New World 'signature' wines

26 July 2011

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By Andrea Vavruch

Many of the great wine varieties originated in France and other wine-producing regions of Europe and still call to mind scenes of lush vineyards in Bordeaux, Provence or Tuscany. But today there are certain varieties that we associate with some other part of the world – either because it was developed there, or because there it found a natural home. Here are some varieties that we connect with a specific region of the New World.

Pinotage – South Africa

South Africa’s very own variety, Pinotage, was developed in 1925. Abraham Perold created the variety to combine the hardiness of Cinsaut (which was then known as Hermitage in South Africa) with the great flavour of Pinot Noir. Since the early 20th century, it has been recognised as a distinct variety. While it has its critics and its popularity has fluctuated over the years, Pinotage is now well established as an “international variety”, which is also grown in other parts of the world, such as the US and New Zealand.

Carmenère – Chile

Carmenère was not first developed in Chile. In fact, it is one of the oldest red grape varieties and is considered one of the six original varieties of Bordeaux, widely planted throughout Europe perhaps as far back as Roman times. However, a Phylloxera plague in the 19th century resulted in many of Europe’s vineyards being wiped out. While other varieties were replanted and eventually re-established, Carmenère proved too vulnerable to survive against the Phylloxera louse, and the attempt was abandoned. For many years, Carmenère was considered extinct, until it was discovered to be growing in the vineyards in Chile in the 1990s. It had been imported to Chile in the 1850s along with cuttings of other varieties, and had been mistakenly grown there as a clone of Merlot. Today, a large quantity of Carmenère is produced in Chile, and it is considered the “national symbol” of the Chilean wine industry.

Shiraz – Australia

Shiraz is quite a common South African wine, but to the rest of the world it is almost synonymous with Australia. Originally known as “Syrah”, and still called that in France and most other parts of the world, Shiraz is increasingly being called by its Australian name, thanks to the influence that Australia has had in its worldwide production. It can be used to produce a varietal wine, or as part of a blend. The Australian wines have their own distinct flavours, being more “fruit forward” than the traditional European wines and therefore less tannic and slightly sweeter.

Zinfandel – California

Known as Primitivo in Italy, this wine actually originated in Croatia, but was long known as “America’s vine” as its origin was obscure there. The discovery of the connection between the American wine and the European one has since boosted cultivation of Primitivo in Italy and Crljenak Kaštelanski in Croatia. But California is still the main grower of this variety, where it is used to produce full-bodied red wines and a very popular rosé.

Torrontés – Argentina

While the French grape, Malbec, is arguably Argentina’s best-known variety, Torrontés is a variety uniquely associated with Argentina. It is indigenous, thought to be a blend of two European varieties brought to the Americas by Spanish missionaries in the early centuries of European exploration. There are actually three varieties of Torrontés, but it is Torrontés Riojano that is most widely used. It produces distinctive aromatic white wines, which rival Argentina’s more famous reds in excellence and impact.

To learn more about wine, consider the Stellenbosch University Wine Evaluation short course, presented online throughout South Africa. Contact Emma on 021 447 7565 or visit www.GetSmarter.co.za for more information.

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