Indaba Shiraz 2010: A Spunky Wine

After the holidays, my kitchen is a burial ground littered with the glassy bodies of fallen soldiers – the graceful green-gold Argentine Torrontés, the sweet topaz Royal Tokaji‘s of 5 and 6 puttony (necessary at any Hungarian family gathering), multiple Carmenères left over from a trip to Chile, a flowery Perrier-Jouët popped open during the New Year’s countdown and finished off in mimosa-form during the Sunday brunch which followed, and some harsh Russian champagne (-insert Cyrillic here-) which was bought out of curiosity and swiftly poured down the drain after the first sip.

Only one bottle remains uncorked, a 2010 Indaba Shiraz, a South African red that somehow landed on a Hungarian Christmas dinner table in Boston, Mass. Reading the label, I am intrigued. “Indaba is the traditional Zulu forum for sharing ideas…” it reads, ”…In this spirit we collaborate to produce great wines.” I’m interested.

Pouring out an initially humble portion, I first notice deep, dark red-purple, tooth-staining taint of the wine and take in its earthy, spicy aroma. The flavor has a mineral depth with a peppery twang that cuts the fruit preserve acidity. It’s great but the first sip tells me that it’s a wine I’d enjoy even more between bites of some hearty meat dish. I check the back label for pairing recommendations and stop at #1 on the list…bacon cheeseburger.

Indaba Shiraz on Entaste

Fully committed to consuming this last liquid vestige of the holidays the way it is meant to be consumed, as suggested by winemakers in the South African Cape wine-lands (…with a bacon cheeseburger…), I run to a nearby diner and get one to go. The pairing turns out to be completely on point, the peppery, earthy spices from wine harmonizing with the meat, its acidity cutting the grease perfectly.

As I chomp away happily, I read up a bit on the Shiraz and learn that the creation of the brand represents a part of the celebration of the democratization process of South Africa in 1994 and that the sales of Indaba Shiraz helps fund the Indaba Scholarship Program, which supports wine-related studies for students from formerly disenfranchised communities in South Africa.

What a cool wine to start 2012 off with!