Rooibos wine is a variety of wine in which wood from the rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (Cyclopia spp.) plants is used instead of the traditional oak wood during the maturation phase. It has its origin in the Western Cape, South Africa. The wine has a unique flavor component and due to the anti-oxidative effect of the plants can be produced without the use of sulfur dioxide.

Production

Fresh rooibos has a high antioxidant content (particularly vitamin C) and a relatively low tannin content,[1][2] making it a potential alternative to the use of sulfur dioxide in the preservation of wine along with honeybush.[3][4][5][6] During the maturation phase of rooibos wine, the wood of rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (Cyclopia spp.) is used instead of the traditional oak.[6] Studies at the University of Stellenbosch showed that treatment with rooibos and honeybush plant material protects red wine from the negative effects associated with exposure to oxygen making sulfur dioxide unnecessary.[5] The use of rooibos and honeybush plant material as a preservative in the production of red wine has been patented.[7][4] The rooibos wine product is free of SO2 and has a unique flavour profile that can be ascribed to the aging of the wine in rooibos and honeybush wood.

Notable brands

The Stellenbosch-based Audacia produced the first rooibos wine – a Merlot – in South Africa in 2013 . Their rooibos product range has since expanded to include Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, a Red Blend and a White Blend.[8] KWV South Africa (Pty) LTD followed in 2014 with a rooibos Pinotage under their Earth’s Essence brand.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ Morton, Julia F. (1983). "Rooibos tea, aspalathus linearis, a caffeineless, low-tannin beverage". Economic Botany. 37 (2): 164–73. doi:10.1007/BF02858780. JSTOR 4254477. S2CID 30957644.
  2. ↑ Iswaldi, I; Arráez-Román, D; Rodríguez-Medina, I; Beltrán-Debón, R; Joven, J; Segura-Carretero, A; Fernández-Gutiérrez, A (2011). "Identification of phenolic compounds in aqueous and ethanolic rooibos extracts (Aspalathus linearis) by HPLC-ESI-MS (TOF/IT)". Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 400 (10): 3643–54. doi:10.1007/s00216-011-4998-z. PMID 21509483. S2CID 3247287.
  3. ↑ Hesseling, E (2014) Audacia’s ‘tea wood’ wine, Wineland June 2014, http://www.wineland.co.za/articles/audacia%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98tea-wood%E2%80%99-wine Archived 2016-08-18 at the Wayback Machine
  4. 1 2 "Rooibos wine targets health-conscious drinkers". Reuters. 9 March 2015.
  5. 1 2 De Wet, A (2015) The use of rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (Cyclopia spp.) as wood alternative in red winemaking, Thesis (MSc), Stellenbosch University, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Jooste, B (2015) Rooibos-wooded wine - a world first from Stellenbosch: ministerial, Agriprobe, Volume 12, Issue 2, Pages 5-6.
  7. ↑ "Improved process for the manufacture of alcoholic beverages and products produced by such process".
  8. ↑ "Audacia - the Red Wine Boutique Winery".
  9. ↑ "Earth's Essence". Archived from the original on 2015-10-24. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
  10. ↑ "KWV Launches World's First 'Natural' Pinotage Using Patented Technology". 18 November 2014.
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