What Grape Varieties to expect in the Cape Town WinelandsNeedless to say that the grape varieties grown in the Cape Town Winelands cover virtually every conceivable grape known to man.
What we aim to do is cover the main grapes to allow the first-time visitor to the winelands a little bit of background information and to guide the newly interested wine drinker through the complexities of wine.
We hope that by explaining the most well-known grape varieties and some of the estates you'll find them at, that you'll be able to savour your favourites, whilst discovering others during your tour.
Red Wines
These four types of wine provide the main-stay of the grape varietals grown in the Western Cape vineyards. Others are grown, but are a very tiny proportion of the grapes grown and you'll discover these by visiting the estates themselves.
Cabernet Sauvignon is probably the most well-known of the reds. It produces a deep red blackberry/blackcurrant flavour, often referred to as a 'big wine' because of it's depth of colour and taste. Cabernet Sauvignon is often blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. In South Africa particularly, it's blended with Shiraz and Pinotage. Estates that are reknowned for their Cabernet Sauvignons, having been given red stars from John Platter include:
Merlot can be seen as an 'easier' wine than the Cabernet Sauvignon. It tends to be smoother on the palette with stronger black cherry and chocolate flavours. Merlot is used to blend, as well as a stand alone varietal. Estates that are reknowned for their Merlots, having been given red stars from John Platter include:
Pinotage is the wine that South Africa has tended to call it's own. A 1920's cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut, it's a wine with a large range of styles, from simple, fruity through to bigger, well oaked examples. Estates that are reknowned for their Pinotages, having been given red stars from John Platter include:
Shiraz, better known as Syrah outside of South Africa and Australia, seems to love the hotter climes. The grape produces a peppery, woodsmoke and dark fruit flavour. Another 'big wine' - not for the faint hearted! Estates that are reknowned for their Shiraz, having been given red stars from John Platter include:
White Wines
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