Producing its first wine vintage in 1659, today South Africa has grown to become the seventh largest wine producer in the world. The Cape Region is home to all South African wines, which are usually regionally labelled.

South Africa concentrated on white wines in the past, but the quantity of vineyards producing red grape varieties in South Africa is on the increase. Seventy-five percent of new plantings are red varieties and of these, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz predominate. Red varieties still account for only fifteen percent of South Africa's total grape crop.

Red wine is made only from red grapes and as most of these grapes have their colour in their skins. It is imperative to include the skins in the wine making process. Red wines are heavier and more strongly flavoured than white wines. They age in wood to stabilize the wine. Their aging process varies from six months to a few years.

There is no set path for making red wines. The winemaker has various options to choose from. The choice depends on whether he is making a classic wine in small quantities or large volumes of early- drinking red.

Although most of the vine varieties cultivated here today was originally imported, up to six local crossings have been released. The best known of these is a red variety, Pinotage, a cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut, created by Dr. Perold of the KWV cooperative.

Pinotage has become one of South Africa's most famous varietals and is cultivated locally on a fairly large scale. The first Pinotage was released in 1961, and gives the country a unique viticultural product. The industry has a long tradition of this kind of experimentation, and there are a number of South African wines made from grapes not grown in other regions of the world. Unique to South Africa, it can produce complex and fruity wines with age but is also often very drinkable when young. About 60 wines are bottled under the Pinotage label.

Cabernet Sauvignon comprises the majority of red varieties in present vineyards. It makes up about seven percent of total plantings and currently is the most planted red grape variety in the Cape. The most extensive Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards can be found in the Stellenbosch and Paarl districts. Cabernet Sauvignon produces top-class wines that develop well with age into spicy, full, complex wines.

Shiraz is made in several different styles in South Africa. It is known for producing deep purple smoky and spicy wines which develop a complex character with age. Most of the Cape's Shiraz vineyards can be found in the districts of Stellenbosch, Paarl and the Swartland.

There has been a dramatic increase in the planting of Merlot in the Stellenbosch and Paarl regions. Merlot was traditionally used as a blending partner to add softness and breadth to Cabernet Sauvignon but is now being increasingly bottled as a varietal wine, with some superb results.

Pinot Noir is one of the oldest grape varieties to be cultivated for the purpose of making wine. It is not widely planted, but it produces excellent wines in the cooler viticultural areas of South Africa. Wines tend to be lighter in colour with distinct vegetal flavour and aroma. A large proportion is used in Cap Classique sparkling wines.

Cinsaut was previously known as Hermitage. In 1980 thirteen percent of the Cape's vineyards were planted to Cinsaut, making it the most planted variety. By 1999 this figure had dropped to 3, 6 percent.

Cinsaut can be used to blend with Cabernets, to produce reasonably priced early drinking wines, or as quality wine for brandy distilling. It is also often used for rosé, port and jerepigo wines. It is fast being replaced by more noble varieties.

Over the past few years the planting of red varieties grown substantially, the improvement in quality has almost been exponential and a new generation of younger winemakers is gaining the reputation of being some of the best red wine makers in the world.