SA wines in Jakarta

Thu, 09/04/2008 10:15 AM | Potpourri

South African wines have been sold in Jakarta for more than 10 years. But the connection between Jakarta -- or Indonesia -- and South African wines goes back further than this.

The Dutch East India Company (VOC) governor of Batavia (former name of Jakarta), Jan van Riebeeck (1619-1677), and the first VOC governor of Cape of Good Hope, Simon van der Stel (1639-1712), were instrumental in the early years of the development of the South African wine industry.

Van der Stel was raised in Batavia and his mother was an "Oriental-looking" Batavian of Chinese descent. The wines enjoyed by Sultan Sibori of Ternate when dining at the Dutch at Fort Oranje upon his return from Batavia were probably South African.

Nowadays, Jakarta's relationship with South African wines continues on through wine clubs and sales in hotels and restaurants.

The South African Wine Festival was held to reintroduce familiar brand names and introduce not so familiar ones.

Producing 2.9 percent of the world's wine and ranking ninth in overall volume production (in 2005), South Africa is known for its own grape variety called the Pinotage, a cross between a Pinot Noir and a Cinsault (also known as Hermitage).

It also produces a Shiraz similar to a French Syrah but too shy to mimic an Australian Shiraz.

South African wineries are known for their attempts at emulating French wines. But the warmer climate puts the country's wines in the "New World" flavor profile.

Some French winery families have make wine in South Africa for their lower-end markets -- including Alain Moueix of Chateau Petrus fame with his Ingwe wines.

Among the wines offered for tasting during the festival were the 2005 Steytler Pinotage, 2004 Steytler Vision Cape Blend, 2004 Ridgeback Shiraz, 2006 Ridgeback Viognier, 2005 Cathedral Cellar Chardonnay, 2005 De Wetshof Estate Bateleur (wooded) Chardonnay, 2005 Cathedral Cellar Triptych, the Nederburg Noble Late Harvest, a 15-year distilled KWV brandy and South Africa's most well-known cream liqueur, Amarula cream.