2021 Drury Farm South Africa Pinotage

The rolling hills are reminiscent of southern France. The bright spring sun and soft ocean breezes transport you to coastal Greece. The jovial people and fresh food are Italian in every way. Yet this welcoming land and culture are far from the Mediterranean and exude a special brand of hospitality.

The reason you may be unfamiliar with the fine wines of South Africa is that most of the wines either stay on the African continent or are exported to Europe; they’re rarely seen in America. Yet wine grapes have been grown in South Africa for thousands of years. Today, more than 3,000 farms include substantial vineyard plantings.

Pinotage — a cross between Cinsaut and Pinot Noir — is the signature red wine and is crafted in several styles, from light and easy drinking to full bodied and complex. Drury Farm’s 2021 vintage provides a delicious introduction to the variety.