In 1986 New Zealand brought out its first iconic sauvignon blanc called Cloudy Bay. In the same year the now deceased Ross Gower produced an iconic sauvignon Blanc at Klein Constantia in Cape Town, South Africa. Sauvignon Blanc has gone through many evolutions and changes since 1986 in South Africa but it is now at a pinnacle.
The reason for South Africa’s great strength in Sauvignon Blanc lies in its diversity over much terrior and regions and sub-regions. The original two most important regions, Paarl and Stellenbosch are now less important. Paarl with its heat does not make a very elegant Sauvignon Blanc but a great wine to look our for is the Fleur du Cap Sauvignon Blanc unfiltered limited release. This is a wine with go. Stellenbosch, being slightly cooler, produces wines of more elegance. This is a vast region. Look out for Thelema, Tokara and Mulderboch. These are the benchmarks of Stellenbosch.
But a region that is really making its mark for Sauvignon Blanc is Elgin. Look at Iona, Elgin Vintners, Oak Valley and Paul Cluver. The high altitude, cool Elgin makes zesty, acidic and concentrated Sauvignon Blanc of great longevity. Move from Elgin to Hermanus where Hamilton Russell makes its Southern Right and also its wonderful Sauvignon Blanc based Ashbourne label. Don’t forget Hermanuspietersfontein the new Hermanus Sauvignon Blanc blasters and specialists. A new area to look out for is Stanford as well as Cape Agulus and Lomond.
But don’t forget the grand old lady of Constantia. Klein Constantia, High Constantia, Constantia Uitsig. Constantia makes lovely, elegant Sauvignon Blanc with great longevity.
All in all South Africa makes great Sauvignon Blanc of great diversity, power and elegance. Somewhere between the Old World and the New. A force to be reckoned with.
