Buying Wine from South Africa
Wine Online and Offline
South African wines have become the drink of choice for many connoisseurs, and the amazing range of wines that are available from the country have also made it popular with people who want to try a different or unique vintage. Some of the very best wines in the world are made in South Africa, and it is natural that people there and all around the globe should seriously consider purchasing South African wines. There are a number of different ways in which the interested outsider can by wines, but knowing the different methods can help you to get exactly what you want.
Many people buy South African wine without even realising it, picking up bottles from their local supermarket or mall. These are often very good wines, but not the top quality products that South Africa can produce, so if you are looking for something a little bit special from the country, then you may need to look further afield. The first place to try could be a local wine supplier, but the majority of buyers turn to the internet in order to get what they want. The reason for this is that online stores allow you to look at different types of wine, and provide you with descriptions of their tastes and place of manufacture which can be very useful to the first-time buyer.
If you have decided to purchase South African wine, then the first thing that you need to consider is the type of wine you like. You may want a white wine, such as Chardonnay or Sauvignon blanc, or you may prefer to choose a red wine such as the Cabernet Sauvignon. South Africa is also famous for its Pinotage wine, which can divide connoisseurs, and is a mixture of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut. The advantage to South African wines is that they have a clear description of the origin on the labels, so for example a Coastal region wine will be produced in the area near Cape Town, while other regions may be further away from the capital, and their wines will have a different taste.
South Africa takes its ‘Wine of Origin’ label very seriously, and it can be a handy guide for anyone who is not knowledgeable about South African wines. This label on a wine bottle indicates that the wine must come from the region, district or ward which is described in detail on the bottle, with no other grapes used in the distilling process. A ‘Single Vineyard’ wine is even more specific, with the grapes coming from a clearly defined growing area which amounts to no more than 5 hectares. The more ambiguous ‘Estate Wine‘ suggests that wines all come from connected farms in the same area, and the wine must be produced on the estate.
To find out more about the wines of South Africa, and about the wines that you prefer, use the search facilities on the site, or look under the Wine tab for details about popular wines.
