Wines of South Africa
29 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago -Welcome to the new podcast from Wines of South Africa (WOSA). Each episode we talk to a selection of winemakers, winery owners, and other members of South Africa's wine industry to learn more about South African wine. We also get a sommelier's perspective on the wines. Each episode has a theme, be it a region, grape variety, wine style, or some other aspect of the country's vibrant wine scene. South Africa has been making wine for over 360 years; with over 500 wine cellars and myriad different regions, there's plenty to explore.
WOSA is a not-for-profit, levy-funded organization which promotes the export of all South African wine in key international markets. The podcast is hosted by WOSA USA Marketing Manager Jim Clarke.
You can find out more information about WOSA and South African wine at our websites, wosa.co.za and wosa.us.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episodes
Episode 29: The Helderberg
December 21, 2022 10:00 - 41 minutes - 9.58 MBFor many visitors it’s the first part of the wine district they see. If you’re coming from the airport it’s on your right as you turn and head toward town. But it's also one of Stellenbosch's most dynamic areas, home to award-winning Cabernets and other Bordeaux varieties, top-notch Chardonnay on the mountain's cooler, higher slopes, and many other exciting wines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 28: Wellington
December 15, 2022 10:00 - 49 minutes - 11.2 MBWellington is nestled up against the mountains north of Paarl, and has long been known within the industry as a source of grapes and of vines as well – its home to the great majority of South Africa’s wine nurseries. But more and more it’s becoming a name that savvy winedrinkers are looking out for. Warm conditions and plenty of sunlight makes the area perfect for ripe and fruit-driven reds, generous Chenin Blancs, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Simonsberg
December 02, 2022 10:00 - 36 minutes - 8.34 MBWhether you're in Stellenbosch or Paarl, it's hard to miss the Simonsberg. The mountain divides the two wine districts, so vineyards dot the slopes on every side. While that makes for a lot of different aspects and varied growing conditions, there's still something that Simonsberg wines share in common. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wine Tourism
November 29, 2022 10:00 - 55 minutes - 12.8 MBWine tourism has always played an important role in the South African wine scene, and post-Covid wine fans are pouring back into the the country to explore what it has to offer. In this episode we look at both the varied and exciting possibilities that South Africa's winelands offer visitors and explore what tourism means to the wine industry as a whole. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 25: Cape Winemakers Guild
February 28, 2022 10:00 - 51 minutes - 11.7 MBThe Cape Winemakers Guild has become a leading force in raising the bar of South African wine, bringing together top winemakers from across the Western Cape to discuss and share ideas. It has also created a set of programs that engender new opportunities for wine industry members from Black and other previously-disadvantaged communities, most notably their Protege Programme. Their annual auction, which helps fund these activities, has become a highlight of the calendar in the South African wi...
Franschhoek
December 16, 2021 10:00 - 52 minutes - 11.9 MBIn this episode we’ll be looking at one of the historic districts of the Winelands, Franschhoek. Its long history is reflected in its name, which means” French corner” and reflects the large number of French Huguenots who settled there in the 17th century. Today Franschhoek is one of the most visited spots in the Western Cape, home to a diverse array of wines including many great Chardonnays, Syrahs, Cap Classiques, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
November 2021: Robertson
November 09, 2021 13:00 - 48 minutes - 11.2 MBRobertson came to wine a bit later than some of the areas closer to Cape Town, but that's only because the mountains separating it from those more coastal spots made it hard for the valley's products to get to market. Vineyard planting got serious in the second half of the 1800s, and Robertson has definitely made up for lost time. With mountains on either side, the Breede River running through the middle, and some of South Africa's only limestone soils, it's a great place to make wine. Host...
