Geronimo! I’ve made the jump.
I’ve landed in cinsault and I like it.
It’s not a grape found much in Australia despite it’s resistance to heat and the dry. Prevalent in Languedoc-Roussillon in the south of France, in South Africa it’s becoming a “thing”. The first I discovered was the Seriously Cool Cinsault on the list at Urbanologi at the Mad Giant Brewery, one of the best and most interesting contemporary casual restaurants in Johannesburg.
Others include the Craven Cinsault and Pofadder from the Ouwingerdreeks (old vine) series from The Sadie Family Wines.
And right now my favourites are the Geronimo from Van Loggerenberg Wines and the Craven Cinsault.
What is it about these wines that gets to me?
Well, I don’t like heavy wines. I prefer the single varieties and blends from pinot noir up to, say, merlot. Cinsault lies in between these two. Okay, I will drink lighter versions of the heavier reds too.
You can chill cinsault on a summer’s day or drink at room temperature in winter. Have it with rich meats or fish. It’s a flexible, soft and rich wine.
Craven Cinsault
Year: 2017
Region: Stellenbosch
Grapes: Cinsault
Unfined and unfiltered
ABV: 12.5%
Price: About R205. Available online.
Geronimo Cinsault
Year: 2017
Region: Stellenbosch/Paarl
Grapes: Cinsault
Unirrigated bushvine grapes. Minimal intervention.
ABV: 13%
Price: About R260. Available online.
New to South Africa, I’m exploring the diversity of wine in the country at one bottle a week. English by birth, I’ve spent the last 20 years in Australia writing about food and drink for daily newspapers, glossy magazines and my blog, founded in 2005.
I now live in Johannesburg and am educating myself on all the amazing, new, interesting and avant-garde wines available in this country.
Note: I endeavour to pay for all wines myself and I practice ethical blogging.
Also published on Medium.