South Africa

from left to right and back to front:
Brian, Jim, Shawn, Erik, me, Amanda, Aimee, Alex, Megan

I arrived home last night from a week in South Africa with Wines of South Africa (WOSA). The trip included three writers and six sommeliers / buyers, led by the inimitable Jim Clarke. Usually my wine travels are done solo but I appreciate a group trip for my first visit to a wine region as it is a great way to get a comprehensive, well guided over view. Mixing writers and buyers can be challenging as we have quite different needs on a trip like this but it was a great group of people and Jim was a very good guide.

We tasted between 80 and a 110 wines almost every single day we were there. We were able to keep Stellenbosch as a home base, visiting a different region from there every day. That combination of being comprehensive while returning every night to the same place gives perfect balance to an otherwise demanding schedule. Along the way while there I shared tidbits on Instagram, including some of the stand out wines we tasted. As there were many more wines worth writing about I’ll be sharing other insights here over the next couple weeks. In the meantime, here’s the compilation of Instagram photos.

Thank you again to Jim Clarke and Wines of South Africa for including me! Cheers!

 

View looking East into the mountains that separate Stellenbosch from Paarl on the far eastern side. Standing on the bench near the top of the estate at Jordan (known as Jardin in the States) overlooking much of the estate in the foreground. This side of the hill here at higher elevation (around 1000 ft) receives a persistent cooling breeze that helps maintain freshness in white varieties. Behind me, the other side of this same hill where we stand faces Cape Town and receives much more afternoon sun and so also warmer temperatures for ripening reds. #southafrica #stellenbosch @jordan_wines @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 18, 2017 at 2:21am PDT

Lovely estate signature from Jordan (Jardin in the States) across a range of white and red wines – all quite nervy and energizing, fine boned with plenty of concentration and a savory herbal quality throughout characteristic of the local wild plant fynbos. #stellenbosch #southafrica @jordan_wines @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 18, 2017 at 3:09am PDT

Well crafted wines of impressively high value made in classic style also full of energy and satisfaction. Recommended everyday wines from the DMZ line by DeMorgenzon. Smartly done and solid. #stellenbosch #southafrica @demorgenzon @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 18, 2017 at 4:29am PDT

psst… @grapefriend ! One of the only (the only?) 100% Pinot Meunier in South Africa made as rosé. Savory, fresh, delicate, persistent yum. cc: @eyrievineyards #southafrica #stellenbosch @raisedbywolves @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 18, 2017 at 4:49am PDT

Tasting three single vineyard Chenin Blanc at Mulderbosch, each made in the same fashion from sites of differing soil type. The A block grows in decomposed sandstone over gravel and brings high tone, elevated aromatics and flavors. Growing in shale, the S2 block offers mid-tone notes with a comparatively rounder, while still finessed, presence. The W block grows from decomposed granite, delivering ample concentration with a nervy, linear, extended finish. #southafrica #stellenbosch @mulderboschvineyards @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 18, 2017 at 7:18am PDT

Intense frog sound at night in the mountains along the edge of Stellenbosch. Totally different type of frog noise though than we get in Sonoma. There is also occasion night bird calls mixed in. #stellenbosch #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 18, 2017 at 12:58pm PDT

An elegant start – the Saltare brut nature made primarily from the 2012 vintage and disgorged in late 2015. Made in the Classical method, an MCC. About equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with no dosage. The purity of the wine also reveals the acid signature I have noticed so far in the region – a building glow that enters the palate delicate, simply a carrier for the flavors, then steadily gains in intensity until not only your mouth but whole frontal lobe are glowing. Lovely lacy flavors here. #southafrica #stellenbosch @saltarewines @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 18, 2017 at 11:11pm PDT

Full of wild herbs, energy, freshness, flavor all on a racing frame. Yes and yum. #stellenbosch #southafrica @starkconde @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 18, 2017 at 11:50pm PDT

