selected Chardonnay vineyards this MCC has typical fresh citrus and lime flavours on the nose, with a biscuit, yeasty undercurrent on the palate. Cellar Price R180 available from online Lanzerac.
Boschendal Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut
The Boschendal Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut has a pale gold hue, with a flourish of delicate bubbles. Enticing notes of lemon cream and almond Biscotti precedes a soft explosion of zesty lemon and orange peel, that finishes with appealing length and freshness. Available directly from the estate or online from Bottleshop at R129 per bottle.
In Closing
I hope, you have found this list of Top South African Wine for Summer 2017 helpful, especially when it comes to selecting wines to enjoy in summer and beyond. Do you have any favourites you would like to share? Please leave a comment below.
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