It’s quite possible to make exciting, interesting and characterful wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in South Africa! Everything depends on the temperature – and the winemaker of course (as well as a whole lot else). The proximity to a cold ocean and southern winds means that although southwestern South Africa (Western Cape) can get quite hot there are pockets where southern cold wind cools the ground and allows the cultivation of cold climate grapes such as pinot noir.
In the right place, where it is cold enough you can make excellent wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which the brothers Peter-Allan and Andrew Finlayson have built on when they developed the brand Crystallum.
Read more on this in Ulf Bengtsson’s article on BKWine Magazine: South Africa’s “hottest” cool region: with Crystallum’s winemaker Peter-Allan Finlayson.
Come with us to South Africa and we will show you some of the best wines and wineries in the country, on the wine tour to South Africa.
