10 Brilliant South African Red Wines (Tasting Notes, Prices)

South Africa has a rich history of winemaking dating back to the 1600s. So it comes as no surprise that the country produces some of the most exquisite and hearty red wines. 

South Africa is also where New World and Old World winemaking styles meet. So you can find both New World wine with fresh and fruity notes and more traditional reds with rich complexity and subtle earthy undertones. 

Let’s take a deep dive into the world of South African red wine and explore ten of the best red wines, the most popular red wine regions, and some delicious food pairings.

Top 10 South African Red Wines

Here are some of the best South African red wine bottles that you can buy now:

• 2015 Tokara 'Telos' 
• 2012 De Toren The Black Lion Shiraz 
• 2009 Delaire Graff Estate Laurence Graff Reserve
• 2014 Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage 
• 2017 Bouchard Finlayson Tete de Cuvee Galpin Peak Pinot Noir 
• 2016 Vilafonte Series M 
• 2013 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir
• 2016 Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block
• 2012 Neil Ellis 'Webb Ellis' 
• 2013 De Wetshof Danie de Wet Nature in Concert Pinot Noir 

1. 2015 Tokara 'Telos' ($388)

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec. It’s a great wine with crisp acidity and a complex yet well-balanced palate with notes of red fruit and blackberries. 

2. 2012 De Toren The Black Lion Shiraz ($378)

This is a high quality wine - intense and deep with clean aromas of coffee, chocolate, and plum. It has a brilliant, long finish of oaky and black fruit flavour notes that linger on the palate.  

3. 2009 Delaire Graff Estate Laurence Graff Reserve ($446)

This robust Cabernet Sauvignon has a vivid mix of oak, black fruit, and tobacco flavor notes. The wine has a great balance of elegance and intensity with opulent vanilla and spice aromas. 

4. 2016 Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage ($210)

This exceptional Pinotage from the Kanonkop estate has complex forest floor, smoke, and leather aromas. It’s bold and smooth with enticing flavour notes of chocolate and oak - the perfect match for any red wine enthusiast. 

5. 2017 Bouchard Finlayson Tete de Cuvee Galpin Peak Pinot Noir ($115)

This delectable red wine is made exclusively from the Pinot Noir grape variety.  It’s refreshing, smooth, and easy to drink with gorgeous notes of juicy plum, red fruit, and forest floor. 

6. 2016 Vilafonte Series M ($52)

A Malbec-Merlot blend, this red wine is layered with crisp acidity and a subtle sweetness. After some aeration, the palate reveals rich flavor notes of chocolate, plum, and blackberry.  

7. 2013 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir ($71)

This elegant red wine has a delicate nose and a flavorful palate. It has a smooth mouthfeel with notes of ripe fruit, earth, and a genial strawberry aftertaste. 

8. 2016 Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block ($37)

This classic Syrah has a full-bodied mouthfeel and a bold, complex nose with strong notes of dark chocolate, blackberry, and leather. 

9. 2012 Neil Ellis 'Webb Ellis' ($69)

This red blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot is an elegant wine with an exciting nose of dark fruit, cherry, and spice. It has a smooth, balanced, and full-bodied palate.

10. 2013 De Wetshof Danie de Wet Nature in Concert Pinot Noir ($65)

Hailing from the Breede River Valley, this Pinot Noir is smooth with a dry finish. It’s loaded with lush flavor notes of red fruit with some earthy undertones. 

Investing in South African Red Wine

If you’re looking to invest in some fine wine from South Africa, check out the Vinovest website.

Vinovest is a reputed wine investment company that lets you easily buy, store, and sell authentic wines from all over the world. 

South African red wine styles like Syrah and Pinotage demonstrate good aging potential - some of these can be aged anywhere between 20 and 40 years.  

These wines are also highly rated by critics. The 2016 Black Label Pinotage was awarded 96 points by the renowned wine critic Tim Atkin for its rich, layered complexity and tannins. 

These red wines have also shown some price appreciation in recent years. For instance, the 2016 Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage appreciated in value from $158 in 2019 to $210 in 2021 - a 32% increase. 

South African red wines also perform well at auctions. At a Christie’s auction in 2018:

• Six bottles of the 2007 Vilafonté Series "M" sold for $1728. 
• A mixed case of South Africa Grand Crus featuring wines such as the 2009 Boekenhoutskloof and the 2009 Kanonkop Paul Sauer sold for $785. 

Best Food Pairings with South African Red Wine

Most South African red wine styles are rich, aromatic, and hearty. This makes them a great accompaniment to South African dishes like: 

• Boerewors casserole: This dish pairs well with rich, full-bodied red like Pinotage.
• Chakalaka: This vibrant chili dish goes well with Merlot and Syrah. 
• Bobotie:This dish is a South African version of Moussaka. It pairs beautifully with Pinot Noir and Pinotage. 

These classic South African meals are sure to please any red wine lover looking for some hearty food pairings during their wine tasting. 

South African Red Wine Regions

South Africa is home to some great wine regions - the most well-known of these are found around the Western Cape. Let’s take a look at them:

1. Stellenbosch

With over 200 operating wineries, Stellenbosch plays an important role in the South African wine industry scene. 

Its vineyard lands benefit from the hot summers and cool, humid winters. The area has rich sandy and granite soils. 

The wine region produces mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, and the traditional Cape Blend (a blend of Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot).  

Apart from red wine, the region is known for its world-renowned Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Pinot Gris wines. 

2. Paarl

Paarl is the second-largest South African wine region. Its vineyard plots are located in the middle of two mountain ranges with the Berg river flowing right through. 

It’s the hottest wine region in the Western Cape and has lots of different soil types. This creates excellent conditions for growing red and white wine grape varieties like:

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Pinotage
• Chenin Blanc
• Chardonnay

In the past, the area was known for its white wine, but in recent years it has established a great reputation for its well-crafted red wine styles. 

3. Swartland

Swartland grows the following  Pinotage and Pinot Noir wine grape varieties:

• Pinotage 
• Pinot Noir
• Syrah
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Chenin Blanc

The hot climate gave way to the growing of bush vines which produce concentrated, high-quality grapes. The soils are sandy with granite deposits.  

4. Walker Bay

The Walker Bay wine region has a relatively cool climate which provides ideal conditions for the long and steady ripening of its grapes. 

Today, Walker Bay produces some of the best Pinotage in South Africa. The region also grows Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Some of the most renowned wine estates in the region include: 

• Hamilton Russell
• Newton Johnson
• Bouchard Finlayson 

Get A Bottle of the Best South African Red Wine  

South Africa produces a wide variety of delicious red wines from light and fruity Pinot Noirs to rich and bold Pinotage labels. So stock on a few bottles for your next dinner party. 

If you’re keen on investing in the finest South African wine bottles and some other collectible labels from around the world, visit the Vinovest website.