South Africa

South African winemaking began in the 1650s when it was introduced by the Dutch East India Company around what is now Cape Town. This region still produces most of the country’s wine – areas such as Stellenbosch benefit from the sun and warmth of the Cape peninsula’s Mediterranean climate. South Africa’s best-known grape varieties are Pinotage for reds and Chenin Blanc for whites, with the latter tending to exhibit more tropical fruit notes than Chenin from the Loire.