{"id":7546,"date":"2016-06-13T18:42:37","date_gmt":"2016-06-14T01:42:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=7546"},"modified":"2016-06-13T09:45:24","modified_gmt":"2016-06-13T16:45:24","slug":"cocktail-corner-south-african-wine-safari","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=7546","title":{"rendered":"Cocktail Corner: South African Wine Safari"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Wines

Wines of South Africa Tasting and Master Class at Les Marchands. Photos by Leslie Dinaberg.<\/p><\/div>\n

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! \u00a0By Leslie Dinaberg<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, no passport was involved in my recent trip\u00a0to South Africa’s wine country<\/a>, but it was an exciting journey nonetheless.<\/p>\n

Last weekend I had the good fortune\u00a0to attend “South Africa in Santa Barbara Day” at Les Marchands<\/a>, alongside a slew of our region’s top wine and food mavens. Boy was it eye-opening! Our charming host Jim Clarke, Marketing Manager for Wines of South Africa USA<\/a>, took us on a lovely trek through his home terrain.<\/p>\n

\"Jim

Jim Clarke, Marketing Manager for Wines of South Africa USA, photo by Leslie Dinaberg.<\/p><\/div>\n

We started our excursion as many great journeys begin, with some bubbly. In this case two sparkling wines: Noble Hill Method Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs 2011<\/a> (from the Simonsberg-Paarl<\/a> appellation of origin, which has made some of South Africa’s finest wines dating back to the late 17th century) and Colmant Method Cap Classique Rose NV<\/a>, from the Western Cape Region.<\/p>\n

Clarke seeded our “master class” with interesting tidbits about the history of the region, as well as the terroir. South Africa’s\u00a0wine growing areas, situated in the narrow viticultural zone of the southern hemisphere, have a mostly Mediterranean climate and the mountain slopes and valleys form the ideal habitat for wine grapes. Long, sun-drenched summers and mild, wet winters contribute to the ideal conditions for viticulture.<\/p>\n

With the end of apartheid and the advent of democracy, South African wine industry exports have more than doubled between 2005 and 2015. According to the\u00a0wosa.co.za, “the annual harvest in 2014\u00a0amounted to 1 519\u00a0708\u00a0tons (1 181.1 million liters), of which 81% was used for wine. …\u00a0As far as international wine production is concerned, Italy leads with 17.7% of the total, France is second with 17.2%, Spain third with 13.3% and South Africa eighth with 4.1% (2015 figures).”<\/p>\n

\"Just

Just a few of the South African wines sampled, photo by Leslie Dinaberg.<\/p><\/div>\n

Of the 20 (!) wines we tasted, there truly wasn’t a dud in the bunch. Among the many standouts that made my tastebuds zing was the Luddite Chenin Blanc<\/a>. According to Clarke, South Africa is home to the most Chenin Blanc (Steen) plantings in the world and is the\u00a0most widely cultivated variety in the Cape. He described the wine as “a nice middle ground between Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay” and it, along with the Raats Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2013<\/a>, and the Beaumont Chenin Blanc 2014<\/a>, certainly pleased my palate.<\/p>\n

Another highlight of the tasting was my first experience with\u00a0Pinotage<\/a>, a unique-to-South Africa\u00a0cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (Hermitage). The 2013 Painted Wolf Guillermo Pinotage<\/a> we sampled was an intense, rich, fruity flavor that paired well with the braai<\/em><\/a> (South African Barbecue) meats we had for lunch. Two Santa Barbara wineries with South African winemakers\u2014Dieter Cronje<\/a> of Presqu-ile<\/a> and Ernst Storm<\/a> of Storm Wines<\/a>\u2014were also on hand to pour their wines and provide entertaining commentary about their homeland.<\/p>\n

All in all it was a delightful journey to South Africa, minus the jet lag (although I could have used a nap after all of that wine tasting)! South African wines are becoming more and more available at our local retailers, including Les Marchands<\/a>\u00a0Wine & Bar Merchant, 131 Anacapa St., 805\/284-0380.<\/p>\n

Cheers! Click here<\/a> for more cocktail corner columns.<\/p>\n

\"Leslie<\/p>\n

When she\u2019s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes<\/i>\u00a0mag<\/i>azine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a \u201cgoal-oriented drinker.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine<\/em><\/a> on June 10, 2016.<\/div>\n

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