Looking across the cradle of the Table Mountain ranges in Constantia, the oldest still producing wine region in the new world, originally planted in 1685. #constantiaroute #southafrica @wosa_usa @constantiaglen

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 19, 2017 at 1:40am PDT

Sophisticated, fresh, delicious wines. Really impressed by Constantia Glen wines. Fantastic Bordeaux blend red in the 2012 Five at unbelievable value. Recommended. #constantiaroute #southafrica @constantiaglen @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 19, 2017 at 2:07am PDT

I am Groot. I am Groot. I am Groot. (Translation: This is delicious. The price is unreal. We should all be drinking this.) #constantiaroute #southafrica @grootconstantia @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 19, 2017 at 2:33am PDT

Beautiful flavors of orange blossom, Turkish delight, and persimmon. Wonderful fresh acidity cleanses the palate. Grand Constance 2014 dessert wine from Groot Constantia made from white and red Muscat. Made by drying the fruit on the vine without botrytis. #constantiaroute #southafrica @grootconstantia @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 19, 2017 at 2:40am PDT

Two distinct and lovely expressions of Sauvignon. The Bayten 2017 offers a satisfying mix of summer fruits with vibrant acidity and persistent mineral lines. The Maximus 2014 carries impressive fruit concentration wed to a judicious, fully integrated presence of oak. Both for impressive value. #constantiaroute #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 19, 2017 at 3:16am PDT

Lovely mouthwatering Vin de Constance of Muscat dried on small bush vines without botrytis and aged in old oak barrels from one of the oldest estates in the new world, Klein Constantia. Beautiful vibrant midpalate with a fresh delicate finish. You want this wine and put alongside hard cheeses. Beautiful freshness and well carried sweetness. #constantiaroute #southafrica @kleinconstantia @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 19, 2017 at 3:36am PDT

And there it is greeting us at the end of a long day, one of the world’s masterpieces, The FMC 2015 from bush vines near the sea in Stellenbosch by Ken Forrester wines. #stellenbosch #southafrica @fmcwine @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 19, 2017 at 11:52am PDT

Clairette Blanche is so damned fun to drink and I especially enjoy this 2016 from Craven. There is very little of it left growing here in Stellenbosch so this bottling is significant. Swartland still has more of the variety intact from historical plantings so a few other bottlings also appear there. #stellenbosch #southafrica @cravenwines @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 19, 2017 at 5:57pm PDT

Deftly executed use of skin contact here. Craven’s 2016 Pinot Gris offers palate cleansing texture with a wonderful combination of Turkish delight and mixed yellow and orange fruits. Satisfying and delicious. Cool to see too as Mick and I met briefly years ago when he was doing harvest at Wind Gap with Ryan Glaab and Scott Schultz also there. This wine was inspired by the skin contact wines the three wineries making. Fun to come full circle from tasting those wines then that Mick was inspired by to now tasting the result here in Stellenbosch. #stellenbosch #southafrica @cravenwines @paxmahle @jolielaidewines @ryme_cellars @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 19, 2017 at 9:13pm PDT

Super psyched about this South African sampler of foods. Killer chicken curry with unique spices, delicious lamb sauce, and my first foray into Babotie (at the top here), the region’s version of savory pie (loosely speaking). PIES OF THE WORLD UNITE! #stellenbosch #southafrica Delicious lunch at the new Steam restaurant. @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 19, 2017 at 10:32pm PDT

South African butter also very good. #stellenbosch #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 20, 2017 at 2:08am PDT

Great concentration and elegance, energy and drive. Gorgeous old vine white blend from Mullineux 2015 held by Chenin and moved by a mix of Rhone whites with just a hint of Semillon. #swartlandindependent #southafrica @mullineuxwines @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 20, 2017 at 2:22am PDT

Perfectly aged satin sheets, a quiet Sunday with only relaxing to do, the breeze blowing in lightly through the door out to the garden and the light softened and glowing building into the day from morning. A wine of a perfectly elegant, while easy going moment. Refined, rejuvenating and delicious. Mullineux 2015 Syrah. #swartlandindependent #southafrica @mullineuxwines @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 20, 2017 at 2:44am PDT

