African Hills Cape Town Sauvignon Rosé 2020

The African Hills Cape Town Sauvignon Rosé 2020 is a $6.99 ALDI import wine from the Cape Town growing region of South Africa. The Rosé is a blend of 93% Sauvignon Blanc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fun Wine Fact: Sauvignon Blanc is the genetic parent of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Ok, here is a Rosé refresher. Rosé wine is made when the grape skins are left with the crushed grape juice just long enough for the juice to take on that pink color. The easiest way to achieve this is by using Red wine grapes; they have more than enough color for any shade of pink desired. Some White grape varietals do have enough color, but most do not.

Sauvignon Blanc ranges from golden yellow to yellow with a distinct green tint, with nothing close to pink to be found here. The Cabernet Sauvignon will work, but is Rosé Cabernet Sauvignon added to the Sauvignon Blanc or is it full tilt Red Cabernet Sauvignon?

Sauvignon Blanc with a splash of Red wine seems to be a “thing” in South Africa, but this is not a wine that I have come across before. Is this simply a White wine mixed with enough Red wine to get a proper pink? I seem to be asking a lot of questions while not providing many answers.

The African Hills Cape Town Sauvignon Rosé 2020 looks to be just that, a blend of White and Red wine and not your typical Direct Press or Saignée Method Rosé wine. ALDI Europe has a Summer of Rosé Celebration with a wide selection of Rosé wines from all over French, Italy, and Spain. My ALDI has a couple of random Rosé wines on the bottom shelf of a tiny wine display.

This wine has been farmed certified sustainable. That suggests that unless all the vineyards used to produce this Rosé were certified, this wine might be from one wine estate. $6.99 for a wine that I have not tried before from a cool growing region (Cape Town) in South Africa is a bargain, so on to the tasting portion. The alcohol content is 13%.

African Hills Cape Town Sauvignon Rosé 2020 Tasting Notes

The color is pale amber pink. The nose is very Sauvignon Blanc-like, grassy, tropical fruit, lemon, and melon, but with some added strawberry and spice. The African Hills Cape Town Sauvignon Rosé 2020 of a Sauvignon Blanc with a little bit extra.

It tastes of unsweetened pineapple, Meyer Lemon, grapefruit, and lime. The mid-palate offers a salty, nutty “on lees” sensation, hard cherry candy (not sweet), guava, a smash of minerality, and dried pear. The acidity is refreshing; it allows the flavors to unfold and sets your palate up for the next sip.

The Summary

• The African Hills Cape Town Sauvignon Rosé 2020 tastes more like a Sauvignon Blanc than your typical Rosé, but if you are a fan of Sauvignon Blanc, that can be a plus.
• Served well-chilled, this is a fun and tasty wine.