Raising a glass of this Brut Rosé bubbly from Graham Beck today for #CapClassiqueDay. I loved its salmon hue and fruity notes together with a nice perlage, structure and length. It’s a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from their properties in Robertson and Stellenbosch. The wine is made using whole cluster pressing. The winemaker Pieter ‘Bubbles’ Ferreira believes firmly in making quality sparkling wines. This traditional method sparkler was perfect with  hors d’oeuvres.

I have been drinking Graham Beck wines for a number of years. I must admit, I had never heard of the Cap Classique Producers Association (CCPA) until today and feel a little ridiculous because next year they celebrate 50 years and the bottle clearly states Cap Classique. I discovered it online and realized that everyone was posting because today is a celebration of these wonderful bubbles from South Africa, the second annual #CapClassiqueDay. According to the organization website, “The first bottle of Cap Classique was produced by Simonsig in 1971, marking an outstanding accomplishment that will forever be solidified in South African winemaking history.”

It also notes that, “Classique legacy lies rooted in South African heritage; it celebrates equality, diversity and is unapologetically one of a kind. Perfected by time is a caption that truly embodies Cap Classique, as it takes a minimum of 9 months to produce a single bottle.”

South African wineries had a particularly difficult time these last months because of restrictions on the sale of alcohol domestically. The bans have been lifted as this Wine Spectator articlenotes but no one knows the full impact it will have had on the industry. Drinking Cap Classique wines seems like not just a delicious thing to do but also a useful one.