First thing to know about South African wine: they invented Pinotage, a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (or Hermitage), in 1925, probably because Hermitage did better in the climate than Pinot Noir on its own.  Pinotage has plum and berry flavors with some earthiness and occasional spice flavors.  Critics say that it has a tendency to produce isoamyl acetate, which gives it an acetone flavor or a smell of paint.  For this reason it hasn't spread much around the world, and a lot of South African production has shifted to grapes more popular globally, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.  But when Pinotage is good, it's delicious and drinkable, and very affordable, so keep an eye out for this unique South Africa wine.

Second thing to know: Chenin Blanc, usually thought of as a French wine from the Loire valley, is the most widely planted grape in South Africa, and South Africa grows twice as much as France.  It's usually made to be crisp and refreshing.  If you see one on the shelf, it's probably a safe bet. 

South Africa also produces significant amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and some interesting red blends.  Typical whites are Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.  These are comparable to and compete readily with U.S., Australian and South American counterparts, and can usually be found at competitive prices. 

South Africa's wine regions are pretty straightforward.  They use the "Wine of Origin" (W.O.) system.  There are over 60 W.O. areas.  To put the W.O. name on the label, 100% of the grapes must be from that area.  That's it-- pretty simple.  There are major areas, called geographical units, like Western Cape.  Within those are regions, districts, and then wards.  For a complete list, take a look at this chart provided by Wines of South Africa.

There are also subcategories -- single vineyard, and estate-- which mean exactly what they sound like.  But mostly you will see the W.O. name on the label (as is the case for all the wines in Average Joe's Nose).  They are also pretty good about naming the grape on the label, as is done in the U.S., so there is little need to figure out the grape based on the region, and it doesn't help much since they can grow what they want.  Some regions specialize in certain grapes, however, which can be an indicator of probable quality.  The ward Constantia, for example, makes good Sauvignon Blanc; Stellenbosch makes good red blends; and Paarl does well with all the major grapes.

Now you have all you need to know to hit the store, stick your nose ever so slightly into the air and ask some intelligent questions, like "pardon me sir, but do you have any Paarl Cabernets?"