Recommended Wines for Beginners

a friendly recommendation from Renzie Baluyut.

There are a lot of good reasons to start drinking wine. But for someone like me who hasn't been raised in a culture that isn't inherently into wines (Filipinos are more into beer than anything else), getting into the whole culture of wine appreciation can be a tad bit challenging.

But not if you know where to start. I've recently attended a leisurely lunch and wine-tasting event at Cav in Bonifacio High Street, and I liked it that they've put together a four-course meal and paired each course with a particular kind of wine.

With that event in mind, here are a few wines you might want to start with: Fleur Du Cap, Nederburg, and Two Oceans. All fine South African wine labels, which I had the pleasure of sampling recently. I've also been able to gather some notes on these three labels, thanks to this very useful website on South African wines.

Fleur Du Cap

The Fleur Du Cap label has two wines excellent wines you should try: the Fleur Du Cap Chardonnay, and the Fleur Du Cap Merlot Unfiltered.

The Fleur Du Cap Chardonnay

On the nose, this Chardonnay displays apricot, melon and citrus fruit with a hint of vanilla oak in the background. The palate is dry but packed with apricot and citrus fruit flavours, supported by lovely nut and vanilla oak

The continued success of the Fleur du Cap range of wines is the result of a team approach at the The Bergkelder that starts with meticulous vineyard selection and is driven by an overriding passion for winemaking and constant experimentation to create new generation of superior quality wines. The wines are shaped in perfect harmony with nature to capture the highly sought after qualities of varietal character and terroir.

This wine pairs excellent with sushi, oysters and full-flavoured fish such as tuna and salmon. It also goes well with white meat dishes or pasta in rich, creamy sauces.

The Fleur Du Cap Merlot Unfiltered

The wine has an intense and concentrated ruby red colour. On the nose the wine shows rich plum and blackcurrant flavours infused with gentle vanilla whiffs. On the palate this medium-bodied wine displays fresh lively berry fruit flavours with hints of vanilla and a distinctive aftertaste.

Made from superior grapes meticulously selected from prized vineyard blocks in the Cape Coastal region, Fleur du Cap Unfiltered wines are shaped in perfect harmony with nature. Handpicked in the vineyard and handcrafted in the cellar, these new generation wines capture the highly sought-after qualities of varietal character and terroir. Sedimentation, racking and fining as opposed to filtration maximise the preservation of colour and flavour elements resulting in wines that abound with fruit and flavour. This succulent Merlot is perfect with Parma ham, roast lamb kebabs and a hearty oxtail meal. An ideal accompaniment to robust Italian dishes.

Nederburg

The Nederburg label has three wines that beginner wine aficionados can easily appreciate: the Nederburg Pinotage, the Nederburg Sauvignon Blanc, and the Nederburg Special Late Harvest.

Nederburg Pinotage

Concentrated ruby crimson in colour, this wine has the aroma of overripe berries, rich plum and blackcurrant with an earthy undertone. It is an elegant medium-bodied, smooth entry wine with flavours picked up on the nose and follow through to a slight tannic finish.

The grapes were sourced from vineyards in and around the Western Cape. Planted between 1990 and 1998 the vines grow on southern to south-eastern slopes situated at between 80 m and 150 m above sea level, in soils originating from decomposed granite and Kroonstad and Swartland. The vines, grafted onto nematode resistant rootstock Richter 99, 110 and 101-14, received supplementary irrigation from an overhead sprinkler system, yielding an average of 8 to 10 tons per hectare.

The winemaker suggests serving this wine with pasta, pizza, roast leg, bobotie or even chocolate.

Nederburg Sauvignon Blanc

This particular wine is brilliant green with golden specks, and herbaceous varietal aromas. It has flavours of gooseberry, passion fruit and peach, with an elegantly dry finish. Its generous palate is refined by a well harmonised fruit/acid balance.

