Sarah Ahmed – The Wine Detective

My love affair with South African wines started when I managed Oddbins Fine Wine in the City.  We had a small but perfectly formed list including wines from Boekenhoutskloof, whose iconic reputation was secured by winemaker Marc Kent’s maiden 1997 Syrah and, on the cusp of meteoric success, Eben Sadie’s maiden Syrah/Mourvedre blend, Columella 2000.

A month in the Cape on wine travels in 2004 sealed the deal. Much to Syrah maestro Marc Kent’s bemusement, I followed a week’s vintage experience with him focusing on Chenin Blanc for a Loire/South Africa study project.  Sauvignon Blanc from both regions may enjoy greater popularity, but for me Chenin is the more interesting grape.  For the overview, I rounded off the trip with producer visits and one of my favourite trade events, the Cape Wine Fair.

I’ve been to every Cape Fair since, witnessing a new generation of winemakers make great strides matching soil to grape variety and extending the boundaries of Cape fine wine beyond the traditional parameters of Stellenbosch, Constantia and the like.  I am a firm Cape Crusader!

Under the archive below you’ll find my tasting notes.  Under important links Wines of South Africa, the generic marketing body has plenty of information about the regions and links including to SAWIS which has tons of data and statistics about the wine industry if that’s your thing!  Other links are to UK-based South African wine focused retailers and restaurants.

If you are visiting, the annual Platter’s South African Wines is an invaluable guide to producers.  It has detailed wine ratings/tasting notes, cellar door information, maps (not to be relied upon for driving!), restaurants and accommodation listings as well as a good overview about the industry and regions.

South Africa Reports

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• Wines of South Africa Taste the Earth highlights: Red Bordeaux varieties 31/08/2010
• Wines of South Africa Taste the Earth highlights: Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon/Semillon blends 23/08/2010
• Wines of South Africa Taste the Earth highlights: Shiraz and some unusual blends 18/08/2010
• Wines of South Africa’s Taste the Earth highlights: Sweeties 13/08/2010
• Boekenhoutskloof, a Syrah vertical & new launch Le Cap Maritime Shiraz 10/06/2010
• London International Wine Fair & Imbibe 2010: South African Chenin Blanc 28/05/2010
• Cape crusaders – Schalk Burger, Luddite & Jean Daneel 22/02/2010
• The Wine Detective Cape Rhone blends with a twist tasting 30/07/2009
• White Cape blends press tasting 2009 20/02/2009
• Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir, a mini vertical, 2003-2007 30/01/2009
• 2008 – The Cape Fair, visiting Elim 30/09/2008
• Hemel-en-Aarde Valley – Sauvignon Blanc 3 ways! 30/09/2008
• 2008 – The Cape Fair, on the hoof visiting producer stands 30/09/2008
• De Wetshof, A celebration of chardonnay tasting 2008 26/09/2008
• Pinotage – The Cape Fair, a rare tasting of older wines 25/09/2008
• 2008 – The Cape Fair, a cutting edge tasting 24/09/2008
• 2008 – The Cape Fair, a focus on Simonsberg-Stellenbosch 22/09/2008
• Vergelegen – a tasting with Andre van Rensberg 09/07/2008
• Robertson press trip 2007 30/05/2007
• 2006 – the annual mega tasting, London – making a B.E.E. wine 30/09/2006
• 2006 – the annual mega tasting, London 30/09/2006
• De Wetshof, A celebration of chardonnay tasting, 2006 07/04/2006
• 2006 – The Cape Fair and related travels 28/03/2006
• 2005 – the annual mega tasting, London 30/10/2005
• Cape Winemakers Guild tasting, 2005 30/10/2005
• The Wine Detective cutting edge South Africa tasting 30/01/2005