Origin: South Africa is one of few countries outside of Portugal to grow Fernão Pires. It was first bottled by Van Loveren in 1982. Initially grown for brandy production, some… Read More
Fernao Pires – What’s The Grape
Category: What’s the Grape?
Tempranillo – What’s The Grape
Origin: Tempranillo is one of the most important indigenous grape varieties in Spain. It is the fourth most planted grape in the world (2015), with 87% of the vines grown… Read More
Hárslevelü – What’s The Grape
Origin: The name means Linden leaf (lime leaf) in Hungarian, and comes from the shape of the vine leaf’s resemblance to the Linden leaf, as well as the aroma of… Read More
Pinotage – What’s The Grape
Origin: A cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (then known as Hermitage in SA) that was created in 1925 by Abraham Izak Perold, the first Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch… Read More
Zinfandel – What’s The Grape
Origin: Zinfandel originated in Croatia, where it is known as Crljenak kaštelanski. Popular in California, it was once thought to be from America but in 1993, through DNA fingerprinting, it… Read More
Bukettraube – What’s The Grape
Origin: First imported to South Africa in 1967, this grape is a bit of rarity in the world with only 77 hectares planted. A cross between Sylvaner and Trollinger, it… Read More
Gamay Noir – What’s The Grape
Origin: Gamay Noir was planted in South Africa by many producers from the 1920’s, but was removed in favour of Cinsault vines that were a more consistent producer. Nederburg revived… Read More
Crouchen Blanc – What’s The Grape
Origin: This was one of the first grapes introduced to South Africa, but suffered the misfortune of being mislabelled as Weisser Riesling. In 1656 it was also known as Groenblaarsteen… Read More