Chenin Blanc

Sadly, nobody on the street wants to talk about wine. Professionally speaking, for me the world has always been more bottle than ball. Uncorking wine can be akin to watching good soccer on television; it can give you an uplifting taste of another culture. And this month I'm thinking more than ever about South Africa, host country of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Canadians don't drink much South African wine, though the category is growing nicely, notably in Quebec. South Africa's share of the Canadian market is a mere 2.2 per cent by volume. In England, a country with deep historical ties to Bordeaux and other French regions, volume sales of Cape wines earlier this year stunningly surpassed those of France, according to market tracker AC Nielsen. Clearly, the English know something we don't. South Africa represents decent value – if you know how to shop.

There are three main strengths to South African wine, sauvignon blanc, chenin blanc and Bordeaux-style red blends based on cabernet sauvignon and merlot. But whites based on chardonnay and reds made from syrah or shiraz (same grape; different name) can surprise, as can pinotage, a quirky and robust local red.

Full Story: These South African wines really score - Globe and Mail

Jonathan Ray raises his glass to South Africa's seductive and great value wines.

Wine & Spirit Fair. And not just because of the ice-cold drinks they’re thoughtfully pouring down the throats of the more jaded of us journalists.

Naturally, the talk is of football and the Fifa World Cup (which got under way in Johannesburg yesterday) although nobody seriously rates the home team’s chances. The hot topic, though, is the dramatic progress of South Africa’s wines up the international league tables.

Full Story: South African wines: Discover a braai new world - Telegraph.co.uk

Dressing the skewers, and the salad, is a combination of ingredients that will inspire summer thoughts, whatever the temperature happens to be outside. We're adding another layer of flavor by topping the salad greens with a generous dose of chopped, fresh mint.

We recommend skewering the shrimp and pineapple separately; cooking time may vary slightly between the two ingredients, and this will give you more control. Besides, the food will be removed from the skewers before serving.

TIPS • If you don't want to fire up the outdoor grill, you can grill the shrimp and pineapple on a stove-top grill -- or skip the grill altogether and broil them.

Full Story: FAST AND EASY Varied flavors give salad tropical flair - Detroit Free Press

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Full Story: Vinoble 2010: Vibrant Noble Wine Show - Indian Wine Academy

For more info on what to take into the stadium with you, also see Goal.com's guide to essential fan gear , including hand-painted Makarapa hats and the Vuvuzela's sophisticated cousin, the Kuduzela. If you want a more chin-stroking take on the history and travails of South African football, do have a rummage through the excellent pitchinvasion.com , particularly this post on the story of football on Robben Island .

As we all know, football fans are famous for their love of fine wines. Luckily, the country is overflowing with them. To verse yourself in the nuances of a good South African drop, head over to imod.co.za's wine reviews page for a decent rundown of what to quaff. My highly sophisticated nose led me to the three cheapest bottles on his list: the Welmoed Sauvignon Blanc is a "waterfall of poached cape gooseberries and spicy lemons" for just under 30 rand (£2.70), the Simonsig Chenin Blanc 2009 offers "sliced pears and honeysuckle" at 32 rand (£2.90), and the beautifully named Cape Point Vineyards Splattered Toad is "as green as it gets" for 38 rand (£3.40). For more info on wine trails, vineyards, hotels and tours, see the impressive community site SpitOrSwallow.com , where the Muratie Wine Estate in Stellenbosch is currently the top-ranked farm.

For authentic street food in South Africa, nothing beats the bunny chow – a hollowed-out piece of bread filled with curry. As Kevin Rushby's delicious audiovisual shows, the bunny chow has eaten its way into South African hearts, having been popularised by Indian immigrants in Durban in the 1920s. Finding the perfect bunny has become something of a national obsession, and one blog has made it their business, nay, their public duty, to hunt it out. From the people who started the Bunny Barometer in 2004, QuarterlyBunny is a fantastic website with a good bit of bunny backstory to start you off. Once schooled, flick through its Durban listings for a good range of bunny destinations, from the fabled Govenders House of Curries , to the up-and-coming Some Like It Hot . And do note: one doesn't eat a bunny, one klups a bunny, apparently.

Full Story: Blog by blog guide to ... World Cup 2010 - The Guardian