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South Africa is notably warm, with a Mediterranean climate in many places, but a lot of the grapes grown here are cool-climate varietals.

So how do local winemakers manage to grapple with this - and what does it mean for your winter sipping? Erica Taylor, founder of Uncorkified and General Manager for the South African Sommeliers Association (SASA), explains: "Growing cool-climate grapes in South Africa's warm weather requires overcoming significant challenges.

Several factors contribute toward successful cultivation despite these obstacles." One of these factors is, "the country's diverse microclimates resulting from varied topography and ancient soils. Wine regions across different latitudes and heights experience distinct conditions. Cooler areas like Elgin and Walker Bay benefit from being located near oceans and enjoy cool breezes, which attain moderate temperatures ideal for growing cool-climate grape varieties successfully."

You can use this knowledge to find more of what you like: "Wineries situated at higher altitudes, such as the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, demonstrate better flavour development accompanied by high acidity levels observable, with these grape varieties benefitting from cooler temperatures during growth cycles," Erica says. But a love for cool-climate wines needn't necessarily mean journeying to new heights: "The cold Benguela Current flowing alongside South Africa's west coast plays an instrumental role in shaping distinctive cool-climate wine regions. This maritime impact lowers temperatures, including grapegrowth periods, significantly benefitting a region like Constantia."

You've probably already warmed to cool-climate wines. Now, let's pick bottles to pair with cool-weather occasions.