SA Wine: New World or Old World?
Traditionally, South Africa as a wine producing region is classified as a New World wine producer, as opposed to an Old World producer.
New World producers include, among others, countries such as Australia, Chile, Argentina and the US. Wines produced in New World regions are often characterized as being fruity, full-bodied with slightly higher alcohol content and perhaps a touch of new oak.
Old World producers include countries such as Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Wine produced in these regions are defined by centuries of traditional wine making and perhaps most importantly, terroir.
‘Wine producing regions of South Africa are so diverse in their geology, that terroir becomes an important factor.’
I must confess that I am in disagreement with South Africa’s classification as a New World wine Producer. However, neither do I believe South Africa to be an Old World wine producer. I guess what I’m trying to say is that South Africa lies somewhere in between.
There are two prominent reasons why I believe that South Africa cannot be classified as a New World region:
1) Wine producing regions of South Africa are so diverse in their geology, that terroir becomes an important factor. Unique geological factors such as soil type, slope, altitude, micro-climate and maritime factors all contribute towards the differentiation of South African wines
2) Few people outside of South Africa realize that vines were first planted in South Africa over 350 years ago. For this reason SA has a fairly well established tradition of wine making.
I think that South Africa is undoubtedly a unique wine producing region that stands alone somewhere between New World and Old World, subsequently providing the world with unique wines that offer both New World satisfaction and Old World intrigue.
Cheers!
Brandon Marc
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Comments
In AGE we can not compare to european wine producers. On a technical level some SA producers follow strict OLD world methods (such as pure terroir use) in producing globally competitive wines that can be classified as OLD world. SA wines in production numbers are mostly made up of NEW world wine styles and are continuously re-engineered on a vintage basis to both win awards and move quantity as immediate quaffers. OLD “school” wines are for collectors that can taste future maturing possibilities and the wine makers vision in a cellaring wine. We “mi-vine(m)” hope to grow this (OLD WORLD wine) percentage of local and international production through wine consumer education. As this is in a way the true art of wine.
Hi Tinus,
Couldn’t agree more… I think it’s fantastic that initiatives such as mi-vine(m) exist to ‘properly’ educate wine consumers!
Brandon Marc
This is always a fun debate to have with Pommie wine drinkers… I took a Pom friend to the London International Wine Fair last year and made him sample lots of Springfield wines (notoriously terroir-driven). He was utterly amazed, having imagined some overblown fruity numbers, and instead discovering some very gown-up, Old-World style wines.
Bt, I have added you to the South African Food and Wine Blog Directory which I maintain:
http://cooksister.typepad.com/sa_food_and_wine/directory/
Welcome Jeanne!
Thank you for your anecdote… I hope that international consumers begin to realize South Africa’s potential in producing ‘terroir-driven’ wines!
Cheers!
Brandon Marc
P.S. Thank you for the Directory add 
I title my wine tastings as
South Africa: The Old New World