Wines from South Africa

the wine country south africa in figures

Total cultivated area: 92 005 hectares

Total production grapes: 1.46 tons

Total wine production: 1,136 million litres

Winegrowers: 2,693

White grape varieties: 55.4 percent

Red grape varieties: 44.6 percent

Main grape varieties:

White: Chenin Blanc, Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay

Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinotage, Merlot

South africa’s grape varieties

In the course of a reorientation of the South African wine industry, over 40% of the vineyards have been replanted in recent years. In order to compete globally, winemakers shifted away from mass production towards noble varieties and the production of quality wines of character from South Africa. The noble varieties that have been increasingly cultivated in recent years include Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, which produce top-class white wines, as well as Shiraz and Pinot Noir. Although most of the grape varieties grown in South Africa today were originally imported, six indigenous crosses have been created to date. The best known of these is the red variety Pinotage, a cross between Pinot Noir and Hermitage (Cinsaut), which has recently been cultivated on a larger scale.

south africa’s

Red grape varieties

south africa’s

white grape varieties

south africa’s wine regions

South Africa’s vineyards are predominantly located in the Western Cape near the coast. They stretch from the rugged mountains and varied slopes of the coastal region to the open plains of the semi-desert called the Little Karoo. Here, viticulture takes place mainly in the river valleys. The coast is characterised by fynbos and renosterveld vegetation. Here the rainfall is up to 1,000 mm per year.

However, if you drive over the mountains into the hinterland, the rainfall decreases drastically. The vegetation is now dominated by hardy succulents, cycads and aloes.

The total vineyard area currently covers 92,005 hectares. According to the “Wine of Origin Classification”, South Africa’s growing areas are divided into specially delineated geographical units.

The largest unit in terms of area is the Geographical Unit, which in turn is divided into Regions, Districts and Wards. The GeographicalUnits include the Western Cape, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.However, the Western Cape plays by far the largest role in the production of characterful South African wines.

coastal region districts

CAPE TOWN
STELLENBOSCH
PAARL
WELLINGTON
FRANSCHHOEK
SWARTLAND
TULBAGH
DARLING
LUTZVILLE

Cape town

A recently designated district, named after Cape Town. At its furthest point, the district is 36 km from Cape Town city centre. It includes the districts of Constantia, Hout Bay, Durbanville and Philadelphia.

The Constantia Valley, on the southern slopes of Table Mountain, is considered the cradle of viticulture in the Cape. This was the location of Simon van der Stel’s 17th century wine farm. It was here that he produced his legendary Constantia dessert wines, which became famous throughout Europe in the 18th century.The vineyards stretch up the east-facing slopes of Constantia Mountain. Rooted in ancient soils, the vines benefit from the cool sea breezes that blow in from False Bay.

The temperatures in February, i.e. in high summer, reach an average of 20.6 degrees Celsius. The annual rainfall here is about 1,000 mm, so that the winegrowers can do without irrigation.

There are only a handful of wineries in this prime district whose names sound like music to the ears of wine lovers worldwide: Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia or Buitenverwachting.

On the western edge of the Cape Peninsula are the vaunted vineyards of Cape Point. Some of them are only 1.2 km from the sea and, due to the cool climate, produce great white wines from the grape varieties Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.

Very close to Cape Town are also the vineyards of Durbanville. They border the northern suburbs of the metropolis. Several wineries are located on the gentle hills with altitudes of up to 380 metres above sea level.They produce a wide variety of South African wines, predominantly from the grape varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The quality of the grapes and thus of the wines is determined by deep soils, cooling sea breezes and nightly fog.

North of Durbanville, a new district was recently created: Philadelphia. Here, too, the winegrowers benefit from the cooling Atlantic influences and the high altitudes. In the hilly terrain of this area, some of the vineyards are up to 260 metres above sea level. The resulting significant difference in day-night temperature leads to slower ripening.Some highly rated Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots and red blends have already emerged from this promising appellation.

Stellenbosch

The winegrowing tradition of the historic town Stellenbosch, dates back to the end of the 17th century. Some of the finest examples of Cape Dutch architecture bear witness to this. The diversity of terroirs and good climatic conditions make this a sought-after wine-growing area. The region is home to more than 200 wine estates, including some of South Africa’s most renowned wineries.It is an exciting mix of historic and modern estates that produces South African wines of outstanding quality, including great red cuvées.

The Stellenbosch Wine Route is the oldest in the country. Divided into five concise sub-routes, Bottelary Hills, Greater Simonsberg, Helderberg, Stellenbosch Mountain and Stellenbosch Valley, it is one of the most popular destinations in the Western Cape.

The “City of Oaks”, as Stellenbosch is also called, is also the education and research centre of the wine country. With Stellenbosch University, the city is home to the only university in South Africa that offers a degree in viticulture and oenology.

Many of the country’s most successful winemakers are alumni of this institution. Also close to Stellenbosch is the Elsenburg School of Agriculture and the Nietvoorbij Institute of Viticulture and Enology. The latter has one of the most modern experimental wineries in the world. Important research on new grape varieties, clones and rootstocks is carried out on its experimental farms, which are spread over several wine-growing regions.

