Page 399 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

WHERE T O EA T AND DRINK  397

Beer
South African Breweries (SAB) was founded as Castle Brewery
in 1895 to cater for the miners of Johannesburg. Since the 1990s
it has been swallowing up rival breweries across the globe – in
2002 it purchased The Miller Brewing Company in North America
and is now known as SABMiller. The company now brews beer in
75 countries. Castle, Black Label and Hansa are its ubiquitous South
African labels. At the company’s SAB World of Beer Museum in
Johannesburg (see pp314–15), the guided tour has guaranteed
refreshment at the end in the form of a couple of cool “frosties”. Black Label Castle Hansa

Brandy
The word brandy is derived from the Dutch brandewijn
(“brandywine”) meaning burned or distilled wine. The
Dutch used the method for preserving wine aboard ships,
and South Africa’s first brandy was distilled
aboard the Dutch ship Pijl, anchored in
Table Bay harbour in 1672. Today it’s a
favourite tipple of South Africans and an
important export. Chenin Blanc and
Colombard are mainly used for the base
wine. The Western Cape’s Brandy Route
was established in 1997 and stretches
from Stellenbosch through Paarl and
Franschhoek to the Breede River Valley.
The Van Ryn’s Brandy Cellar (see p199),
Louisenhof, Tokara, Uitkyk, Avontuur
A 10-year-old Boplaas Potstill and Kaapzicht are some of the estates
KWV Brandy on the route that offer brandy tastings.
Variety Regions Producers
White
Chenin Blanc Breede River Valley, De Trafford, Kleine Zalze,
Stellenbosch, Nederburg, Spectacular vineyard setting in the
Cederberg, Swartland Beaumont Hope Franschhoek Mountains
Sauvignon Blanc Darling District, Elim Groote Post, Paul Cluver,
Ward Overberg, Cape Steenberg Vineyards, Reading the Label
Point, Stellenbosch Hamilton Russell
Chardonnay Breede River Valley, Springfield Estate, South Africa operates strict wine
Overberg, Paarl, Neil Ellis, Glen Carlou, labelling laws as a guarantee
Swartland, Cedarberg Jordan Wines of quality. According to the
WO (Wine of Origin) system,
Red information provided on the
Cabernet Sauvignon Cederberg, Paarl, Thelema Mountain grape variety and the vintage
Stellenbosch, Cederberg Cellars, Neil Ellis, must apply to at least 85 per
Swartland, Tygerberg Rupert & Rothschild cent of what has gone into the
Shiraz Franshhoek, Paarl, Fairview, Neil Ellis, bottle. However, 100 per cent of
Stellenbosch Boekenhoutskloof the grapes must have come
Pinotage Overberg, Tulbagh, Rijk’s Private Cellar, from the stated place of origin.
Breede River Valley, Fairview Primo, This can be the region (for
Stellenbosch Graham Beck example, Olifants River, Breede
Merlot Constantia, Tygerberg, Le Riche, Veenwouden, Valley River or Hex River Valley),
Paarl Glen Carlou the precise district therein (such
Pinot Noir Overberg, Elgin, Newton Johnson, as Paarl, Stellenbosch and
Constantia, Walker Bouchard Finlayson, Swartland) or, narrowing it
Bay, Darling District Paul Cluver, Groote Post down even more, the ward
Sparkling (Elgin, Waterberg, Cederberg).
Cape Classic Cape Peninsula J C Le Roux, Villiera Wines, Top-end wines can be labelled
Graham Beck Wines as estate wines provided that
the product is grown, vinified
Fortified and bottled on one parcel of
(Port style) Klein Karoo Axe Hill, De Krans, land that is farmed as a single
J P Bredell unit and registered as such.

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