Whether it's Spain or the Netherlands taking top prize this Sunday, the World Cup will undoubtedly end with a spectacular bang, not a whimper. To ensure you have fun as a spectator — regardless of whether or not your team wins — have some solid South African wine in your drinking glass.
Since it's so hot outside, I'd skip the red wine in favor of a white that the country produces quite well: Chenin Blanc. Often known there by the name of Steen, this variety has a reputation for being bland, flabby, or sweet — but not when it's done right, as it often is in South Africa.
Recently, I tried an accessible version by Mulderbosch, one of the most notable wineries in the nation.
It was dry, but not bone-dry, with pleasant notes of lemon and lime, and a nice amount of body. On the nose, it smelled exactly like jalapeños, in a pleasantly smoky way. And for well under $20, I consider it to be a spectacular value. What South African wines are you drinking in celebration of the World Cup?
It's a rich, nuanced Old World-style Chardonnay with a ripeness that sings of pears and apples. The complex flavors can be largely attributed to the southerly, cool Walker Bay situation of the Hamilton Russell estate, and owner Anthony Hamilton Russell's fastidious winemaking practices. All of the grapes are grown and bottled on premises. Why buy a white Burgundy when you can nab something just as extraordinary for a fraction of the price? 