Grapes were sourced from vineyards in the Durbanville, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Darling areas. The grapes grow in Clovelly, Hutton, Tukulu and Oakleaf soils at between 100 m and 150 m above sea level. The vineyards were planted between 1980 and 1999. Grafted onto nematode resistant rootstock Richter 99 and 101 – 14, the vines received supplementary irrigation from a micro irrigation system while some vineyards grow under dryland conditions.

The winemaker suggests serving this wine with seafood, creamy fish, chicken or veal.

Nederburg Special Late Harvest

Lemony yellow with green specks, the Nederburg Special Late Harvest has a complex honeyed character with rich aromas of dried fruit. It is delicious, with apricot and raisin character supported by fresh acidity.

Grapes were sourced from trellised vineyards in Stellenbosch and Paarl. The grapes grow in soils originating from Clovelly, Hutton and Glenrosa soils at between 50m and 100m above sea level. The vineyards were planted between 1984 and 1988. Grafted onto nematode resistant rootstock Richter 99, the vines, yielding an average of five tons per hectare, received supplementary irrigation from a micro irrigation system.

Enjoy as an aperitif or with mild spicy dishes, dried fruit and baked puddings.

Two Oceans

Two Oceans has two recommended wines for those just starting to appreciate the nuances of wine culture: the Two Oceans Semillon Chardonnay, and the Two Oceans Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot.

The Two Oceans Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

A medium-bodied wine with ripe fruit flavours and soft tannins, this Merlot is ruby red, with an aroma which can be best described as an abundance of ripe strawberries and cherries.

This Distell label takes its name from the two great oceans that converge near the Cape of Good Hope, the Indian and the Atlantic. Two Oceans is an easy-drinking and very versatile range of food-friendly varietal and blended red and white wines. Accessibly styled, the brand exemplifies South Africa’s friendly, relaxed and café orientated lifestyle.

Two Oceans’ winemakers work closely with a team of viticulturists who ensure vineyards are ideally located to produce concentrated fruit flavours. To ensure the finest quality, all grapes are sourced from premier vineyards within the Cape’s Coastal region, where a temperate climate prevails. Vineyards are cooled in summer by day-time maritime breezes from both oceans and a drop in night-time temperatures, allowing grapes to ripen slowly, which promote flavour intensity.

This wine is made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%) and Merlot (45%).

An ideal companion to most red meat dishes.

The Two Oceans Semillon Chardonnay

Winemaker Kobus Gerber says the crisp, lemony notes and creamy flavours of the semillon are beautifully balanced by the citrus character of the chardonnay to make for a full-bodied, mouth-filling wine.

This Distell label takes its name from the two great oceans that converge at the Cape, the Indian and the Atlantic. The Cape’s Coastal region enjoys a temperate climate, cooled by day-time maritime breezes from both oceans and a drop in night-time temperatures to allow grapes to ripen slowly. In addition, the moderate humidity means vines are far less prone to disease than in areas with higher moisture levels.

To ensure the finest quality, grapes are sourced from vineyards in cool growing areas. The winemaker works very closely with a team of viticulturists and he closely supervises pruning, suckering and canopy management practices for optimal crop yield. During the ripening season the grapes are tasted daily for ripeness and also chemically analysed to ensure they are picked when varietal flavours are most concentrated, tannins are ripe and there is a good balance between fruit and acid.

This wine is made from a blend of 57% Semillon, 43% Chardonnay

Pictures and notes from www.wine.co.za-- the virtual home of South African wine. Visit the website, and read more about our featured wines for this post.

If you'd like to have your own wine-tasting party at home, you can go right ahead and check out the wines from Future Trade International's portfolio. You can go ahead and get yourselves some wines from the Two Oceans, Nederburg and Fleur du Cap labels. FTI has a wide range of wines that can sell as low as P175 per bottle to as much as P17,500 per bottle. You may call them up at (+632) 671.8694 or 671.8434, or you can check out their website for more information.

Cheers, everyone!