Cape Blend
Cape Blend is a term used since the turn of the millennium for a cuvée or blend from the Cape Winelands and is the South African answer to the world-famous Bordeaux blends. The origin of the Cape Blend lies in Stellenbosch - the Warwick winery first created a cuvée from the grape varieties Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and the "Three Cape Ladies" was born. The term Cape Blend was first used as a name for a wine in 2001 by the Beyerskloof winery.
The grape varieties of the Cape Blend
Unlike a Bordeaux blend, where the grape variety composition is very precisely defined, there are no uniform specifications for a Cape Blend. Only the grape variety Pinotage - South Africa's national grape - usually has a large share in Cape blends. Pinotage is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz or Syrah and traditionally aged in French barriques. The proportion of Pinotage used varies - while many winemakers require a minimum of 30%, others reduce it to 20% due to its flavor dominance. As a result, Cape blends can have Pinotage percentages ranging from 20% to 70%.