Wines from South Africa (667)

How old can you be and still be called new? The South African wine industry doesn’t care about putting things in boxes or about being considered part of the New World. For 350 years now, winemakers have been pressing wine from the Cape of Good Hope into the rural interior, studded with African beauty and European influences. They don’t create a specific style here, but rather wine with character. South African wine character: wild, natural and relaxed at the same time. Powerful red wines, fresh white wines, fruity sparkling wines and rosé – straight from the Western Cape. Shipped halfway around the world to bring you the great hope of the wine world. Welcome to South Africa!

South African white wine

Do you miss the wild, romantic fragrance of South Africa? You will find it again in South African white wine! White wines from the southern tip of Africa partly have a high recognition value. They are sparkling, fruity and refreshing as well as expressive, complex and full-bodied. Buy white wine from South Africa online at Vinello and experience a wine flavour diversity from the south of Africa that is unmistakable!

White wine from South Africa and its flavours

The flavours of South African white wines were long withheld from Europeans. The very first attempt in the 18th century to import South African wines to Europe failed miserably. The then already established wine producers of the country had their share in this. Later, the trade restrictions of the apartheid system prevented Europeans from enjoying South African white and red wines.

Meanwhile, wine lovers benefit from the flavours of top white wines from the southernmost part of Africa. Irresistible are the white wines from the South African wine-growing region of Franschhoek, which means “French Corner”. But a Chardonnay from the Coastal Region also impresses with its well-balanced character and fresh citrus fruit flavour.

You are very welcome to order a dry white wine from South Africa online in our wine shipping shop. As well as South African semi-sweet white wines as well as sweet and off-dry wines.

South African white wine and its grape varieties

South African white wines wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the important grape varieties. Such as Chenin Blanc, the most widely planted white grape variety in South Africa. Originally it came from the Loire in France. In the cooler South African wine regions, which once were not considered suitable for viticulture, the Sauvignon Blanc variety now thrives.

This would have been impossible had there not been a Dutch merchant and ship’s doctor. In 1652, Jan van Riebeeck was very taken with South Africa’s Mediterranean climate. He recognised the wine potential of the area around the “Cape of Good Hope”. In 1655 the “Founder of Cape Town” had European grape varieties, especially from France, imported by sea. Four years later (in February 1659) wine was pressed in South Africa for the first time. Other significant white grape varieties of South Africa are:

• Riesling
• Chardonnay
• Colombard
• Sémillon
• Sultana

Vinello tip: Would you like to order a particularly popular white wine from the best South African grape variety online? We recommend a dry wine from the Graham Beck Wines estate from the 2013 vintage. The Game Reserve Chenin Blanc pampers the palate, is lively on the finish and leaves a wonderful taste of tropical fruits that also flatter the nose.

South African white wines and their quality levels

Wines from South Africa have been subject to a strict quality wine system since 1973, called the Wine of Origin system. The labels on the wine bottles must be provided with the specified data. The different coloured seals on the bottles also have a specific meaning.

• A blue stripe on the seal indicates that the South African white wine comes one hundred percent from a specific district.
• If you buy a South African white wine that also has a green stripe, you can assume that the stated grape variety meets the minimum percentage.
• A red stripe indicates that 85% of the white wine from South Africa comes from the vintage stated on the wine label.
• South African white wines of the highest quality are easy to recognise by the golden label, which is strictly controlled by the Wine and Spirit Board.

South African white wine and its vintages

Which is the best vintage white wine from South Africa? For casual wine drinkers in Germany, South African white wine is still something of an “exotic”. White wine experts, on the other hand, have long been convinced of these top wines and would love to own one of the most sought-after, oldest vintages from South Africa.

If you want to buy one of the best vintage white wines online, we recommend South African white wines from the 2011 and 2012 vintages. The 2013 vintage, for example, produced an excellent Tokara Directors Reserve, a dry white wine with an alcohol content of 14.33 percent.

White wine from South Africa: food and drinking recommendations

Does mushroom risotto go with South African white wine? If you’re not in the mood for chicken or grilled poultry, fish or seafood, you can certainly eat mushroom risotto with dry white wine from South Africa. Even pasta dishes harmonise with the flavoursome white wines from the “Cape of Good Hope”.

