Let's talk little, let's talk wine
Groot Constantia , located a few kilometers from Cape Town, is the oldest estate in South Africa. It commemorates its 336th anniversary in 2021! The vines are trained on vertical trellises and vine operations, such as pruning, canopy management and harvesting, are carried out by hand. Pest control is organic , and soil health and weed control are managed naturally. The grapes are picked by hand and pressed by whole bunches. The wine undergoes complex aging for 12 months in 500 liter French oak barrels, 25% of which are in new barrels, 25% in 2nd filling barrels, 25% in 3rd filling barrels and 15% in 4th filling barrels. The remaining 10% is raised in 2700 liter barrels and then the whole is assembled. On the palate, we feel pronounced aromas of blackberries , blackcurrant , black plum , white pepper , violet , coriander , tobacco , licorice , cocoa and cloves . Time spent in the glass reveals complex flavors of this wine. Thanks to the subtle use of oak, the intense flavors are complemented by a fine and elegant tannin structure. The fresh acidity promises good aging potential and the finish ends with lingering spices.
Syrah du Monde® brings together 24 countries, making it one of the best global events for Syrah wines. Over the course of two days, 100 international expert judges taste 350 Syrah wines to arrive at 30 gold medals in total. Groot Constantia's 2016 Syrah won a coveted gold medal at the 12th annual international Syrah du Monde® competition held recently in the village of Ampuis in the northern Rhône Valley. She had already won a gold medal previously in the 2009, 2011 and 2015 vintages.
Where are we traveling?
The little history of the country
South Africa
The first vines were planted in South Africa by Dutch settlers in the 1650s, although wine production did not really begin to take off until the arrival of French Protestants, in the 1680s, with their skills and their knowledge of viticulture. Stellenbosch is also a historic wine region, with the first vineyards being planted there in the 1690s. Today South Africa is one of the most important wine producing countries in the southern hemisphere. With over 300 years of winemaking history, it is often described as a bridge between the Old and New Worlds. The majority of wines are produced using New World winemaking techniques, but they often have more in common stylistically with their Old World counterparts. Since the end of apartheid, South African wine has received international attention and acclaim for its wide variety of styles. South Africa's wine industry is spread across the lush and rugged landscape of the Western Cape. Here, the abundance of mountains, valleys and plateaus allows winemakers to produce a wide variety of styles. Vineyards can also be found in the Orange River region of the Northern Cape, where the flat, arid landscape is dominated by the Kalahari Desert. Most of South Africa's wine regions have a Mediterranean climate, strongly influenced by the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The country's signature grape variety is Pinotage, an indigenous cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut that is rarely found in quantity in other wine-producing countries. Shiraz (Syrah) is also widely planted, as are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (often combined in a Bordeaux blend). South African Chardonnay, Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc have become popular internationally in recent years.