Riesling and Rose-In South Africa there is still much confusion under the public as to what these really are. What I mean by this, is that we used Riesling as a vehicle for cheap sweet wines for many years and Riesling is still seen as this. Not the good quality Rieslings from Alsace and Germany but rather flabby excuses for wine. This has been the same situation with Rose. Luckily Rose, like Chenin Blanc, is trying to improve their image. This can be attributed mostly to the red wine glut of recent years which has seen winefamers scrambling to find outlets for leftover red wine grapes. Now there are a few good quality rose's around, of particular note is the Mulderbosch Cabernet Rose which is just delicious and easy to drink. If you want something ice cold for summer, try Beyerskloof Pinotage Rose, although not of outstanding quality it is a great thirst quencher. Boschendal Blanc De Noir has been around for as long as I can remember and is certainly not a four star wine but worth tasting to see what the populace in SA are so mad about, mostly expatriate Germans I have to confess from retail experience and also found on almost all wine lists.
So what am I trying to say? Try a good dry Rose with your next purchase, especially if whites give you sinus and it's too hot for red and do try some good Rhine Riesling or if you want to splash out on some Alsace, as this is almost the only international Riesling you will find worth drinking in South Africa, Hugel is freely available at most premium wine stores. Their are some very good Noble Late Harvest(dessert wine) made from Riesling so go shop around and experiment. Exellent with camembert cheese.
I've made myself thirsty now!! Happy tasting.