When was the last time you visited South Africa through your wine glass?
If you haven’t had a South African wine in a while, now would be a great time to reacquaint yourself with one.
So many individuals, businesses and industries are facing hard times due to the pandemic. The South African wine industry has been particularly hard-hit due to three alcohol bans since the pandemic began.
At the end of December, the South African government once again closed all bars and banned the sale of liquor in an attempt to flatten the curve. The hope is that the ban will reduce hospital visits due to alcohol-related accidents and violence, relieving stress on a healthcare system that is reaching capacity due to the increasing number of coronavirus cases.
The ban has many in the South African wine industry extremely worried, and with good reason. The industry currently supports 290,000 jobs and many of these are now at risk. A great number of wineries rely on restaurant sales and tourism to sell their wines, but due to the ban, neither of these have been possible in recent months.
Although we cannot support South African wineries directly, by purchasing their wines here at home, the sales will encourage suppliers to make new orders, helping to support this struggling industry.
2019 Mullineux Old Vines White
This wine is a blend of 74% Chenin Blanc, 8% Clairette Blanche, 7% Viognier, 6% Grenache Blanc, 2% Semillon, 2% Macabeo and 1% Verdelho. These grapes come from several vineyards in different parts of the Swartland. Fermentation took place in barrel using indigenous yeasts. The wine was then aged for 11 months in French oak barrels (20% new).
After ten hours in the decanter, this white blend has aromas of buttered graham crackers, spartan apples, gooseberry, lemon curd and dried apricot. This is a dry wine that is medium+ in body, with medium+ acidity. The palate is round and creamy to start, offering flavours of lemon and lime curd, followed by buttered graham crackers, lemon juice and fresh apricots with a lingering finish.
Available at Everything Wine for $54.99.
Mullineux was established in 2007 by Chris and Andrea Mullineux. Chris was born in South Africa and studied accounting before he went on to earn a second degree in winemaking; he has worked at wineries in South Africa, France and California. Andrea is from San Francisco where she studied viticulture and oenology at UC Davis; she has worked harvests in Napa Valley, South Africa and France. Chris and Andrea met while attending a festival in Champagne and, as they say, the rest is history. The couple eventually settled in South Africa and started their winery, Mullineux, which has gained recognition both locally and internationally.
References
Meldrum, A. (December 28, 2020). As South Africa’s virus spikes, president bans liquor sales. Retrieved from: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/as-south-africa-s-virus-spikes-president-bans-liquor-sales-1.5246583
Zecevic, A. (January 5, 2021). South African Wine Faces (Yet Another) Alcohol Ban. Retrieved from: https://www.winespectator.com/articles/south-african-wine-faces-another-alcohol-ban
It is wonderful that we can support others all around the world by drinking beautiful wine!
It sure is! I hope that collectively we can make an impact – thanks so much for taking the time to have a read! 🥂
Great wine, which I tasted with the Mullineux on their farm in late 2019. Great people, great wines, great ambassadors for South African wine.
That’s amazing that you got to visit them! You snuck that trip in just in time! 👌🏻