2002 South Africa

A moderate quality wine vintage for most of South Africa. Perfect winter weather, cold temperatures and plenty of rainfall, led to predictions of an bumper vintage but in fact it turned out to be a year of widespread fungal disease and an unusually long and hot summer.

Stellenbosch reported its smallest crop in five years. Small yields usually result in better quality; the top producers, who have the talent to deal with desease, have been rewarded with top class fruit. Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs are excellent and Merlot, Pinotage, Syrah, and on good sites Cabernet Sauvignon, are the best red varieties.