Why Stellenbosch remains the center of South Africa’s top wines
The measure of all things red
While new wine regions such as Swartland, Elim and Hemel-en-Aarde are in the spotlight with innovative grape varieties and fresh wine styles, Stellenbosch, the historic center of South African viticulture, often remains unjustly in the background. In his article, Alain Kunz from BLICK shows why Stellenbosch continues to be the measure of all things when it comes to top wines from South Africa.
The birthplace of Pinotage
Stellenbosch, the oldest wine region in South Africa, is the place where the country’s first Wine Route was founded in 1971 and where Bordeaux grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot found a new home. This is also where the unique Cape grape variety Pinotage was born – a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, which was developed at Stellenbosch University in 1925. Despite the growing popularity of new wine regions, Stellenbosch remains the epitome of quality, tradition and innovation.
All pictures by Martina and Alain Kunz for BLICK.
The top wineries of Stellenbosch: quality and tradition combined
Alain Kunz introduces outstanding wine estates in Stellenbosch that continue to set the standards. These include Warwick Estate, known for its iconic Cabernet Sauvignon “Blue Lady”, and Longridge, the leading biodynamic winery that focuses on natural wine production without chemical additives. Kanonkop, world-famous for its Pinotage, and Vergelegen, a winery with a rich history and a modern approach, also show why Stellenbosch remains a force to be reckoned with in viticulture.
A woman is in charge at Warwick: Christiana von Arnim is CEO of the winery. Here with winemaker JD Pretiorius.
Fun at the shoot: CJ from Kapweine, Jasper Raats, Alain Kunz from Blick.
Innovation and diversity: the new generation of Stellenbosch winemakers
The article also highlights wineries such as Tokara, which shines with an impressive combination of fine dining and top wines, and Rainbow’s End, a small family winery that impresses with exceptional quality and innovation. De Trafford and Sijnn in the remote Malgas region, which produce exciting wines from bush vines, also contribute to Stellenbosch’s diversity. The Californian-South African joint venture Vilafonté rounds off the selection by creating world-class wines that exploit the potential of Africa’s oldest soils.
Tasting with David Trafford.
And with Mike Ratcliffe, co-owner of Vilafonté.
Alain Kunz points out that the quality offensive of the Stellenbosch wine estates since the end of apartheid in 1990 initiated an unprecedented development that continues to this day. This region remains the heart of the South African wine wonder, with wines that consistently achieve top ratings in international rankings.
Ratings
Discover the diversity and quality of Stellenbosch wines and find out why this region continues to be at the forefront of South African viticulture. Read the full article with all the ratings by Alain Kunz on blick.ch and be inspired to taste the best wines of South Africa at KapWeine!
