Wines of South Africa

I have been asked many times which region is my favorite outside of the United States.

Everybody loves French wines , even if they don’t love - or even particularly like - the French. Same here. I enjoy wines of Italy and Spain as well. German whites are the best way to begin to develop a palate if a neophyte doesn’t understand the nuances of wines. My passion for New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is no secret, and Australian Shirazes are powerful and rich in fruit. South America can’t go unmentioned - can we say Torrontes!! - and Canadian icewines are fun and delicious. And some are even affordable. So which is my favorite?

None of the above.

My favorite non-USA wines are from South Africa .

South Africa?!? Nobody makes wine in AFRICA!! Really? Prepare to be informed!

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Sweet Water Experience not so Sweet

Whenever I go into a restaurant, I’m always in “what’s on the wine list” mode. If a wine list is not available, then I enjoy the food without it or will ask if I can bring my own.

I have to admit that I was intrigued when Sweet Water was decided upon as the destination restaurant last Friday night. We had received several informal opinions of the establishment, ranging from “fantastic” to “save your money.” Because I trust the palates of all of those who had eaten there, I figured that our own first-hand experience was the only way to go.

Sweet Water is brand new and the décor is very attractive. The seafood market just inside of the entryway showcases beautiful fish and seafood. I can’t give you a comparison on the prices, but I can tell you that it looked incredibly fresh.

The four of us were seated immediately and were given a complimentary sample of pistachio-encrusted tuna pâté with black sesame seed crackers. Delish.

Unfortunately, that was the last really positive thing that happened.

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