October 2021: Shiraz
October 13, 2021 09:00 - 57 minutes - 13.1 MBSouth Africa's first varietal Shiraz only appeared in 1957, but the grape's popularity grew tremendously in the 1990s and today it's the second most planted red grape in South Africa, beaten only by Cabernet Sauvignon. and while Cabernet is largely focused on Stellenbosch and a few other areas, Shiraz - or Syrah - can be found the length and breadth of the Cape, producing a wide range of premium wines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 21: Cinsault
September 14, 2021 20:56 - 56 minutes - 12.8 MBFor much of the twentieth century Cinsault was the most planted wine grape in South Africa. Starting in the 1960s its plantings began to decline, but today's new generation of winemakers are taking another look and discovering it's well-suited for the fresher, lighter-bodied styles of red wine so popular today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 2021: Pinot Noir
August 10, 2021 09:00 - 45 minutes - 10.5 MBPinot Noir only occupies about 1200 hectares of South Africa’s vineyards, but has produced a great many notable wines in the past several decades. In this episode we talk to winemakers who have embraced this fickle grape variety since the 1980s and built it into one of the most consistent, high-quality categories in South Africa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 2021: High-elevation Vineyards
July 13, 2021 09:00 - 58 minutes - 13.3 MBTraditionally most of South Africa's vineyards have been in the lower-lying areas of regions like Robertson, Stellenbosch, and Paarl. A few decades ago winegrowers began exploring cooler, maritime vineyards near the ocean, but even more recently they've begun exploring higher altitude areas for similar virtues. A few hundred meters of elevation can make a huge difference in growing conditions, and these areas are yielding some of South Africa's most distinctive wines. Hosted on Acast. See a...
Sustainability
June 08, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 14.3 MBIn 1998 the South African wine industry introduced the Integrated Production of Wine system, a sustainability program that now certifies more than 95% of the industry – including growers, cellars, and vineyards. In addition, forward-thinking producers have led the way into organic or biodynamic farming, invested in solar power, or found other innovative ways to allow the natural world around their vineyards to thrive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 17: Sauvignon Blanc
May 04, 2021 09:00 - 1 hour - 13.8 MBIn this episode we look at the third-most planted white grape variety in South Africa. Sauvignon Blanc is incredibly popular with South African wine drinkers, leading the way over more likely candidates like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc. As a premium wine it's populated many of the more maritime vineyard regions along both the south and west coasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Elgin: Season 2, Episode 4
April 13, 2021 09:00 - 59 minutes - 13.7 MBIn this episode we talk to three winery owners in Elgin, South Africa's coolest-climate wine growing area. Thanks to a surrounding ring of mountains and its proximity to the cold Atlantic Ocean it's home to some of the country's best Sauvignon Blancs, Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and even Rieslings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
WOSA podcast, March 2021: Women Winemakers
March 09, 2021 10:00 - 59 minutes - 13.6 MBIn this episode we talk to three leading women winemakers, each working in different parts of the Western Cape stretching from the Swartland all the way down to the southernmost tip of Africa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Agulhas Triangle: Season 2, Episode 2
February 09, 2021 10:00 - 59 minutes - 13.7 MBThis episode we visit the southernmost tip of Africa to check out the cool, windy vineyards of the Agulhas Triangle. This informal designation encompasses a number of pioneers, including the Sauvignon Blanc-focused producers of the Elim warm, David Trafford's project, Sijnn, and Bruce Jack's farm, The Drift, showing in microcosm the diversity of wines that just a small area of South Africa's wine lands can create. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Paarl: Season 2, Episode 1
January 12, 2021 10:00 - 58 minutes - 13.4 MBNamed for a giant, round, granite outcropping that glistens like a Pearl, the town of Paarl was the third Dutch settlement in South Africa, after Cape Town and Stellenbosch. Its roots as a winegrowing area date to the 17th century, and today the large region is home to top-notch Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a wide range of other intriguing wines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 12: Historical Properties
