South Africa: vineyards with French names
Monday, September 6, the 13 Hours of France 2 soap opera takes you on the wine route around the world. The first stop is in South Africa, to discover a wine with a French touch, a legacy of the 17th century colonization and the country’s history.
About fifty kilometers from the city of Cape Town, in South Africa, the vines await the return of heat, because in the southern hemisphere it is winter. The names of the vineyards, Grande Provence, Bordeaux or Chamonix, are reminiscent of France. The arrival of the French dates back to the 17th century, when 350 Huguenot Protestants landed in South Africa. The Dutch government offers them land. It’s the Franschhoek Valley, the corner of the French.
Today, this heritage attracts tourists. “We can compare with France, sometimes it’s even better than France”, smiles a vacationer. Despite the winter, farmers work hard, pruning the vines. “If you look at Provence or the Rhône valley, there’s also granite and sandy soils. That’s exactly what you’ll find in this valley.”, cheers Hein Koegelenberg, CEO of Domaine La Motte. This property produces one and a half million bottles a year. On average, South African wines are 39% cheaper than french wines.
