After decades as an afterthought for most consumers, the South African wine industry – dating to the 1600s – is poised to take its place on the world stage. In the Western Cape especially, growers and winemakers are converting the ideal climate and diverse growing conditions to world-class wines at good value. Over the past decade or so, the industry has emerged from the dark age of apartheid. Signature South African wines are all quite tasty. Among reds, some tout pinotage as South Africa’s signature variety. The cross of cinsault and pinot noir created in 1925 long was made into rather innocuous wine. But producers who treat the grape with care now make appealing wines with the perfume of pinot noir and the beef of