| Red wines is the predominant wine of choice and | | | | Nebbiolo - Big, tannic wines with lengthy ageing |
| is used as a celebratory beverage and for toasts | | | | potential are made from this grape in its home |
| at banquets, ceremonies and special occasions. | | | | terroir of Piedmont in Italy. Tiny plantings here. |
| Cabernet Franc - Related to Cabernet Sauvignon, | | | | Petit Verdot - This superb variety is used in small |
| this variety is usually softer, has a lower sugar | | | | percentages in Bordeaux-style blends and can also |
| content and contains less alcohol. Used as a | | | | be made into cultivar wines. Limited plantings |
| component in classic, Bordeaux-style blends but | | | | locally. |
| also for varietal wines. Small but increasing | | | | Pinot Noir - The king of Burgundy but notoriously |
| vineyard area. Unless specified, 'Cabernet' refers | | | | difficult to grow elsewhere. Although not yet |
| to the Sauvignon and not the Franc variety. | | | | widely planted, this variety is now producing |
| Cabernet Sauvignon - An increasingly significant | | | | excellent wines in the cooler viticultural areas of |
| variety at the Cape, it's the foremost variety of | | | | South Africa. Wines tend to be lighter in colour |
| the Bordeaux region of France. Cabernet | | | | with distinct vegetal flavours and aromas. A large |
| Sauvignon produces top-class wines that develop | | | | proportion is used in Cap Classique sparkling wines. |
| well with age into spicy, full, complex wines. As in | | | | Pinotage - A local cross between Pinot Noir and |
| Bordeaux, it may be blended with Merlot or its | | | | Cinsaut (Hermitage), created by Professor |
| relative, Cabernet Franc. | | | | Abraham Perold in 1925, this variety combines the |
| Carignan - Flourishes well in warm, dry areas. | | | | noble characteristics of the former with the |
| Originated in Spain, also widely planted in the south | | | | reliability of the latter. Unique to South Africa, it |
| of France and grown in North Africa. Insignificant | | | | can produce complex and fruity wines with age |
| plantings in South Africa. Produces a light dry wine | | | | but is also often very drinkable when young. With |
| or is used as a blending component, particularly in | | | | great strides made in the making of Pinotage, |
| Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz. | | | | South Africa's own variety is rapidly gaining |
| Cinsaut - Previously known as Hermitage. A | | | | increasing acceptance and finding favour |
| strong bearer and very versatile variety - it can | | | | worldwide both as a varietal bottling and in blends. |
| be used to blend with Cabernet, to produce | | | | The 'Cape blend' is an evolving term which |
| reasonably priced early drinking wines, or as | | | | generally denotes a red blend with Pinotage as a |
| quality wine for brandy distilling. It is also often | | | | component making up 30 to 70 percent of the |
| used for rosé, port and jerepigo wines. | | | | wine. |
| Once South Africa's most widely planted red | | | | Roobernet - A 1960s local cross between |
| varietal, vineyard area has decreased as it has | | | | Cabernet Sauvignon and Pontac, it has an unusual |
| been replaced by more noble varieties. | | | | (for reds) grassy character. Withstands diseases |
| Gamay (Noir) - Mainly light red wines in the | | | | particularly well. Can be made into a cultivar wine, |
| nouveau style are made of this grape in France's | | | | also a good blending partner, particularly in |
| Beaujolais region. Several reds are made locally in | | | | combination with Pinotage for a uniquely South |
| a similar early drinking style. | | | | African blend. |
| Grenache (Noir) - One of Spain's most important | | | | Ruby Cabernet - A Californian cross between |
| varieties where it's known as Garnacha, this hardy | | | | Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon, this prolific |
| grape is resistant to drought, wind and sun. | | | | producer is suited to warmer areas. |
| Typically used for blending with Shiraz, Merlot and | | | | Shiraz - A noble variety of French origin. Better |
| Cabernet Sauvignon. | | | | known as Syrah elsewhere, the largest production |
| Malbec - Once a significant component of | | | | of Shiraz is now found in Australia but local |
| Bordeaux's blend but no longer found in the | | | | plantings have increased strongly. Made in several |
| region's best vineyards, this spicy variety is now | | | | different styles here, it yields deep purple smoky |
| mainly grown in Cahors in western France where | | | | and spicy wines which develop a complex |
| it's known as 'Cot'. Argentina's signature variety, | | | | character with age. |
| it's also grown in Chile. Very small plantings in SA, | | | | Souzào - Originally from Portugal, this is |
| varietal and blended bottlings. | | | | one of the traditional port varieties. Its high fruit |
| Merlot - An early ripening variety, traditionally used | | | | sugar content and strongly pigmented skin give |
| as a blending partner to add softness and breadth | | | | taste and colour. |
| to Cabernet Sauvignon but now increasingly being | | | | Tinta Barocca - Considered one of the best |
| bottled as a varietal wine, with some superb | | | | varieties for the production of port in South |
| results locally. Planted in increasing quantities, | | | | Africa. It produces earthy, organic red wines and |
| particularly in the Stellenbosch and Paarl regions. | | | | is excellent for blending. |
| Mourvèdre - Originated from Spain, where | | | | Touriga Nacional - Regarded as the best variety |
| it's known as Monastrell (in California and Australia | | | | for port, it's one of the oldest cultivars in the |
| it's known as Mataro). The spicy notes make it a | | | | Douro area of Portugal. Produces wine with a |
| good blending partner with cultivars like Shiraz. | | | | very dark colour and a strong ripe berry |
| Small vineyard area locally. | | | | character with around 13% alcohol. |
| Muscadel - This variety produces a very popular | | | | Zinfandel - This leading Californian grape variety |
| sweet red wine, particularly in the Little Karoo. | | | | (the same as Italy's Primitivo) is planted on a |
| Miniscule plantings in South Africa. | | | | limited scale in South Africa. |