Buy South African white wine from Vinello

When you buy South African white wines online from Vinello, as a certified retailer we guarantee a smooth process from ordering to delivery. In addition, we offer you 14 payment methods and are happy to answer your questions by phone or e-mail. With us you get the best wine with cork guarantee from the most famous wine countries worldwide, as well as delicious specialities for your celebrations.

South African rosé wine – the good Cape rosés

The unstoppable surge in quality of South African wines has not passed rosé by. Full of juicy fruit and invigorating freshness, Cape rosé is the address worldwide for summer and winter refreshment. Whether Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or the local star Pinotage – the incomparable character of the Cape of Good Hope resonates in every single rosé wine from South Africa. Full of zest for life and energy, our exquisite selection of the best South African rosé wines will enrich your day with colourful diversity.

The temperament of South Africa – rosé for light-footed enjoyment

From the Cape in the south to the Elephant River Valley in the north, the vines enjoy sunny days and cooling sea breezes that refine South African rosé wine with a rich bouquet and spirited structure. An irrepressible power in vibrant colours, from salmon pink to intense raspberry red, enchants both eye and palate and cuts an attractive figure on any occasion. Both in combination with light dishes and enjoyed solo, you can savour rosé wines from South Africa in an unforced and playful way. Pure drinking pleasure with South African rosés on VINELLO – a holiday for the senses, fun for the taste.

Our VINELLO recommendation

Obikwa Pinotage Rosé Western – OBiKWA Winery

Single-variety rosé from the indigenous national variety Pinotage from the finest sites of Stellenbosch. Obikwa Pinotage Rosé Western is pure lightness for adventurous gourmets who enjoy the uncomplicated life. Noble strawberry aromas dominate nose and palate alike and captivate the illustrious company. We have the OBiKWA Winery to thank for this fruity and dry rosé wine, which recommends this South African treasure as an aperitif, with snacks and with grilled dishes. We tried the lively rosé wine – it’s true.

Delheim Pinotage Rosé – Delheim

As soon as the bottle of Delheim Pinotage Rosé is opened, the wine exudes an intense scent of a whole basket of fruit. And the very first sip confirms the juicy and fresh bouquet in endless elegance. The Delheim estate has been pressing this classic for over 40 years and knows what matters – hand-picked and gently processed grapes as well as precise work in the cellar. The result is something you can taste – with poultry, vegetables or simply on its own.

1791 Rosé – Nederburg

A delicate pink, intense strawberries and cherries, a hint of dried herbs – the 1791 Rosé from the Nederburg estate in the Western Cape is making history. Yours, to be precise. Harmonious sweetness and acidity unfold in this off-dry rosé wine and create a fruit-driven flavour. The interplay of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage and Syrah – the greatest grape varieties South Africa has to offer – provides enjoyment on all kinds of occasions.

Buy South African rosé wine online at a good price

Dream of South Africa, of passionate nature and warm-hearted culture – from the comfort of your terrace with a South African rosé in your hand. The fruity and refreshing creations feed the mind and brighten the mood in rosy splendour. You can order your South African wine easily and conveniently online from VINELLO and look forward to our securely packed and climate-neutrally shipped parcels. Buy rosé from South Africa at a good price and bring colour to your special moments.

South African red wine

Napoleon Bonaparte didn’t just love women, tobacco and cognac. The red wine from South Africa also proved irresistible to the French ruler. He was particularly taken with Constantia. In this case it wasn’t a charming woman, but a smooth-drinking South African red wine, which Napoleon had delivered in large quantities to St. Helena, the island where he lived in exile. Until his death he was addicted to the sweet red wine from South Africa.

South African red wine and its flavours

A powerful red wine from South Africa is a feast for the taste buds! What does South African red wine taste like? First of all, it is crucial whether it is a

• off-dry South African red wine,
• a South African dry red wine,
• a semi-sweet or noble sweet South African red wine.

