3 Fun Facts about South African Cabernet Sauvignon

Most red wine lovers will agree that Cab is king of the red wine grapes. This age-old variety is one of the world’s most widely recognized red wine grapes and is grown in nearly every major wine producing country in the world, including South Africa.

Here are 5 fun facts about South African Cabernet Sauvignon that you probably didn’t know:

1. A grape filled with blood, sweet and tears…

Early attempts to grow Cabernet Sauvignon in South Africa did not always have very satisfactory results. Part of the reason for this was that the vines had been planted in areas that were too cool, leading to very bushy vines which had a rather peppery taste. The problem was solved by growing the grapes for longer. The result was sweeter wines with  higher alcohol levels. These vines have now started to age, allowing them to produce larger quantities of intensely-flavoured fruit.

2. South Africa’s second most planted grape

In South Africa, Cabernet Sauvignon is the second-most widely planted variety after Chenin Blanc, making up 12.53% of the total area under vineyard at the end of 2009.

3. When did Cabernet Sauvignon arrive in South Africa?

No record exists to confirm Cabernet Sauvignon’s first arrival in South Africa, but it is likely that the varietal has been here for over 200 years. By the 1920s it had become one of the country’s top-quality red varieties, and today it is grown in virtually all of the country’s wine-producing areas.

An example of a great South African Cabernet Sauvignon:

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The Bosman family only started producing Cabernet Sauvignon wines in 2004 but they’ve been growers of the grape for many years. Various clones of cabernet from different sites and slopes are used to create a blend of the different components.

The recently released 2007 Bosman Cabernet Sauvignon was deliberately held back so that it’s ready to drink once purchased.

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