Summer is the perfect season to gather friends for a wine-paired dinner. These three wines complement a variety of summer dishes, making them ideal for your next dinner party. Here are three curated menus to highlight their unique qualities.
1. Pinotage Pairings
Pinotage, South Africa’s signature red wine, is known for its bold and distinctive flavors. Here’s what you can expect when tasting it:
Aroma
- Ripe dark fruits like blackberry, plum, and cherry
- Smoky and earthy notes, sometimes described as campfire or tobacco
- Hints of spice, chocolate, and coffee, especially in aged or oak-matured versions
Taste
- Fruit-forward with flavors of blackberry, mulberry, and raspberry
- Bold tannins with a medium to full body
- Some versions have smoky, leathery, or roasted coffee flavors
- Depending on winemaking style, it can range from juicy and light to deep and complex
Finish
- Smooth and velvety when well-aged
- Some have a lingering smoky or spicy finish
- High-quality Pinotage offers a balanced mix of fruit, spice, and earthiness
Food Pairing
Pinotage pairs well with braai (BBQ), grilled meats, hearty stews, and aged cheeses.
2. Chenin Blanc Pairings
Chenin Blanc is South Africa’s most widely planted white grape, known for its incredible versatility. It can be made in different styles, from dry and crisp to rich and sweet. Here’s what you can expect:
Aroma
- Fresh green apple, pear, and quince
- Tropical hints of pineapple, guava, and passion fruit
- Floral notes like honeysuckle and jasmine
- Some versions (oak-aged) may have honey, vanilla, and nutty aromas
Taste
- Dry styles: Crisp acidity with flavors of green apple, citrus (lemon/lime), and pear
- Off-dry styles: Slight sweetness with hints of peach, apricot, and honey
- Sweet styles: Rich and luscious, featuring dried fruit, caramel, and honey notes
- Aged versions can develop deeper notes of almond, beeswax, and butterscotch
Finish
- Refreshing and zesty in dry styles
- Silky and lingering in sweeter versions
- Often has a minerally or slightly waxy texture
Food Pairing
Chenin Blanc pairs well with seafood, chicken, creamy pasta, and mildly spiced Asian dishes.
3. Cabernet Sauvignon Pairings
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of South Africa’s most prestigious red wines, known for its bold structure, deep flavors, and excellent aging potential. Here’s what you can expect when tasting it:
Aroma
- Dark fruits like blackcurrant (cassis), blackberry, and plum
- Herbal notes such as green bell pepper, mint, and eucalyptus
- Oak-aged versions may have hints of vanilla, cedar, tobacco, and dark chocolate
Taste
- Full-bodied with firm tannins and a rich structure
- Intense fruit flavors of blackberry, cherry, and blackcurrant
- Secondary notes of spice, graphite, and earthy undertones
- Oak-aged versions develop hints of smoke, leather, and dark cocoa
Finish
- Long and complex, often lingering with notes of spice and oak
- Young Cabernet can be bold and tannic, while aged versions become smoother and more elegant
Food Pairing
Pairs beautifully with grilled steak, lamb, hearty stews, and aged cheeses due to its strong tannins and deep flavors.
With these three exceptional wines, your summer dinner parties will be both delicious and memorable. Each wine brings out the best in seasonal dishes, making them perfect for warm-weather gatherings.
