Whether you will be spending your summer vacation in the bush, on the beach or relaxing at your home, I have the perfect wine for you. I promise these South African wines will not disappoint.
Bon Courage I Blush Vin Doux Sparkling wine
Located in the heart of the beautiful Robertson valley – renowned for its great wines – lies Bon Courage Estate. The three rivers that run through the estate have over the years deposited a variety of different soil types on the farm. Although a wide range of grape varietals can thrive in this area, founder André Bruwer has put a lot of effort into matching the correct cultivar to the ideal soil type.
Although I am yet to drink a Bon Courage wine I do not like, I am particularly fond of their Blush Vin Doux Sparkling wine. This delightful semi-sweet sparkling wine allures with a salmon pink hue. Bursting with stone fruit aromas and a gentle hint of Turkish delight, marshmallow and Muscat, it’s no wonder Blush is celebrating its 30th birthday this year!
This elegant and versatile sparkling wine perfect for the festive season. It can be served on its own or as a “Blush Mimosa” with red berry juice. It also compliments any lightly spiced dish and pairs perfectly with a berry pavlova.
Van Loveren I Chenin No. 5 (2023)
Van Loveren has been in the Retief family since 1937 when Hennie Retief snr acquired the land in the Robertson Valley and named it after Christiena van Loveren, an ancestor of his wife. Over the years Van Loveren has grown to become South Africa’s leading family-owned winery, known for their award-winning wines.
Their Chenin No. 5 is one of the best Chenin Blancs I have tasted in a long time. With a full mouthfeel and delicious tropical flavours it is no wonder that this wine walked away with a double gold at the Veritas Wine Awards this year. I absolutely adore this wine’s fruity nose. The flavours of guava, quince and pear make it the perfect wine to enjoy with lightly spiced dishes, creamy pastas or smoked chicken.
Groote Post I Pinch of Salt Chardonnay (2023)
This Chardonnay blew me away (and that means a lot coming from someone who doesn’t always enjoy chardonnay). If you drink one chardonnay this year it has to be The Groote Post Pinch of Salt Chardonnay. Its fresh stone fruit and vibrant citrus notes on the nose, and beautiful minerality and zesty acidity on the palate, makes it the perfect wine for summer.
After losing their chardonnay vines to viral challenges the owners of Groote Post started replanting Chardonnay. They carefully chose superior clones and optimal farm locations for this grape variety. Nine years later all their planning and hard work has paid off. The new vineyards have exceeded expectations, yielding exceptional grapes and extraordinary wine. Groote Post Pinch of salt Chardonnay is fermented in three vessels: fifty percent in stainless steel ensuring a crisp character, thirty percent in French oak for richness and twenty percent in amphoras for a unique blend. Winemaker Lukas Wentzel’s three vessel approach creates a wine with exceptional layers of flavour and depth.
This lightly wooded 2023 vintage pairs perfectly with simple summer dishes like fish cakes and a light summer salad.
NUY I Chardonnay (2022)
It seems 2023 is the year of Chardonnay for me. The NUY 2022 Chardonnay from their Mastery range is another must for this summer. This chardonnay took home a coveted double gold medal during the recent Gilbert & Gaillard International Wine Challenge.
This beautiful chardonnay is wooded in a combination of French and American oak barrels for 12 months. With biscuit and lime aromas on the nose and palate its perfect for balmy Summer evenings.
Kloovenberg I Grenache (2022)
In the heart of Riebeek Kasteel you will find the beautiful Kloovenburg Wine & Olive Estate. The estate is about more than great wine and olives, it is also about family and stories. My friends at Kloovenburg recently launched a new estate range with the apt name Stamboom and I had the opportunity to be one of the first to taste their Grenache. All I can say is wow! Before drinking the wine be sure to look at the label and read the charming story on the back of the bottle.
With aromas of dark cherries and pomegranate this wine is perfect for long summer evenings. It pairs well with lamb, venison and turkey, making it the perfect wine for Christmas lunch.
Bonnievale I Chenin Blanc (2023)
Bonnievale winery has done it again. Their 2023 Chenin Blanc ticks all the boxes. This crisp and bright Chenin Blanc won double gold at this years Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits award. You only need to take a sip or two to understand why. The floral and fruity aromas on the nose do not disappoint on the palate, lingering in the mouth with notes of sundried fruit. This easy-drinking, well-priced Chenin Blanc is the perfect wine for summer picnics.
Creation I Sauvignon Blanc (2023)
Creation is situated on the scenic Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, in one of the most biodiverse wine regions in the world. The farm lies in a beautiful arena of undulating hills, surrounded by fynbos-clad mountains and rivers. I love the fact that Jean-Claude’s winemaking philosophy and intention is based on ‘working alongside, and expressing the beauty of nature’.
If you love Sauvignon Blanc you are going to want to get your hands on a case of Creation’s Sauvignon Blanc for the summer holidays. Their Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in stainless steel tanks with a further 3 months on the fine lees. It boasts alluring aromas of elderflower, papaya, cassis, passion fruit and kumquat, with clean minerality on the palate. It pairs beautifully with sushi.
Vergenoegd Löw I Rosé (2021)
Vergenoegd Löw is wedged between the Stellenbosch hills and the False Bay coastline. Located on a coastal plain a mere 4 km from the Atlantic coastline, the farm boasts one of the most maritime influenced terroirs in the Stellenbosch appellation. The estate is situated on one of the only limestone deposits in the viticultural area of Stellenbosch and the estate has made it there mission to harness all the unique attributes of the terroir. This unique terroir is evident in their elegant wines’ subtle hint of saltiness.
Their Runner Duck Rosé 2021 with tasting notes of strawberries and red cherries is the perfect wine for a lazy summer afternoon. This light Rosé, with a pop of candyfloss on the nose, pairs perfectly with salmon sushi and creamy pasta.
Happy summer sipping!
xxx
Images Madison&West Lifestyle
