South Africa is often lumped together, under some arbitrary umbrella heading, with the other wine-producing regions of the southern hemisphere - South America, Australia, New Zealand, etc. This does a severe injustice both to the fantastic wines of South Africa and to the wine consumer: the region is peerless in its harmonious synthesis of New and Old World winemaking styles. Wines lately coming out of South Africa - in particular, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah - are not to be missed.