South Africa is top of the pops

01 January 2000
South Africa is top of the pops

By Joe Hyam

Demand for some South African wines at the moment is so high that importers' stocks are exhausted within a few months. There are some Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs on quota, which means customers may have to wait until the next harvest.

"We could sell 10 times as much Simonsig Chardonnay if we had it," says Terry Barr of Lawlers (01306 884412). Simonsig, in Stellenbosch, is a big producer of excellent quality wines that are a good example of South Africa's range and potential. Last year Lawlers listed the '94 at a trade price of £62.90.

It's much the same with Hamilton Russell's internationally acclaimed Pinot Noir and Chardonnay shipped by Avery's of Bristol (01275 811100). The vineyards, in the southerly Hermanus Walker Bay area, are cooled by ocean breezes which bring out the best in the Burgundy grapes. Trade prices on the new Avery's list start at £83.40 a case for the '95 Chardonnay and £85.80 for the '94 Pinot Noir.

The revived demand for South Africa's own Pinot Noir/Cinsault cross, for a time almost synonymous with South African red wine, is something of a paradox. Pinotage went out of fashion for a while as Cabernet Sauvignon and other classic varieties strengthened their grip. Then came the search for something individual and different, and suddenly there was not enough Pinotage to go round. Try the 1994 Simonsig Pinotage from Lawlers at a trade price of £46.90, or Boland's Altus Pinotage from the Paarl region - the '94 is shipped by Boutinot Prince (0161-477 1171) and listed at £45.

South African wine exports are the success story of the 1990s. In 1990 the UK imported fewer than 300,000 cases. In 1995 that figure had grown to just under 2.9 million cases, of which about 2.8 million was still, not sparkling or fortified wine. In 1995, the UK imported a total of 24 million litres of wine from South Africa compared with 16.4 million from the USA and 12.1 million from Chile.

As Caterer's recent Chile and South Africa red-wine tasting demonstrated, South African wine-makers are competing well in the mid-price section of the market. Good value is another factor; the exchange rate is one of the few where sterling holds up well. Few wine merchants that supply hotels and restaurants do not now ship South African wines, and most report favourable responses.

For low-cost house wines, have a look at Boland's 1995 Colombard or its 1995 Paarl Heights Red. Both are listed at £35.16 by Boutinot Prince. And if you want a change from New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, consider Thelema Mountain's 1995 vintage. It is proving very popular in restaurants, despite its moderately high trade price of £62.60 for 12 bottles.

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