How-To: Read a South African Wine Label

Like their American counterparts, South African wine labels are fairly easy to understand for American wine drinkers. A wine label will include:
            -Indication that the wine is from South Africa
            -Appellation of the wine region, within South Africa

-Grape Variety or name of the blend, with vintage

           -Name of the wine producer
           -Percent alcohol content

The Region: South African wine is organized by the “Wine of Origin” designation. The most basic is by Geographical Units, with Regions being more specific, Districts even more specific, and Wards the most precise designation.

Varietal (Grape): South Africa grows a wide range of old world grapes, sometimes under a local variation on the name.

The Winemaker or Wine Producer

Vintage (Year)

Alcohol content

From Wines of South Africa