Chenin Blanc: South Africa's Secret Weapon

Chenin Blanc: South Africa's Secret Weapon

South Africa has more Chenin Blanc planted than any country on earth, including France, where the grape originated in the Loire Valley. Today's episode makes the case for why this might be the single most underrated white wine grape in the world: the old bush vines that produce extraordinary concentration, the range of styles from crisp and mineral to rich and complex, and why South African Chenin Blanc consistently delivers Loire-level quality at a fraction of the price.

Swartland: The Old-Vine Rebellion

In the early 2000s, a small group of young South African winemakers began moving into Swartland, a hot, dusty, unfashionable wheat and grain farming region nobody associated with fine wine, to work with ancient, neglected bush vines that everyone else had written off. Today's episode tells the story of the Swartland revolution, the minimal-intervention winemaking philosophy that defines the region, and the producers, led by Mullineux Family Wines, who turned a forgotten farming district into one of the most talked-about wine regions in the world.

Stellenbosch: South Africa's First Growth

Stellenbosch is the historic heart of South African fine wine, the region most responsible for the country's international reputation in serious Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends. Today's episode covers the geography of decomposed granite soils at the foot of the Simonsberg Mountain, the cooling influence of False Bay, and the producers, led by the legendary Kanonkop estate, who have built Stellenbosch's case as one of the most exciting fine wine regions outside Europe.

South Africa: The Cape of Good Wine

South Africa has one of the longest continuous winemaking histories outside of Europe, dating back to 1659, and yet remains one of the most underrated wine countries among casual drinkers. Today's episode covers the deep history of the Cape wine industry, the unique geography that makes the Western Cape one of the most climatically diverse wine regions on earth, and lays out the five-day map for the week: Stellenbosch, Swartland, Chenin Blanc, Pinotage and Walker Bay, and the practical buying guide.

Cab Sauv Wrap-Up: One Grape, Four Continents, One Big Lesson

Six episodes, four continents, and a single grape variety that revealed more about the relationship between place and wine than almost any other subject we could have chosen. Sunday's wrap-up brings Cabernet Sauvignon Week together with a recap of Napa, Bordeaux, Tuscany, and Chile, a personal top five bottles across all four regions, a three-sentence cheat sheet, and a look ahead at what's coming next on The Daily Decant.