Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

A simple breakdown of Cap Classique, the wine you’ve never heard of

Ready for a new style of sparkling wine this holiday season? Check out the Cap Classique wines from South Africa

Mark Stock
By

When it comes to sparkling wine, most of us know about Champagne from France or Prosecco from Italy. Fans of the style even know about Cava from Spain and Sekt from Germany. But what of Cap Classique, South Africa’s answer to the fizzy wine equation?

If you didn’t know, you’re living in a golden era of sparkling wine. The style, once reserved for select pockets of the wine map, has spread itself all over, taking on different styles and flavors en route. The U.S. is turning out some of the most exciting fizzy wines in the world right now, especially in cooler climate areas like the Pacific Northwest. But alas, back to the subject at hand.

Pouring sparkling wine.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The first Cap Classique was introduced back in the early 1970s. Essentially, it’s a sparkling wine made in the traditional style, much like Champagne, but originating in South Africa. That initial offering was made with Chenin Blanc and today, roughly a half-century later, we’re seeing more and more quality options of this style.

Recommended Videos

How it’s made

Some 250 producers in South Africa make this kind of sparkling wine. The standards are much the same as they are for Méthode Champenoise in France. Wine, of course, is pretty proprietary, and the term Champagne can only be used (technically, at least) when considering a product from the Champagne region. So, Cap Classique is South Africa’s version, made with cool-climate varietals like Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay (again, like Champagne).

Related

In short, this method involves a second fermentation in the bottle, which produces CO2 (the carbonation). They’re then aged on the lees for at least 12 months (often longer), to pick up texture and added flavors. Finally, they’re disgorged, hit with a little more sugar and wine (dosage), and sent to market. These are premium wines with plenty of depth and personality. In the end, the wine tends to be lower in alcohol, with a range of sweetness levels. Go with a standard brut, or dry style to begin with as you navigate the genre.

How to enjoy

Because it tends to be a bit more fruit-forward and acidic than Champagne, Cap Classique goes great with poultry, pork-centric dishes, and shellfish. It can cut into decadent things like foie gras and does great with fatty, breaded items, too (think fried chicken).

Graham Beck is a prominent producer with solid distribution here in the states. If you’re looking to dip your toes in the style, this is a great way to start. As you seek out this wine, know that it’s often labeled as an acronym on the label (MCC). This is an important distinction as there are a lot of cheaply-made bubbly wines exported from South Africa that are not made in the traditional way and therefore, tend to lack in terms of flavor and nuance.

The good news is that more and more MCC wines are arriving stateside and at reasonable prices. By all means, continue to enjoy Champagne and sparkling wine from emerging regions like southern England. But look to South Africa and its distinctive MCC offerings for something tasty, effervescent, and generally inexpensive.

Editors' Recommendations

Mark Stock
Mark Stock
Contributor
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
Wine 101: Everything you ever wanted to know about pinot noir
"Only somebody who really takes the time to understand pinot’s potential can then coax it into its fullest expression.”
Bottle and glass of red wine on bench

“It’s a hard grape to grow, as you know. It’s thin-skinned, temperamental. It’s not a survivor like cabernet that can grow anywhere and thrive even when neglected. Pinot needs constant care and attention, you know? And, in fact, it can only grow in these really specific, little, tucked-away corners of the world. And only the most patient and nurturing of growers can do it, really. Only somebody who really takes the time… to understand Pinot’s potential… can then coax it into its fullest expression.” - Miles Raymond, from the movie Sideways.

While to some, Miles’ monologue about Pinot noir may seem a touch on the overly sentimental, perhaps self-reflective side, the way his character describes Pinot noir is startlingly accurate for those who understand wine. Rather than classify Pinot Noir wine as a “high maintenance” varietal, we’ll be kind and say that it sets high standards for itself. Notoriously tricky to cultivate, Pinot Noir is one of the more finicky to grow, but the rewards of these labors are borderline mystical.

Read more
Wine 101: Everything you’ve wanted to know about Sangiovese
A no-nonsense sangiovese guide for everyone
Spread of wine, cheese, and grapes

When one thinks of Italy, wine is one of the first images that comes to mind. In addition to the lush, sweeping landscapes, the watery canals twinkling with romantic gondolas, and the heavenly food that is no doubt what the angels themselves feast upon, wine is very much at the top of that list. Apart from the romanticism of wine itself, which automatically groups it into all things Italian, Italian wine is actually nothing short of spectacular.

My personal favorite Italian varietal is Sangiovese. It's the bottle I order at every Italian restaurant I visit, and it's a decision I've never once regretted. This delicious varietal has been part of Italian culture and has quite an interestingly colorful history attached to its name. The direct translation of Sangiovese is "blood of Jove," referring to the Roman god, Jupiter. Legend states that Roman monks named this wine as a tribute to the god, suggesting that this is the wine that flowed through Jupiter's veins. For me, this legend alone is reason enough to love this particular varietal, but it just so happens to be incredibly delicious, even without the cool story.

Read more
Wine 101: Everything you ever wanted to know about Sauvignon Blanc
A no-nonsense sauvignon blanc guide for everyone
White wine in glass swirling

Sauvignon Blanc is a beautifully zesty and incredibly popular white wine that's beloved for its crisp, citrus flavor and bright green herbaceousness. This zippy varietal is refreshingly tart yet balanced with sweeter notes of stone fruit and fresh lemongrass.

If you favor California wines, you may know sauvignon blanc under its alias of fumé blanc, a term coined by renowned California winemaker Robert Mondavi. He selected this name to honor the Pouilly-Fumé wines from France's Loire Valley, which share many delicious similarities with Sauvignon Blanc. While fumé blanc and sauvignon blanc are the same grape variety, fumé blanc is primarily used in California. In fact, Robert Mondavi's fumé blanc is still one of our very favorite bottles of this varietal.

Read more