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SOUTH AFRICA<br />
GRAPE<br />
BRIDGING THE STYLISTIC GAP<br />
AND GLOBAL PERCEPTION<br />
ACCORDING TO SPIER CELLAR MASTER JOHAN JORDAAN, THE<br />
COMBINATION OF ANCIENT SOILS, ALTITUDE AND OCEAN INFLUENCE<br />
ENSURES GRADUAL RIPENING, CHARACTERIZED BY RED FRUIT, A HERBAL<br />
QUALITY AND SWEET, RIPE TANNINS<br />
The confident strides in refining its unique stylistic<br />
qualities have clearly positioned Stellenbosch<br />
Cabernet Sauvignon as a contender alongside<br />
expensive California and Bordeaux wines. Yet,<br />
there is an ongoing debate about why Stellenbosch<br />
Cabernets don’t command higher prices in the<br />
global market. A winemaker like Trafford notes the<br />
stylistic similarity to the highest-level Bordeaux<br />
wines, characterized by supreme richness and<br />
complexity, setting them apart from wines in the<br />
same price range that tend to be simpler.<br />
Even with noble grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon<br />
consistently earning global awards, it is necessary<br />
for wine lovers to physically come to South Africa<br />
and experience the absolute best versions of these<br />
wines in the very environment that is so uniquely<br />
conducive to crafting some of the world’s finest<br />
examples. This is why there’s an active push towards<br />
tourism and robust marketing strategies. These<br />
efforts serve not only to challenge outdated perceptions<br />
but also to create fresh and inviting images<br />
that allow Stellenbosch Cabernet to reap the benefits<br />
of its exceptional quality and the distinctiveness<br />
of its winemaking environment.<br />
As perceptions shift and more wine enthusiasts<br />
and connoisseurs experience South African wines<br />
firsthand, in its pristine wine estate settings mirroring<br />
the attention to detail, the intrinsic value of<br />
these wines becomes increasingly evident, setting<br />
the stage for these wines to command prices that<br />
accurately reflect their excellence and the terroir<br />
from which they originate. The hope is that tasting<br />
Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon evokes memories<br />
of the picturesque Cape landscape, with its intense<br />
blackberry and fynbos nuances weaving complexity<br />
and memorability into each glass.<br />
A JOURNEY THROUGH<br />
STELLENBOSCH TERROIR<br />
For some wineries, the image of South African wine<br />
and Stellenbosch Cabernet has been a commitment<br />
traversing generations.<br />
Alto Wine Estate is an example of such, one of the<br />
48 AUTUMN 2023 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE
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