The red grape varieties play as much a role in the flavour as the region of origin, the maturation period and the wine storage. The diverse aromas also characterise excellent red wine from South Africa. From us you can buy quality red wine from South Africa in which colour, aroma, bouquet and taste form an impeccable interplay.

Our red wine recommendation is a dry Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa with a fine berry flavour.

Popular grape varieties of South African red wine

Cabernet Sauvignon is an important red grape variety in South Africa. The South African red wine variety Pinotage is also very popular. Increasing in importance are the red varieties:

• Cabernet Franc
• Pinot Noir
• Shiraz
• and other red wine varieties of South Africa.

Van Riebeeck laid the foundation stone of Cape wine history in 1652. Thanks to him and Vinello, wine lovers can buy South African red wine and thus enjoy a piece of South Africa.

Quality of red wine from South Africa

After the end of the apartheid regime, exquisite South African red wine finally made its entry into Europe and delighted red wine lovers there. South Africa’s quality wine system is very special. It is based on “appellations”. These are protection seals that provide information about quality level, growing region, grape variety and vintage. The WO system (Wine of Origin) was introduced in 1973. Wine lovers can also recognise South Africa’s quality red wines by the quality designation “Estate Wine”. High-quality premium red wines from South Africa are additionally marked with a golden label.

South African red wine and its best vintages

If you would like to order a South African vintage red wine in the Vinello wine shop, you can recognise it by the “Wine and Spirit Board” seal. A superb vintage for South African winemakers was 2015. Although the grapes were smaller and lighter, the yield not particularly high, the winemakers at the Cape still speak of one of the best vintages, from which high-quality white and red quality wines from South Africa emerged.

You can also buy an exquisite vintage wine from 2007 online in our “South African red wine” category. The “Flagship Red” from Vergelegen is a dry still wine, spicy, mineral and pleasantly fruity.

South African red wines: food and drinking recommendations

Is there an optimum drinking temperature for South African red wine? This question cannot be answered in general terms, as it depends on the character of the red wine.

• The drinking temperature for young and light red wines from South Africa should be 14 to 16 degrees Celsius.
• Heavy, powerful and very expensive red wines are best enjoyed at a temperature of 18 degrees Celsius.
• Medium-bodied wines from red berries develop their aroma at 16 to 18 degrees Celsius.

Which dishes go with an intense red wine from South Africa?

Deep red, rich South African wines, such as the full-bodied dry “Cabernet Sauvignon Western Cape 2014”, go well with robust flavours in food. Planning a romantic dinner? Order a smooth, velvety Shiraz Merlot online with a spicy-fruity bouquet. It goes equally well with savoury dishes and sweet desserts. Vinello wishes you great enjoyment!

Buy red wine from South Africa online

Would you like to buy a full-bodied red wine from South Africa? With us you will find South African red wines of the highest quality!

So that wine lovers don’t have to go without a fine drop, Vinello is always good for a surprise. In our organically certified wine shop we always have interesting new red and white wines that taste delicious and give pleasure. Delivery takes place within two days, so you don’t have to wait long for your wine specialities.

If word hasn’t already got around: Vinello has them – the best South African red wines with cork guarantee!

South Africa and wine – between sea and nature

Sunny days, cool sea breezes resulting from the Benguela Current and the meeting of oceans create a temperate climate that defies all adversities and makes viticulture in South Africa possible. Dutch merchants and French Huguenots already recognised the potential, brought expertise to what had previously been meagre vineyards and increasingly cultivated noble grape varieties in the valleys of the mountain ranges that line the coast of the Western Cape and nestle up against the sea. Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot and the indigenous variety Pinotage are just a small foretaste of the diversity and riches of South African viticulture. And since the lifting of sanctions imposed because of the apartheid regime, wine from South Africa has experienced a real boom. Constantly rising export figures and international triumphs of these now award-winning wines prove the success. And we give South African wine its due – and a platform to win you over as well. Let yourself be carried away on the fresh winds of Africa’s Western Cape, one of the best wine-growing regions in the world.

