LIQUID INVESTMENTS
MICHAEL FRIDJHON: Artisanal effect and a fashion tsunami lift chenin quality
On the local wine scene there has been a quality surge in the chenin blanc category
Red wine drinkers are probably tired of hearing that the Cape’s white wines generally outperform the reds in international competitions. While this was an absolute rule a decade ago, it’s much less evident now. Better value will probably still be found among SA’s white wines, though this is partly a function of pricing. All other things being equal, whites trade at about a 20% discount to the reds. There are some pretty neat whites from about R50 a bottle upwards; at R80-R100 you’re spoilt for choice. With reds you’re likely to find something worth drinking for R60, with the "sweet spot" at R120-R160. On the local wine scene there has been a quality surge in the chenin blanc category. With most of SA’s older vineyards planted to what was once the country’s standby grape, there’s no shortage of quality chenin fruit for avant-garde producers to source for their increasingly edgy cuvées. Small-batch production, handcrafted winemaking and something of a chenin fashion tsunami have all c...
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