Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc continue to dominate shelf space in 2010 but does that mean they are the future too?
Having judged at the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show in 2008, it’s clear there is growing interest in non-international varieties in the New World, and South Africa is no exception.
The latest industry figures show Chenin Blanc still leads the planting chart with Cabernet Sauvignon, Colombard, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc completing the top five. There are still relatively few hectares of Mediterranean varieties including Sangiovese, Barbera, Roussanne, Grenache, and Mourvedre but visit many wineries in the Western Cape, and they are quite the fashionable thing to be planting or adding to a blend.
Francois Haasbroek of Waterford Estate says, “I think that more people are opening up to the fact that Cabernet and Shiraz are not the be all and end all.”
So, is the emergence of varieties better suited to Mediterranean climes a consequence of global warming? Not necessarily, claims Wilhelm Pienaar, red winemaker at Nederburg. “We are anticipating people getting bored of the traditional varieties.”
“There’s a big drive to experiment and use new varieties like Tempranillo – and we are looking at it quite intensively,” he added. The major producer has an experimental vineyard, trying out 30 lesser-known varieties.
Chris Williams, winemaker at Meerlust, has his own label The Foundry, specialising in varieties like Grenache Blanc, Viognier and Roussanne. “Yes, there’s increasing interest in Mediterranean varieties,” he said, “but I don’t think they will ever be the majority: Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon do well and always will.”
It’s good to see that there’s a willingness to experiment. Ok, so the end of Cabernet is not nigh but this is one trend that is adding interest to the South African portfolio.
