Sweet Smaak Chocolate Mocha Kiss 2011 / 750 ml.

A vast majority of South African wine comes from its Western Cape region on the southwest tip of South Africa. Cooling waters flowing up from Antarctica moderate the climate of this region, making it perfect for growing grapes. You'll find lots of varietals to choose from here, including Cabernet Sauvignons, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, and on the white side Chardonnays and Chenin Blancs.

At the convergence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans sits a wine-producing nation with powerful Bordeaux and Rhone blends displaying its French influence, white wines as focused and expressive as any in New Zealand, value-driven Cabernet, Malbec, and Merlot to rival the best of South America, and yet a heartbeat and a character all its own.

Though its wine heritage was instituted by Dutch settlers in the colonial years, it’s hard to call South Africa a “new world” region when it boasts some of the oldest soils on the planet. With a diverse landscape from the mountains of Helderberg to the flinty Cape to the sandstone and clay slopes of Stellenbosch, South Africa has amazing potential.