So I hope you have all read Part 1 and have put your white wine knowledge to good use. If you haven’t here’s what you missed: Part 1

Time to move on to the wonder that is red wine!

Cabernet Sauvignon

• Black cherry, liquorice, tobacco – serious smells and flavours for a serious wine.
• Pair this with a juicy steak for a simple yet powerful combination.
• Also try it with mushroom stroganoff or sticky braaied ribs.

Merlot

• I give you South Africa’s top selling red wine, yet grossly understood.
• The cheaper bottles tend to be tinny, thin wines that don’t speak volumes for the berrylicious nature of a decent Merlot.
• If you’re an amateur wine drinker, Merlot is always a good choice as it is naturally softer than Cab Sauv and Shiraz. So it’s a great red wine to start on and will always go down well with everyone.
• Pair this baby with chicken dishes but be sure to keep it away from spicy food as it will overwhelm its fruity nature.

Pinot Noir

• Known as the diva in the vineyard, Pinot Noir is extremely difficult to grow but can produce some of the best wines in the world.
• Used also as a component in Champagne and Methode Cap Classique (MCC), this wine emits floral notes or rose petals and violets as well as flavours of caramel, clove and occasionally mushroom.
• Treat this one with respect and do try to go for a pricier bottle to get the real deal.
• If you must pair this wine, choose mushrooms or a fancy duck dish.

Pinotage

• Here we have South Africa’s very own grape variety – and the only wine you will ever need at a braai.
• This bad boy is the perfect pizza partner, loves sweet tomato dishes and has a simply epic savoury finish.
• It’s definitely a marmite wine – you will either love it or hate it but make sure you give it a fair shot though and compare styles.
• Elgin Pinotage and Tulbagh Pinotage are entirely different.

Shiraz

• Shiraz is a dark red wine with a big character – spicy, peppery, a touch of blackberry and blueberry.
• It’s a huge feature of the Australian wine scene and in South Africa.
• These wines can be kept for a long time.

Text and image: wine.co.za