The Western Cape – South Africa’s wine-growing region

Due to South Africa’s generally hot climate, ideal conditions for viticulture are only found with the help of sea breezes, such as those along the coast of the Western Cape province. As a result, the vineyards and estates are almost exclusively located here, at the southern tip of Africa. Divided into four regions – Breede River Valley, Coastal Region, Olifants River and Klein Karoo – viticulture is further organised into districts, wards and finally individual estates as well as single vineyards, the latter being allowed to cover a maximum area of 6 hectares. This division is crucial for the quality system of South African viticulture. Wines with a protected designation of origin are recognisable by the indication Wine of Origin, or W.O. for short.

Breede River Valley

The Breede River Valley region at the foothills of the Drakensberg is considered the best-known and also most productive wine district in South Africa. Regions such as Robertson, Worcester and Breedekloof nourish the popularity of the Breede River Valley almost on their own. For this is where, among other things, fresh and fruity white wines and full-bodied red wines are produced from the grape varieties Chardonnay, Merlot, Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc and, of course, the local representative Pinotage. In addition to the delicious wine from South Africa, base wines for port and sweet wine are also pressed on the expansive cultivation areas and in the deep cellars of the estates.

Coastal Region

The Coastal Region around Cape Town is home to what are probably South Africa’s most renowned wine-growing areas. Constantia, the cradle of South African viticulture; Stellenbosch, home to the wine university, Pinotage and award-winning wines; and Swartland, the largest of all regions for quality winegrowing in South Africa. African temperament, tempered by continental sea breezes and European finesse, forms the foundation for the manifold character that lives in every wine from South Africa. And since the area around the Cape of Good Hope is anything but calm and sedate, winemakers also press sparkling wines that reflect the rhythm and sophistication of South Africa in its purest form.

Olifants River

The elephants that once made the river valley far in the north of the Western Cape their home and gave the region its name have long since moved on. In their place, predominantly red grape varieties have found a sunny home here. Little rainfall and sandstone and slate soils result in perfect conditions for Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage. And white grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc also grow and thrive splendidly alongside citrus and orange trees and, in some cases, produce high-quality wines.

Cape South Coast

The still relatively young Cape South Coast growing region was established in 2011, but with sun-drenched South African red wines from Pinot Noir and Pinotage and refreshing white wines from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, it has earned itself a firm place among the best regions in South Africa. The climate at the southernmost tip of the Western Cape is influenced by the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. The unrelenting winds result in thick grape skins and ensure a multi-faceted concentration of aromas. The Cape South Coast region is a symbol of South African viticulture. Young, high-quality and open to new ideas.

Our VINELLO recommendations for wine from South Africa

For a refreshing introduction to the wine world of South Africa, it’s worth taking a look at the Good Hope Sauvignon Blanc from De Wetshof Estate. A rich fruit aroma of tropical mango and pineapple, underpinned by wild herbs and a deep colour, makes the palate and senses swoon. For a brief excursion into local flora and fauna, you can confidently reach for the Estate Pinotage from Fairview Wines. In a deep dark robe, this single-varietal South African red wine impresses with playful nuances of cranberries, plums and violets, which, together with the spicy note, form a full-bodied finish with noble mocha. And if there is something to celebrate and the liveliness and informality of Africa is called for, the Kaapse Vonkel Brut Sparkling Wine from Simonsig Wine Estate is recommended. Pressed according to the Méthode Champenoise, Kaapse Vonkel is considered a pioneer of South African sparkling wine made in the traditional way. It shines in a straw-yellow colour and enlivens body and mind with floral and fruity aromas – always classy, always popular.

Your South Africa wine shipping service VINELLO

Wine and tourism go hand in hand in South Africa. But why book expensive flights right now when you can first do a “wet dry run” with exquisite wines from up-and-coming South Africa? Award-winning red wines, white wines, rosé wines, sparkling wines and many powerful and sweet specialities will know how to satisfy your longing for faraway places and indulgence. Order your South African wines online cheaply and easily and benefit from our climate-neutral, insured and speedy delivery. Pay how you want, have it delivered where you want, enjoy it when you want – the main thing is that the temperament of South Africa in wine form reaches you safely. Don’t just buy wine from South Africa, but also the character of a diverse and picturesque country.