Mourvèdre, an important Spanish grape that was once the dominant varietal in Provence, has become the murmur du jour as more varietals associated with the southern Rhône assume increasing popularity worldwide. A late ripener, it needs warm summers to yield its rich, gamey or meaty flavours, sometimes likened to truffles. Several leading producers at the Cape have established plantings but these are still too small to warrant a mention in the statistics provided by SA Wine Industry Information & Systems (SAWIS).

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