Sherry is a drink that arrives with baggage. Not only has it suffered the indignity of being misunderstood, but also being renamed. These days South African producers have to call it fortified wine. Admittedly, it sounds less glamorous, but thankfully the pleasure remains exactly where it should be: in the glass.
At the Saldanha Wine & Spirit Company, fortified wine is a headline act. There are elegant, nutty styles such as Amontillado, which is both serious and approachable. The Medium Cream wines offer richness and warmth without becoming cloying, while sweeter styles deliver layers of caramel, dried fruit, roasted nuts and spice that seem perfectly designed for winter afternoons and conversations that drift pleasantly off-topic.
Then there are the heavy hitters. Tawny-style fortifieds bring complexity and depth, while the Cape Vintage wines stride confidently onto the stage. Rich, concentrated and satisfying, they make you pay attention.
Oh, the sheer variety! Some wines are perfect before dinner. Others belong alongside cheese boards. A few demand a roaring fire while most simply require a comfy chair and the willingness to loosen up for the next hour.
At the Saldanha Wine & Spirit Company you can learn just how broad, diverse and modern the category can be. Proof that this much-maligned drink deserves a serious comeback tour. Simply discover which style speaks your language.
Saldanha Wine & Spirit Company, 12h00-17h00; 35 Main Rd, Saldanha; suzanne@aabadenhorst.com, 082 2312639.
