Recently, I’ve been tasting my way through a wide selection of wines from South Africa. Believe me, it's been my pleasure, especially given that many South African wines are so budget-friendly. A lot has changed since Dutch colonists began making South African wine in the 1650s.

M-A-N Family Wines Chenin Blanc - the name comes from the owners wives' Marie, Anette and Nicky, to "keep peace in the family - from Stellenbosch, South Africa is a steal, priced at $8.99. It's made solely with free-run juice (no pressing of the grapes) which is left on its lees for three to four months to give the wine body. M-A-N calls this their “sweet and sour” wine for its good balance of acidity and sweetness. That off-dry quality makes this Chenin Blanc a good partner for spicy curries.