December 08, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 14.5 MBSouth Africa's history of winemaking dates back over 360 years, and some of today's estates date back all the way to the 18th century. They're not resting on their laurels, though; in this episode, we look at some of South Africa's oldest wine estates and what they're doing now to stay at the forefront of the South African wine scene. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 11: Black-Owned Brands #2
November 10, 2020 10:00 - 49 minutes - 11.3 MBAside from the entrepreneurs behind the Black-owned brands we looked at in episode 10, there are some other ownership models as well. In this episode we look at three companies where the workers have become owners of their own wine brands, vineyards, and other land, giving dozens of families their own piece of the wine industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 10: Black-Owned Brands #1
October 13, 2020 09:00 - 59 minutes - 13.7 MBIn this episode we talk to the founder-owners of three leading Black-owned brands: Aslina, Tesselaarsdal, and Kumusha. As the South African wine industry struggles to redress imbalances stemming from the legacy of apartheid, producers like these are landmarks on the road forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode Nine: Chardonnay
September 08, 2020 09:00 - 59 minutes - 13.7 MBWhile Chardonnay doesn't have a long history in South Africa, it's become a leading variety, and one strongly associated with the estate wineries that emerged around the end of apartheid. Today plantings match those of Pinotage, and several important regions have emerged, each with their own character. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 8: Constantia
August 07, 2020 16:24 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBIn this episode, we look at a region that rose to fame centuries ago, a favorite of Napoleon, Louis XVI, and the Duke of Wellington: Constantia. Those famous sweet wines disappeared for almost a century, but today this small suburb of Cape Town is home to some of South Africa's leading Sauvignon Blancs, Bordeaux-style blends, and other wines...and yes, the sweet wines of the past have returned as well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 7: Old Vines
July 17, 2020 19:14 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBIn this episode we take a look not at a specific region or grape variety, but at grapevines - old vines, specifically. Some of South Africa's best wines come from vines aged 35, 50, or many decades older than that. Economic pressures were pushing many of these vineyards to be uprooted, but an exciting program, the Old Vine Project has been working to change that. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 6: The Hemel-en-Aarde
July 03, 2020 15:23 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBThe Hemel-en-Aarde is home to just 400 hectares - 1,000 acres - of vines, but it has a world-class reputation for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode Five: Chenin Blanc
June 20, 2020 19:29 - 56 minutes - 52.1 MBIt's #DrinkChenin Day! We're marking the occasion by looking at South Africa's most-planted grape variety, which has long roots in the country, dating back to 1655. With 17,103 hectares planted, South Africa is home to more Chenin Blanc vines than the rest of the world combined, and it has increasingly become recognized as country's flagbearer variety. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode Four: Pinotage
June 06, 2020 13:04 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBWe look at Pinotage. The grape was developed in South Africa in the 1920s, and came to prominence as the face of South Africa wine after apartheid ended. But it's had a mixed reputation. We talk about its idiosyncratic character and how today's winemakers are making top wines from this much-maligned grape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode Three: Stellenbosch Cabernet
May 22, 2020 20:16 - 49 minutes - 45.3 MBIt's South Africa's most planted red grape variety, and it's found a special home at the center of the country's wine industry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode Two: The Swartland
May 08, 2020 23:38 - 53 minutes - 48.8 MBIn this episode, we take a look at the Swartland. Winemaking is not new to the area, but even twenty-five years ago it was largely overlooked. Today, Swartland wines include some of South Africa's most-coveted bottlings, gracing the lists of the world's best restaurants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode One: Methode Cap Classique
May 01, 2020 14:12 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBWelcome to the debut episode of the Wines of South Africa podcast. We start off the way all good meals start, with bubbly. Join us for a dive into Methode Cap Classique, South Africa's sparkling wine and the fastest growing category on the South African wine scene. You can learn more about the wines and people featured in this podcast by going to our website, wosa.us, and clicking on the podcast tab. The WOSA podcast is hosted by WOSA's U.S. Marketing Manager, Jim Clarke. Hosted on Acast...