South Africa Coastal Wine Tours - Elim Valley to Constantia By Jim Hunter

Only real wine connoisseurs would know that the South Africa wine route is a real dandy. While the valleys and rolling hills of Cape Town's inner cities provide the ultimate terroir for grape growing and have produced some of the best wines in the world, there are newer wineries and vineyards that are being grown in areas never thought possible. These are the coastal areas of South Africa. With sometimes gale force winds and mild temperatures, it was once thought that these areas were not suitable for growing perfect grapes for making top quality wines.

The hard working South African vintners have proved everyone wrong as the wines emerging from Cape Point (Two Oceans), Elim Valley in Cape Agulhas, and Walker Bay have been winning all kinds of awards both local and international and are taking the viticulture world by storm. These grapes are grown in very harsh conditions and in seemingly unfertile sea sand like soil. However, the white wines that have been produced are of exceptional quality. They have been described as being light and fruity with good texture and a unique flavor that lasts.

The coastal regions start from Elim Valley at Cape Agulhas which is the tip of Africa. Here the vines are fairly old despite only having entered the market recently. Vineyards were originally grown to supply the missionaries here with wines for religious blessing and so forth. It was determined that these could in fact produce distributable wines and soon bottling and labeling began.

Moving further west you will reach the Hemel en Aarde Valley (Heaven and Earth Valley) where the majority of the Walker Bay vineyards are located. Many of these wines are crisp and flavorful with unique textures. There are very few fruity flavors, with stronger spicy, vanilla and earthy tones to them. This area is not only producing great white wines, but also has a good selection of red wines which are interesting and mild. The vineyards are fairly well protected in the valley and receive mild weather with the cold Atlantic Ocean breezes.

Moving westwards again you will come to the False Bay area where the waters are warmer and the beaches full of holidaymakers. The Two Oceans wines come from this area near to Cape Point and are affected by both the Atlantic Ocean breezes as well as the Indian Ocean breezes making for a uniquely flavored wine which is excellent with most meals. They are light and have a great flavor. The Cape Point Vintners are also starting to produce a red wine and have recently seen the first harvest of red grapes which they say looks to be very promising.

When you visit the coastal region of South Africa, be sure to not miss out on these wine routes. You can also include the area of Constantia which produces award winning wines from their 5 estates. The oldest wine farm in South Africa is located here called Groot Constantia and you can enjoy exquisite accommodation, meals and fun wine tasting. Some may not consider this a coastal wine area, but it is in fact located just over the mountain from Noordhoek being 15-20 minutes from the Eastern side and only 10-15 minutes from the western side at Muizenberg.

You should also not miss out on the other wine routes while you are in Cape Town, South Africa, especially Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl making up the Winelands, Robertson, Tulbagh, Swartland, Wellington, Worcester and Breede River Valley, making up the Boland and more interior regions. There are also wine farms and lovely vineyards on the banks of the Orange River in Mpumalanga Province, in the Karoo where the semi arid conditions produce awesome Muscadels and recently in the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

The coastal wine regions should most definitely be included in your tours and will offer you a totally unique outlook and experience of wines and the wine industry. With the subtle flavors and cooler climate you are bound to enjoy these wines with any meal you have. The beauty of the area is also one of the reasons to not miss out on these regions, because you can get so much more out of your tour and take part in so many other activities like hiking, cycling, paint balling, surfing, boating, shark diving, whale watching, swimming, abseiling, mountain biking and climbing, paragliding, hang gliding, scuba diving, snorkeling, and visiting the hundred of attractions along the South African coast. Some of these include the penguins at Boulders Beach, Cape Point and all its glorious features, the town of Hermanus, Cape Agulhas lighthouse and its museums, the beauty of Clarens Drive, and Hangklip.

Whatever areas you decide to visit on your wine tour of South Africa, you will find a large diversity in the wines that you taste, so if you can, get to all of the regions and experience all the varietals.

Unless you're traveling to South Africa from Australia or New Zealand, getting to South Africa is quite a haul. But that long trip can quickly be forgotten after a couple of glasses of fine South African wine. You're not likely to taste a pinotage anywhere but South Africa. Learn how about South Africa wine tours from Jim Hunter, who writes for WorldwideWineTours. The website is free and designed to help wine lovers plan wine vacations to such places as Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and other top wine producing countries worldwide. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Hunter

Something To Wine About By Leslie Maliepaard

I’ve always believed that wine should be a celebration of life. One should certainly never have to succumb to drinking bad wine. So I found it disheartening, as I walked down my local supermarket’s wine aisle last week, and noticed the overriding presence of commercially branded, bulk-produced, labels. Where are the unique wines that offer a different tasting experience?

It makes sense to support those merchants who have spent valuable time in compiling an intriguing and thoughtful wine portfolio. And surely wine buying should also be a creative process, affording pleasure in the sourcing of lesser-known wines that surprise.

Supermarket wine sales continue to cash in on wine brands that lack diversity and limit wine drinkers’ imaginations. What does it mean to purchase wine at your local supermarket? Do you do so for convenience sake, pricing, or simply for the fact that “it makes no difference”?

