World Cup Wine: 3 South African Vinos Under $20

Wine Welfare — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:30:12 +0000

We’re a week into the World Cup and it’s time to pair some cheap wine with some football. In honor of the 2010 World Cup being held in South Africa, we’re doing some cheap wine reviews of only South African wines. We might even stick to South Africa only until the final match. Until then, pop one of these babies around 7 AM and enjoy the rare pleasure of being buzzed before noon. GOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!

The Foundry Viognier 2006

Yellow-green and very bright. Looks very refreshing. Lot’s of honeysuckle and citrus with a strong burst of apricot. Good rockiness on the back-end that leads to a crisp finish. A good hot summer white to enjoy with the TV outside.

WHERE TO BUY: $8.99 at WineLegacy.com!

Fair Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Apple freshness with very bright acidity. Good creamy lime flavors come through once it’s not so chilled, making this great for grilled chicken or fish with lime and some salsa.

WHERE TO BUY: $7.01 at FineWineShop.com!

Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz 2004

This is a weird one. There aren’t a lot of sweet red wines out there that aren’t fortified or taste like spiked Kool-Aid, but this one was actually pretty tasty. It fits into the summer heat thanks to the sweetness. But don’t let the name or my use of “sweetness” throw you. This isn’t sugary or syrupy, but only slightly sweet. Not a regular Shiraz, but not a straight-up dessert wine. Great juicy plums and maraschino cherries. Still a few tannins in there, but I would leave this for after the meal.

WHERE TO BUY: $11.89 at TheWineStoreRI.com!

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Wine Review: Man Vintners Chenin Blanc 2005

Wine Welfare — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:55:15 +0000

Chenin Blanc is a white grape varietal that originated from the Loire Valley of France. As it has grown more and more popular in recent years, more regions of the globe are growing it. This particular Chenin Blanc comes from South Africa, which has fast become a winemaking region to watch. Chenin Blanc is the most frequently grown grape in South Africa, and as such, they produce some of the best.

Bad News First: At this price, there isn’t much bad news. However, we will say that if you are not a fan of acidic wines, this might not be for you, as Chenin Blanc is one of the most acidic white wines available. Still, you should step out more, try new things, pick up a Chenin Blanc. Especially one from South Africa and less than $10.

Now The Good: Brilliant wine for food. We don’t lean too heavily towards highly acidic wines here at WW, but this one blew us away when paired with a hard cheddar and some apricots. The acid is there, but it is balanced, something South African vintners do so well. Ruby grapefruit and lime come through, along with quince, a fruit not often found or eaten in North America; it’s basically ugly and obscenely tangy, but is delicious when sweetened. In a country where Chenin Blanc is king, Man Vinters has really raised the bar.

With Food: Fish, vegetables and cheese with fruit. Nothing else will really work with this wine, but boy do they work well.

$6.99 at WineLibrary.com.

Visit Man Vintners here.

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Wine Welfare » South Africa

World Cup Wine: 3 South African Vinos Under $20

The Foundry Viognier 2006

Fair Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz 2004

Wine Review: Man Vintners Chenin Blanc 2005