The intensively farmed Stellenbosch district has been divided into several smaller wine-growing areas, including Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch and Vlottenburg.

North of Stellenbosch lies the wine-growing district of Paarl, which literally means pearl. Supposedly, the mountains around the town of the same name take on a pearl-like colour in certain daylight. The area is bordered to the northeast by the town of Wellington and to the southeast by the Groot and Klein Drakenstein mountains and the Franschhoek mountain range.

The life-giving vein of this region is the Berg River, which flows through Paarl flanked by the majestic Groot Drakenstein and Wemmershoek mountains. The vineyards directly in the valley need additional irrigation during the hot growing season before harvest.The vineyards on the eastern slopes, on the other hand, which can store water better, often do not need irrigation at all.

The Paarl district comprises the districts of Simonsberg-Paarl, on the foothills of the Simonsberg, Agter-Paarl and Voor Paardeberg. A wide variety of grape varieties are grown, of which Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc have the best potential.

PAARL

wellington

Wellington is an up-and-coming district that is only 45 minutes away from Cape Town. It in turn consists of the sub-districts of Blouvlei, Bovlei, Groenberg, Limietberg and Mid-Berg River. This region is particularly known for its nurseries, which supply over 85% of the South African wine industry with cuttings. But it is also home to about30 wine producers, ranging from historic wineries to young boutique wineries.

On the one hand, the vineyards extend over alluvial terraces towards Swartland, with its rolling hills and wheat fields. On the otherthey are found in the foothills of the towering Hawequa Mountains, where folds and valleys create a unique mesoclimate. Night temperatures are generally cooler than on the coast some 60 kilometres away This is due to the surrounding mountains, which are sometimes snow-covered in winter.

The Franschhoek-Valley lies to the south-east of Paarl. It is enclosed on three sides by high mountains: the Groot Drakenstein and the Franschhoek Mountains, which meet at the upper end of the valley, and the Klein Drakenstein and the Simonsberg Mountains, which lie further down towards Paarl. From 1688, the region became the new home of Huguenots who had to leave France due to persecution.

The town of Franschhoek has retained its distinct French Huguenot character and charm to this day. It is considered the “culinary capital” of the Cape and some wineries also bear French names, such as La Motte, Plaisir de Merle, Haute Cabrière or Môreson. This region also produces some of the best sparkling wines using traditional methods.

franschhoek

Swartland

Literally translated means Swartland “the black land”. The area got this name from the now endangered indigenous rhino bush, original Renosterbos. This coloured the landscape dark at certain times of the year.Today, the traditional grain-growing area is dominated by the colour yellow in summer, interrupted only by the green of the vineyards. The vineyards stretch along the foothills of the surrounding mountains such as the Piketberg, Porterville, Riebeek and the Perdeberg and climb up the banks of the Berg River.

Whereas a few years ago the region was predominantly planted with bush vines, today trellis vines are increasingly found on the vineyards. These are easier to cultivate. Traditionally, the Swartland was known for rustic, full-bodied red wines and high-quality, alcohol-fortified port-style wines. 

However, thanks to a few ambitious producers, some exciting, award-winning red and white wines have recently emerged. These like-minded producers have come together to form the Swartland Independent Producers (SIP) grouping to bring out the uniqueness of Swartland’s terroir and wine styles.

There are five designated districts: Malmesbury, Paardeberg, Paardeberg South, Riebeekberg and Riebeeksrivier. Here, more and more shares of Pinotage, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are grown, as well as Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc.

The District Tulbagh is characterised by the most diverse soils and by extreme differences in day and night temperatures. These are mainly due to the mountainous terrain. This creates numerous different mesoclimates that can be used to advantage.

The vineyards stand next to orchards and wheat fields and are fringed by the local mountains Groot Winterhoek, Witsenberg and Obiekwaberg. These mountains form a kind of horseshoe where the cold air of the night still lingers undisturbed during the day.Cool average daily temperatures are the positive consequence of this cold trap. The town of Tulbagh is a cultural treasure. 32 national monuments are located in a single street. But history and tradition go hand in hand with innovation here. 

Progress is represented by today’s high-tech water management and advanced viticultural practices. With them, the viticultural potential of this area is beginning to be tapped. There are currently about 12 wineries in this remote valley, some of which produce acclaimed South African wines. Especially Shiraz and sparkling wines produced according to traditional methods, called “Méthode Cap Classique” in the Cape region, have a great future here.

Tulbagh

Darling

Sauvignon Blanc was and still is the leading grape variety in the district. Darling, which is only an hour’s drive from Cape Town. It also includes the Groenekloof district, benefits from its proximity to the cooling Atlantic and offers some tourist attractions. In the meantime, mach has also discovered the potential for other grape varieties and produces South African wines with exceptional flavour diversity.

