Sought after by European aristocrats and a favorite of Napoleon Bonaparte the sweet wines of
Constantia in the Cape Colony were considered to be among the world's best during the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. During the first democratic elections in 1994 South
Africa began to re-emerge onto the international wine scene. Tim James an expert on South
African wines takes the reader on an information-packed tour of the region showing us how and
why the unique combination of terroir and climate together with dramatic improvements in
winemaking techniques result in wines that are once again winning accolades. James describes
important grape varieties and wine styles - from delicate sparkling to rich fortified and
everything in between - including the varietal blends that produce some of the finest Cape
wines. Anchoring his narrative in a rich historical context James discusses all the major wine
regions from Cederberg to Walker Bay complete with profiles of more than 150 of the country's
finest producers.
