1953 The U K B G Guide to Drinks

BRITISH EMPIRE WINES

SOUTH AFRICA The wine industry in South Africa, or should we say within the borders of the Union of South Africa, is on a very hmited scale. There is far greater activity in the Cape Province where the industry really takes on a great and real importance and where the scale is of sufficient importance to justify a growing export demand. The most famous" South African \dneyards are those nearest to Cape Town and also near Wjmberg, which produced the famous wines of Constantia, which were so popular during the early half of the 19th centurj^ Wine is still made on a large scale at Wjmberg. At"Groot" Constantia itself, which is South African Government property, and adjoining vine3'ards. The finest stretch of vineyards is further inland, from French Floek to Wellington, along the Paarl Valley and in the Stellenbusch district close by. Further inland still, at Worcester, Robertson, Montague, Ladysmith and Oudtschoom, larger quantities of wine are obtained from grapes grown on richer soil, but the wine is of inferior quality. South Africa can and does produce a very large quantity of different wines, some very sour, dry beverage wines, both red and white, and some palatable sweet fortified wines, as well as sparkhng wine and a good deal of brandy.

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