WASHINGTON — Jacques Jordaan has the toughest job in the wine business. Not just because he has to travel all over the globe wining and dining potential customers, but because he has to do it with South African wine.
Now, lest you think I am anti-South African wine, let me be clear: I think South Africa is producing some fantastic wines, and many are getting high marks at home and abroad. But due to long-standing political pressures, many South African wines have not had an opportunity to shine as brightly as possible on the international stage.
So Jordaan has had to overcome a good deal of stigma before he is able to get his proverbial bottle in the door. But given his prior experiences, he is well suited to be an ambassador for both South African Wines in general and Simonsig winery, in particular.
But Jordaan is used to pressure. In the late 1970s, he served as a Sub-Lieutenant in the South African Navy before moving on to the South African Diplomatic Corps Special Tasks Division, where he worked as a Vice Consul in the South African Consulate General’s office in Texas.
His diplomatic career then brought him back to South Africa to the Department of Foreign Affairs where he was responsible for his country’s diplomatic relations with Sweden, Norway and Denmark. His knowledge of California wines was heightened by a stint in California in the early 1990s when he was Deputy Consul-General for South Africa and responsible for 13 western U.S. states.
In 1996, Jordaan left the diplomatic arena for the wine industry. Fast forward to 2010, when he was approached by Simonsig Winery Estates to become marketing and sales manager for the famous family-owned Stellenbosch winery. Today, he is responsible for all marketing and sales activities in South Africa and internationally. Talk about pressure!
Situated in the world-renowned Stellenbosch region of the Cape Winelands, the legacy of Simonsig Winery dates back to 1688 when the Jacques Malan, a French Huguenot, arrived in South Africa and eventually settled near Stellenbosch, an area already famous for producing quality of the wines. Three centuries later, in 1953, Frans Malan planted vineyards in the foothills of the Simonsberg Mountains outside Stellenbosch. Endowed with ideal soil and climate, the vineyard quickly became the nucleus of the Simonsig Wine Estate. Simonsig (literally “Simon’s View,” named after the spectacular views of the Simonsberg Mountain) launched its own label in 1968.
Malan was not only an exceptional winemaker, but a visionary as well. His groundbreaking innovations include the country’s first chardonnay and riesling, meticulously bottled by hand and personally labeled by his wife, Liza, as well as establishing the benchmark for South African Pinotage.
In addition, Malan also produced South Africa’s first Méthode Cap Classique, a bottle-fermented sparkling wine made in the style of French Champagne. Many other varieties, such as shiraz/syrah, cabernet sauvignon and sauvignon blanc, were planted in a quest to find the optimum grape and soil compositions on this prime vineyard land.
Today, Simonsig produces an extensive range of both value-oriented and high-class red, white and sparkling wines. Here are a few you should be on the hunt for in our area.
The 2014 Simonsig Family Vineyards Kaapse Vonkel Brut is a delightful sparkling wine made in the traditional Méthode Champenoise and is a blend of 53 percent chardonnay, 45 percent pinot noir, and 2 percent pinot meunier. Aromas of toasty bread and green apples dominate the bouquet, while elegant notes of granny smith apple and citrus elevate and unite with the red berry flavors on the palate. Pitch-perfect acidity enhances and magnifies the flavors while providing a crisp and refreshing finish. This top class sparkling wine should be served chilled, it is perfect to accompany with sushi, lobster or almond cake. It is stunning with fresh oysters or simply on its own. $15
Chenin blanc, which comprises 20 percent of South Africa’s vineyards, was the first wine that Simonsig produced. The 2015 Simonsig Family Vineyards Winery Chenin Blanc, from Stellenbosch, South Africa, is the winery’s 47th vintage. It displays a bright straw color, with a youthful expression of ripe pears, guava and sweet melon. The fresh acidity is the perfect foil for the tropical fruit flavors that form the core of this wine, where hints of green figs and kiwi fruit chime in to give the wine greater dimension. Sur lie ageing enhances the flavor profile and gives the wine a creamier mouthfeel. Served slightly chilled as an aperitif or pair it with lighter seafood dishes. $14
For red wine lovers looking for a great value, try the 2013 Simonsig Family Vineyards Cabernet Shiraz. First introduced in 2003, this red wine is a blend of 60 percent cabernet sauvignon and 40 percent shiraz, and delivers beautiful aromas of red raspberry, Bing cherry and ripe plums, with just a touch of cinnamon on the bouquet. Flavors of blackberry jam, plum and dark cherry fills the mouth and leads to a finish that lingers with hints of cinnamon and mocha. Soft tannins round out the palate, making this wine a true “super quaffer” for tonight or could also age for an additional three to four years. $14
Now, I must confess, I am not generally a fan of pinotage – a varietal that was created in 1925 by crossing cinsault (a Rhone Valley staple) with pinot noir. But the 2014 Simonsig Family Vineyards Pinotage just may make me a fan of the hearty red grape. This youthful wine showcases an array of ripe berry fruit with blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry on the front of the palate and layers of strawberry and cherry on the back of the tongue. A touch of cinnamon spice glides in on the finish, supported by soft tannins. The wine is unoaked, so it is drinking well now, but can age a few more years. Serve it with aromatic dishes, such as Indian or Cuban cuisine. $18
