Wellington

Wellington is an emerging winegrowing district (Ward), which is part of the District Paarl (Coastal Region). It is named after the town of the same name, north of Paarl, which is about 45 minutes by car from Cape Town. Viticulture has been practiced in Wellington since the mid-18th century, when French Huguenot settlers arrived with their expertise. The climate is very warm and favors the production of powerful red wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage and Shiraz. But the Antarctic Benguela Current, which blows inland from the Atlantic coast in late summer, helps regulate the warm temperatures.

Some of the vineyards extend across alluvial terraces toward the rolling hills and wheat fields of Swartland. Others are found in the foothills of the towering Hawequa Mountains, where ridges and valleys create a unique mesoclimate. Especially in the evenings, colder air from the mountains settles in the valleys, contributing to the daily temperature fluctuations.

About 30 wine producers, ranging from historic wineries to boutique wineries, operate in this winegrowing district. Wellington is also home to the country’s most important nurseries, which supply cuttings to over 85% of South Africa’s wine industry. In winter, snow sometimes covers the mountain tops and night temperatures are generally cooler than on the coast, about 60 km away. The district consists of five districts: Blouvlei, Bovlei, Groenberg, Limietberg and Mid-Berg River.