First jaunt on a public stage and oh does it dance … Rall wines 2017 Albatros. Absurdly refreshing and delicious. Albatros, as it has been called locally, is a white mutation of Cinsault local to South Africa. #wellington #swartlandindependent #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 20, 2017 at 3:00am PDT

Pro tip: buy the holy crap out of this wine. Rall 2016 White. #swartlandindependent #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 20, 2017 at 3:10am PDT

Looking through the sweep between the southeastern hills of Swartland. #swartlandindependent #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 20, 2017 at 7:33am PDT

Looking the opposite direction away from the southeastern hills of Swartland it is all canola fields and their yellow glow. #swartlandindependent #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 20, 2017 at 7:36am PDT

In love with these art pieces dotted about the hotel. Wonderful energy and freshness to them. #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 20, 2017 at 8:32pm PDT

Iron rich silty loam soils in the Delta area of Franschoek. #franschoek #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 21, 2017 at 12:18am PDT

At the estate of the Somms-Delta winery in the Delta area of Franschoek extensive work has been done to excavate and study both the archaeological and also colonial history of the area. As a result a more profound understanding of communities in the region from pre-history has been found. With the work to document colonial history those that have lived on and built the estate as slaves in different eras have also been documented with as much work as possible to find the names of each. The associated information and artifacts have been gathered into a museum on site. Today a large portion of ownership of the estate has been dispersed among the farm workers who also live on site. In the museum this monument has been made recording the names of every person who lived and is buried on the site. The intention is to recognize the deeper history of the site and who actually made it possible. Many of today’s farm worker-owners can also point to their ancestors in this monument. #franschoek #southafrica @solmsdelta2017 @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 21, 2017 at 1:08am PDT

Music plays an important historical role through the rural Cape Delta region. Here instruments from the 1930s made from found objects are shown at the Music Museum in Franschoek. #franschoek #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 21, 2017 at 2:14am PDT

Several hundred years ago the plains in Franschoek served as elephant mating grounds. The curve of the mountain on the eastern side of Franschoek locals view as an elephants head, a tribute to their predecessors in the region. #franschoek #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 21, 2017 at 3:31am PDT

“Two grooms, one bride, and a lifetime of happiness” – (I intend to marry both Kevin and Jacques and live happily in drunken polygamy for the rest of their winemaking lives.) This was the funniest tasting I have done in a long time – hilarious, delicious, energizing and inspiring. Black Elephant wines. #franschoek #southafrica @bevintners @wosa_usa cc: @erik4wine

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 21, 2017 at 4:49am PDT

Wonderful wines from Solms-Delta. Beautiful finesse, mid-palate concentration and length – serious without being ponderous, elegant while easy going. Brilliant balance. Especially enjoying the whites. #franschoek #southafrica @solmsdelta2017 @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 21, 2017 at 6:45am PDT

Welcome respite in a long day of tasting, double espresso from excellent Franschoek roaster, Terbodore Roasters. #franschoek #southafrica @terbodorecoffee @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 21, 2017 at 9:56am PDT

Chateuneuf du Franschoek. Tons of granite and sandstone boulders laden through the vineyards against the mountains in eastern Franschoek. #franschoek #southafrica @wosa_usa cc: @erik4wine

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 21, 2017 at 10:24am PDT

The first roses planted in South Africa were established in the mid-1600s at Boschendal, one of the oldest estates in eastern Stellenbosch near the edge of Franschoek. #franschoek #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 21, 2017 at 10:56am PDT

Incredible. Looking across the Upper Blaanwklippen Valley on the eastern side of Stellenbosch. #stellenbosch #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 21, 2017 at 12:47pm PDT

