South African Wine Month Sampler #1 - Great Everyday Whites

Steenberg Farm Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc (Constantia) - Produced in the classic Champagne Method, this bright and vibrant sparkler is 100% Sauvignon Blanc.  The nose is full and intense with aromas of granadilla, summer melons and a hint of lime. The palate is light and smooth yet with a zippy acidity to lift the tropical flavours of pineapple, pear and guava.

Noble Hill Chenin Blanc (Simonsberg) - Chenin Blanc is the most widely planted white wine grape in South Africa, so if you've had a South African white that wasn't Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, it was most likely a Chenin Blanc or Chenin Blanc based blend.  We're pretty sure though that unless you paid a whole lot for it, it probably wasn't nearly as good as this amazing value from Noble Hill.  Sourced from the oldest vines on the estate, it is aged on the lees for 9 months in concrete tanks given regular stirring wine to develop nuance and complexity without imparting the oak flavors that barrel ageing would yield.  For even more complexity, a small portion of the wine is left for extended aging on the skins in clay amphorae.  The result is an amazingly complex Chenin that opens with aromas of fresh lime blossom, honeydew melon, and green apple. The aromas are balanced by echoing fruit flavors and delicate mineral notes derived from the rocky slopes of the Simonsberg mountains where the wine is grown.  They only made 1100 cases of this wine and we're not sure how they can sell it for less than $20, but we're glad they do!

Protea Pinot Grigio (Western Cape) - Protea Pinot Grigio comes from the Western Cape region of South Africa. This refreshing Pinot presents as a bouquet of delicate floral aromas, with notes of green apple, pear, and citrus zest. On the palate, it offers a crisp and lively blend of flavors, including juicy peach, lemon, and a hint of melon, with a clean and refreshing finish. The wine's bright acidity and light body make it incredibly versatile and enjoyable. 

Remhoogte "Free to Be" (Stellenbosch) - Produced from a small vineyard up on the mountain on well-drained and exposed shale ridge at 350m above sea level. The wine is fermented with the wild/indigenous yeasts in a stainless steel tank. The wine has a fresh, zesty entry with sweet fruit and a gentle waxy texture on the mid palate, offset by a limey acid bringing freshness and length. 94pts Tim Atkins

Rustenberg Sauvignon Blanc (Stellenbosch) - The history of the Rustenberg estate and winery dates all the way back to the 1600's.  The property had various owners and had been divided up over the centuries, but in 1941, Pamela and Peter Barlow purchased Rustenberg and portion that had been sold off and renamed Schoongezicht, reuniting the original estate. Now for more than 80 years, the Barlows family has been in charge of Rustenberg. The current vintage of Sauvignon Blanc has a nose is full of citrus and green apple aromas, with hints of grass and herbs. On the palate, this wine is refreshing and lively, with a medium body that keeps the fruit flavors in check.