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One
of the most famous wines in the 18th century was Constancia,
which was made here. Apartheid finished all that. Now
that all that is over, good times are around the corner
for South African wines. Most of the high quality wine
comes from the Cape Province, which is also regarded
as one of the most beautiful wine-making areas of the
world. All the vineyards are within a 100 km radius
of Cape Town. The more well known include Swartland
to the north, Paarl to the northwest, and Stellenbosch
to the immediate east.
Unlike many countries where wine regions are scattered
and separated by wide areas of land, in South Africa
they literally touch each other, forming a jigsaw of
appellations immediately surrounding the city. The exceptions
are the Orange River Valley and Douglas, further to
the north. South Africa mainly produces Cabernet Sauvignon,
Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc (Steen) and Pinotage. While
the first three wines are well known around the world,
Pinotage is more regional. Pinotage is a powerful red,
a cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault. Most South African
wines aren't labeled by region, but rather by grape
variety and style. The grape itself, and the reputation
of the winery that made the wine, are the two things
to watch for.
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