The continuous sale of wine at our supermarkets is testimony to the fact that a large percentage of the South African wine drinking public don’t tend to plan their wine purchases. However, if you care about what you drink, then perhaps it’s time to start doing some homework.

The reason why supermarket stores and off-sales do so well is that they can be found on almost any corner, and people not deterred by the lack of choice can impulse purchase to their heart’s content.

Thus, for the sake of consumer convenience, we find ourselves directly supporting wine production that’s driven by the demands of our supermarkets and the international wine export markets. Will the support of mass-produced wine brands alter the SA wine psyche for ever and damage our already fragile local consumer wine market?

The successful product listing, by a supermarket, of a particular brand, does not necessarily indicate that the product was chosen for its superior quality. It’s usually an indication of how good the brand’s marketing channels are, as well as their commitment to supplying wine in large volumes, while offering a consistent product. Tight profit margins effectively prevent the smaller, interesting wines from ever appearing at the local supermarket.

Sadly, all SA wines end up being judged by the local consumer market based on what’s available in the supermarkets… commercially branded wines that are churned out in bulk, to be sold off as quickly as possible, locally and internationally. Our wine consumer’s choice is under threat due to the lack of diversity in our shops.

At the risk of sounding like a stockbroker, I urge you to start diversifying your wine portfolio. Wine is a precarious product. Its placement in the market is a delicate one. Explore other wine resources, take heed of online wine recommendations or wine magazine panels, and ask the sommelier at your favourite restaurant about that interesting wine that you’ve never heard of.

Shed the big brands and embrace the small producers – support their pursuit of purism. More thought needs to be given to the time and dedication spent on crafting an estate or boutique wine of limited supply. These wineries are trying to be noticed within the SA wine arena – don’t let them drown as a result of the commercially placed brands. Choose to learn more about artisans who painstakingly make every effort in crafting a unique wine, true to its style and true to the terror of our country.

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Knowing the Best Kinds of Wine in South Africa By Gerald Crawford

People enjoy drinking wine because it's a meal partner, and has a healthy effects on the body. From South Africa you must try the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Colombard, Muscat, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.

To always make sure that you are buying the best bottle wine from South Africa here are some things that you should check before purchasing a bottle of wine.

Quality 

Most wines on the market now are made for mass consumption, they are "acceptable" in general. When you are out searching for a bottle of wine in South Africa, be sure to consider its brand or type. In this country, a sparkling wine is usually called "Sparkeling Wine". We all know that Champagne is a place in France where great sparkling wines are made. Some great sparkling wines don't carry the name Champagne on their labels.

Taste 

Most starters are sweet wine. As you get familiar with the taste try different kinds. Firstly consider the wine's color. Red and white wines differ in tast. Aside from various wines that can be partnered with different meals. South African Wines have many different tastes and it's best to try them to find your favorite.

Terroir - Country - Soil, Weather, Sun

Although this has been a debate over the years, most wine drinkers believe that the wine's terroir has a great effect on its quality. Terroir is defined as the soil and the environment where the grapes are harvested. So if you want to be more sophisticated in choosing your wine bottle, make sure they come from a well known terroir.

Personalize 

Visit our local South African wine estates and ask the staff about wine types that you may like. You will have your own South African wine 'criteria' and before you know it, you'll be an expert when it comes to your own tastes buds.

There are many things to enjoy when drinking wine, please make sure that you don't drink too much at a time. Although most South African wines don't contain great amounts of alcohol, it is best to drink it in moderation.
However, the best thing about wine is that it is far more enjoyable than the other alcoholic drinks. So join a South African wine club and start drinking wine!

The South African Cape is home to some of the finest vineyards, producing some of the best wines in the world. Find out what our Morrisons team has to say about these New World wines.

The Cape region enjoys a favourable climate for growing vines, similar to that of many of the classic wine growing regions, but with more sunshine, and tempered by cooling breezes from the ocean. As a result the wines provide a bridge between the Old and the New World of wines: well-known varieties of grapes and long-established tradition balanced with modern ripe, fruity styles.

"These New World wines just keep improving", says Catherine Roffey, Morrisons Wine Buyer. "The white 2007 vintage was particularly good, with great fruit intensity and superb flavours across the spectrum."

Regions like Constantia, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek are among the famous names in South Africa. All produce excellent versions of the much-loved SA grapes, such as Pinotage, which is indigenous to South Africa and considered its signature grape variety, and Chenin Blanc, which has always been particularly successful in this country. Lesser-known regions like Robertson, Wellington, Walker Bay and Swartland have also been making waves in the industry in recent years.

Celebrate the best of South African wines with our great food ideas. "South African wines have always done well at Morrisons and we hope to encourage more people to try them and enjoy their excellent quality".

Gerald Crawford was born in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel and african travel concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South Africa. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on. E-mail Address:southafricantravelarticles@12234455.co.za Website Address: http://www.12234455.co.za 

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