Did you know that there are over 8,000 grape varieties harvested in the world, however, only a select few appear in our stores?
All the wine grape varieties cultivated in South Africa , which were originally imported from Europe , belong to the species Vitis vinifera. Unfortunately the roots of European vines are susceptible to an insect disease called phylloxera and, in order to avoid it, they are often grafted onto American rootstock which is largely resistant to the insect.
A vine yields its first crop after three years and is fully productive after five. On average, the South African vineyard is replaced after 25 years but this depends on factors such as the area in which it is situated and how heavily it has yielded. Generally, its lifespan may be anything between 15 and 30 years although vines as old as 100 years still in production can be found.
The vine is a remarkable plant which lends itself to selection, propagation and grafting factors which make possible a continuous improvement in both plant and quality. Although most of the vine varieties cultivated here today were originally imported, up to now six local crossings have been released. The best known of these is a red variety, Pinotage, a hybrid of Pinot Noir and Hermitage (Cinsaut), which is cultivated locally on a fairly large scale.
White-wine varieties grown inSouth Africa
A vine yields its first crop after three years and is fully productive after five. On average, the South African vineyard is replaced after 25 years but this depends on factors such as the area in which it is situated and how heavily it has yielded. Generally, its lifespan may be anything between 15 and 30 years although vines as old as 100 years still in production can be found.
The vine is a remarkable plant which lends itself to selection, propagation and grafting factors which make possible a continuous improvement in both plant and quality. Although most of the vine varieties cultivated here today were originally imported, up to now six local crossings have been released. The best known of these is a red variety, Pinotage, a hybrid of Pinot Noir and Hermitage (Cinsaut), which is cultivated locally on a fairly large scale.
White-wine varieties grown in
- Bukettraube
- Chardonnay
- Chenel
- Chenin Blanc (Steen)
- Clairette Blanche
- Colombar(d)
- Emerald Riesling
- Gewürztraminer
- Grenache (Blanc)
- Marsanne
- Muscadel
- Nouvelle
- Palomino (White French Grape)
- Pinot Gris
- Roussanne
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillon (Green Grape)
- Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano)
- Viognier
- Weisser Riesling (
Red-wine varieties grown in South Africa
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Carignan
- Cinsaut Gamay (Noir)
- Grenache (Noir)
- Malbec
- Merlot
- Mourvèdre
- Muscadel
- Nebbiolo
- Petit Verdot
- Pinot Meunier
- Pinot Noir
- Pinotage
- Pontac
- Roobernet
- Ruby Cabernet
- Souzào
- Tempranillo (Tinta Roriz)
- Tinta Barocca
- Touriga Nacional
- Zinfandel
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