Lutzville

The district Lutzville falls in the coastal region and includes the cooler, sea-influenced district of Koekenaap, where the vineyards are close to the cold Atlantic, making for high-quality, slow-ripening grapes. Further down this stretch of the west coast are the self-contained districts of Bamboes Bay, the most mineral-saline Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa is causing a stir, and Lamberts Bay.

Breede river valley districts

BREEDEKLOOF

WORCESTER

ROBERTSON

Breedekloof

The vineyards in the Breedeklof district rest on a bed of river stones. These alluvial soils with their good drainage are ideal for wine production. The district covers a large part of the Breede River Valley and its tributaries, as well as the districts of Goudini and Slanghoek. The various river valleys have a wide variety of soils and microclimates, which is also reflected in the diverse character of the wines produced by the 20 or so wineries.The wineries are easily accessible via the Breedekloof Wine Route.

Robertson

It is also known as the “Valley of Vines and Roses”, the Robertson District. It comprises 14 districts, including Bonnievale. The mostly limestone-rich soils are ideal for viticulture. The Breede River is the main artery in this low-rainfall region. Summers can be very hot, but cooling winds from the southeast bring moist air into the valley.

Actually known for alcohol fortified wines and the quality of its South African white wines, mainly from the grape varieties Chardonnays and Sauignon Blanc, Robertson is now also the source of some of South Africa’s finest red wines. These are mainly from Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Worcester

At the centre of this wine valley is the historic town of Worcester. This is South Africa’s most important brandy production area, home to the largest distillery of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Several of the wineries here bottle quality wines under their own labels. This district comprises several sub-districts.

Little karoo

The semi-desert district of Little Karoo is known for relative extremes in terms of soils and climate. It is a diverse, picturesque region that stretches along the R62 National Road from the spa town of Montagu, through higher Barrydale and Ladismith towards Calitzdorpthe Oudtshoorn Ostrich Centre and Langkloof.

Wine is mainly grown in kloofs, valleys and riverine areas in a rugged, mountainous landscape that makes for quality South African wines. Some of the highest mountain peaks in the Western Cape are found here. These are part of the Cape fold belt and are mainly composed of Table Mountain sandstone, while most of the Klein Karoo is composed of Bokkeveld shale. This has very good water retention and high nutrient properties.

Historically, the area is known for its powerful sweet wines as well as its potstill brandies. The basis for these are still the widespread Muskateller varieties.But today, there is an increasing focus on Chenin Blanc throughout the region, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Shiraz. In addition, there is a growing interest in originally Portuguese grape varieties, which are typically used to produce alcohol-fortified, port-like wines (here called Cape Ruby, Cape Tawny and Cape Vintage).

Olifants river

Olifants River is proving to be a source of high quality, affordable wines from South Africa. The region includes the districts of Vredendal and Spruitdrift and the higher-lying district of Piekenierskloof and stretches in a belt from north to south, along the broad valley of the Olifants River. Summers in the valley are highly variable, ranging from relatively warm to cool. Rainfall is low and soils vary from sandy to red clay.

Here, in addition to modern winemaking techniques, good foliage work is essential. It ensures that the grapes are sufficiently shaded by the leaves. In the southern part of the Olifants River Valley lies Citrusdal.Here, on sandy alluvial soils from the surrounding Table Mountain sandstone mountains, citrus fruits are predominantly produced. Irrigation is provided by the Clanwilliam Dam, where the water is of excellent quality.

Cederberg

A distinct district containing some of the most remote and highest vineyards in South Africa. It borders the Olifants River regions.This wine-growing region fringed by the ferruginous, red-coloured Cederberg mountain range is known for Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz, and for Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cape south coast districts

ELGIN

OVERBERG

WALKER BAY

CAPE AGULHAS

Elgin

The high-altitude, cool-climate Elgin District is nestled in the ancient sandstone mountains of Hottentots Holland. It is also only an hour east of Cape Town.It was originally a growing area for apples, but now produces award-winning South African wines with exceptional fruit and elegance. Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Shiraz thrive particularly well here.

Cape Agulhas

This is Africa’s southernmost point and a very promising wine-growing region. Strong, cooling winds prevail here in summer and ensure a slow, cool ripening period.This is perfect for Sauvignon Blanc and also promising for Semillon and Shiraz. Most of the maritime vineyards are located in the municipality of Elim, a Moravian mission settlement founded in 1824 and now a national heritage site. It is still a small growing area, but it attracts a lot of interest and shows great potential.

Walker Bay

Not far from the picturesque coastal town of Hermanus lies the Walker Bay district. He is already legendary for his wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. These come from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, which in turn comprises the districts of Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. This area benefits not only from the cooling winds from the nearby ocean but also from the many tourists who travel to Hermanus for the spectacular whale watching.The soils, which consist mainly of weathered slate, are also ideal for cool-climate varieties, as are some wines from the varieties Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage impressively demonstrate.

Overberg

Newer wine-growing areas have opened up in the southern Overberg district, with award-winning South African wines from the Klein River district near Stanford.