5 Brilliant South African Wines for Springtime Sipping
When it comes to wine, it’s tempting to stick to our same old favorites. But, changing the wine we drink with the seasons is an opportunity to experience a wider range of varietals and pairings. As the weather warms and our taste buds start to crave wines that are fresh and clean, it’s time to start picking out wine for its lightness and simplicity.
With that in mind, I’ve picked out some of my favourite South African wines to pair with sunglasses, sunshine, and the smell of fresh-cut flowers. These include picks for the best white, rosé, and sparkling wines for the season. Pour yourself a glass as you fire up your braai for the first time this spring.
Rosé wines
When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with a light-colored (near white) rosé. With characteristics of both red and white wines, rosé is an incredibly versatile wine and an absolute classic for warm-weather drinking. A good rosé is a refreshing choice that pairs well with seasonal foods like spring vegetables, lighter meat proteins or fish and celebrates the sun with notes of red berries, flowers, and citrus.
Plus, because rosé is made in a variety of regions, with a variety of grapes, there is an option for every weather. A lighter-colored rosé with 12.5 percent ABV or higher is more likely to be dry and refreshing, whereas darker rosés made from Syrah or Pinotage tend to have more weight and are better suited for those chillier spring days.
I love the Backsberg Ella Pinotage Rosé for spring afternoons. The popular Provencal-style rosé is elegant and sophisticated, harmonising the robustness of Pinotage with the purity of a rosé. With its quintessential notes of wild strawberries, mint and grapefruit that dance on the palate, this wine perfectly embodies the spirit of Rosé all day.
Another favourite is the La Petite Ferme Grenache Rosé 2023. The new vintage release is crafted from 100% Grenache Noir and offers beautiful aromas of strawberry candyfloss . The palate has a fresh and lively acidity with citrus and grapefruit notes, making it the ideal choice for social occasions in spring.
White wines
The acidity in white wine enhances its refreshing, crisp qualities, making white a go-to in warmer weather. But not all whites offer the same qualities. When the weather is warmer, look for dry, unwooded white wines with high acidity and light to medium bodies as these tend to be crisp and refreshing.
Unwooded white wines, such as sauvignon blanc, have a lighter, fresher taste, so they pair well with spring foods like seafood and poultry dishes. These lighter whites are also typically meant to be consumed young when they have the most freshness and fruitiness. A subtly-oaked or unwooded chardonnay is also a great choice, with a high-acidity that pairs beautifully with charcuterie boards and cheese.
I love the La Petite Ferme Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2022. The oak in this 100% Chardonnay is very subtle and you get delightful notes of citrus and lime with white pear on the nose. The wine has a fresh line of acidity that lingers throughout the dry elegant finish on the palate. The grapes for this handcrafted vintage are all from La Petite Ferme’s Franschhoek Vineyards, an area with a terroir that is famous for the subtlety yet full flavour that it delivers through each different cultivar, making this a must-try chardonnay.
Sparkling wines
Sparkling wine doesn’t have to be reserved for celebrations, you can drink it for any occasion in spring! A great Cap Classique has many of the same attributes that make sauvignon blanc or rosé ideal for the spring — fresh acidity and clean flavors — while the soft effervescence of the bubbles makes it refreshing and palate-cleansing. Crisp, light sparkling wines pair well with lighter ingredients we tend to crave in the spring, like fresh fruit and lighter nibbles.
While a good sparkling wine tends to be more expensive than other varieties, it is possible to find a delicious bottle of bubbles that is affordable. For everyday drinking, look beyond Champagne (a type of sparkling wine that requires it to be made in the Champagne region of France) and choose local sparkling wines made in the same style as Champagne. South Africa’s Cap Classiques hold their own against some of the best Champagnes and come with a much more palatable price tag.
If you’re after some of the best in South Africa, then look no further than Weltevrede wines. The new Weltevrede Philip Jonker Rosetta Brut Chardonnay Pinot Noir is an elegant and refreshing, reminiscent of strawberries and cream, and is the ideal choice for outdoors enjoyment in springtime and summer. This dry Rosé, with a light rose colour, is a generous and voluptuous style of Cap Classique. It is deep and rich with some sweetness on the finish.
Another new addition to the Weltevrede Cap Classique lineup is the Philip Jonker Nectar Demi Sec Chardonnay. This 100% chardonnay sparkling wine enjoys an extra long lees maturation in the bottle before degorgement. It’s a mature sparkling chardonnay and would be right at home for a special occasion or served as part of dinner’s grand finalé of cheesecake, macarons and other patisserie.