Delicate, transparent, energetic, beautiful. What a lovely wine. Keermont 2015 Riverside Chenin Blanc from the Upper Blaanwklippen Valley area of eastern Stellenbosch. #stellenbosch #southafrica @keermontvineyards @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 21, 2017 at 1:28pm PDT

Shockingly good Viognier from Kleinood – great concentration, all the gorgeous fruit and floral notes of the variety delivered with restraint, pleasure, and mouthwatering mineral lines. Genuinely impressed. #stellenbosch #southafrica @kleinood_farm @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 21, 2017 at 2:04pm PDT

Utterly distinctive Chenin based white blend from the grapefruit-sized granite boulder-laden fields 200 km inland from Stellenbosch, Malgas. Only one winery grows and makes wines from the area having done extensive soil studies and settled on a mix of Mediterranean varieties vinified as one white, one red. Utterly iron-dust stony purity to the wine here with tons of freshness and a crazy long finish. I want this wine. I am a fan. #malgas #southafrica @sijnnwines @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 21, 2017 at 10:27pm PDT

Driving over the pass from Stellenbosch towards the Botrivier area, looking back to False Bay from the top. #westerncape #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 22, 2017 at 1:23am PDT

Looking across the valley towards the Atlantic from top of the hill in Botrivier. Persistent wind and cool temperatures in this area. #botrivier er #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 22, 2017 at 1:46am PDT

Pretty, vivacious and fine boned. Beaumont 2016 Hope Marguerite Chenin Blanc. #botrivier #southafrica @beaumontwinery @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 22, 2017 at 1:57am PDT

Fantastic texture and flavor complexity, energetic, with tons of palate stimulating sapidity. Really exciting Viognier made by Lismore from Greyton in the Overberg area of the Cape South Coast. #greyton #southafrica @lismorewine @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 22, 2017 at 2:13am PDT

Floral with nice purity and a run through of bloody gunmetal. Satisfying, energizing, and delicious. Gabrielskloof 2015 Cabernet Franc. #capesouthcoast #southafrica @gabrielskloof_ @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 22, 2017 at 2:39am PDT

A revelation – Tesselaarsdal Pinot Noir by Berene Sauls from the Hemel en Aarde Ridge area of Overberg. Genuinely exciting to meet Berene and taste her wine. #hemelenaarderidge #southafrica @berene8584 @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 22, 2017 at 5:56am PDT

An unexpected pleasure – a Pinotage so good I had to neck it from the bottle. Ashbourne 2001 from Hemel en Aarde Valley in the Overberg area of Cape South Coast. #hamelenardevalley #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 22, 2017 at 9:27am PDT

Hey, @stormwines !!! Look who I found! It’s @stormwinessa ! So killer to taste Storm Pinots from three distinct soil types here in Hemel en Aarde. #hemelenaarde #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 22, 2017 at 10:21am PDT

Settling into Hermanus along the Pacific Ocean near the bottom point of the African continent. #southcapecoast #southafrica @wosa_usa @juliemdalton @awbeazley @amanda_leete @megs22b @jimwinebeer @erik4wine @fdtreport

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 22, 2017 at 12:05pm PDT

So, we loved these. Cool climate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah by Richard Kershaw from Elgin. #elgin #southafrica @richardkershawwines @wosa_usa cc: @erik4wine

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 23, 2017 at 7:34am PDT

And then we saw baboons… again. On the way to Cape Town… #capetown #southafrica @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 23, 2017 at 9:26am PDT

Silverthorn and Table Mountain. Perfect last wine in South Africa (this visit). 100% Chardonnay MCC, The Green Man 2014, fruit from the limestone laden area of Robertson. Huge thanks to Jim for a wonderful week, to Ronnie for being an excellent driver, to all of the producers and venues who hosted us, and to Wines of South Africa for including me! #capetown #robertson #southafrica @silverthornwines @wosa_usa

A post shared by Hawk Wakawaka (@hawk_wakawaka) on Sep 23, 2017 at 9:45am PDT

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