One of the few countries within the African continent to produce wine, South Africa owes its production capabilities to the influence of the Dutch. Three hundred years ago, the ubiquitous presence of the Dutch East India Company made the trading of otherwise esoteric items (such as imported French vines) not only possible but lucrative.
   Jan van Riebeeck, the first governor of the Cape, planted a vineyard in 1655, and from February of 1659 the first wine was made from Cape grapes. Van Riebeeck strongly encouraged farmers to plant vineyards although initially they were most reluctant. There were many setbacks in the beginning, chiefly because of the farmers' ignorance of viticulture.
   South Africa's bias towards white grapes reaches all the way back to the first vines that were transplanted there from France (such as Muscat and Chenin Blanc). Today it is attempting to bring more balance with Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz both creating a big impact, while not detracting from centuries of experience with white grapes like Chenin Blanc and new explorations of Sauvignon Blanc which are now producing outstanding world class wines.
   By the 19th century, South Africa was producing more wine than it ever had before. It exported so much wine that Lord Nelson called it an "immense tavern." South African wine was enjoyed around the world in places such as Britain and the United States.
   When the British gained control of the Cape after the Boar War, they were delighted to find such a large source of wine at their disposal. However, after they abolished slavery in South Africa the wine industry suffered as rich planters drove away all competition through the production of cheap wine.
   In the early 1900s the South African Wine industry had considerable over-production due to the Boar Wars and the general hardship of the economy, but this led to cheap exports alerting the world to the quality of South African wines.
   Interestingly, American wine tasters might be surprised to learn of the long history of wine making in South Africa because wine from that country was virtually unknown in the United States until the early 1990s when Nelson Mandela was released from prison and eventually elected president.
   Before then, the United States had severe trade sanctions which prevented the enjoyment of South African wine in that portion of the New World, though it was exported to the European continent in bulk.