Wines regions of the Cape

When the first vines were planted in the Cape, by rough sailors, whose intention was to produce a fermented drink that would stay fresh longer on their long sea voyages, than the water which spoiled so quickly, they could never have imagined that South african would go on to become one of the most successful wine producers in the world.

The Cape Winelands encompasses several quite distinct wine-growing regions spread over several hundred kilometers and as many varied terroirs.

The South African Winelands region produces exceptional table grapes, wines raisins, sultanas and even vinegars. Many fine wine estates offer wine tasting and cellar tours as well as gracious farm accommodation and hidden restaurants. There are now hundreds of different wine farms producing anything from simple table wines to award-winning special vintages.

There are four main production zones in the Cape winelands, divided into officially demarcated regions, namely the Breede River Valley, Klein Karoo, Coastal Region and Olifants River.

Breede River Valley
The Breede River Valley takes its name from the river flowing through it. This is the largest wine producing area in South Africa, consisting of Worcester, Robertson and Swellendam.

By far the most wine productive of these towns is Worcester producing nearly 25% of the country’s wine and spirits. It is also the capital of the Breede River Valley and encompasses Rawsonville, Wolseley and the picturesque Hex River Valley.

Worcester offers a big Wine Tasting Centre, where one can savour the excellent Breede River wines and is a wine lover's delight. The KWV Brandy Cellar is definitely worth a visit being the most important brandy producing area and home of the KWV Brandy Cellar, the largest of its kind in the world.

Robertson is the source of some of the Cape’s finest red wines, particularly Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon as we;; as for the distinctive fortified dessert wines for which it was originally famed and which continue to be produced.

Klein Karoo
Stretching from Montagu in the east to Oudtshoorn in the west, the Klein Karoo Wine Route of the Southern Cape is the most diverse of South Africa's wine regions and encompasses the district of Calitzdorp.

This town with its hot, dry climate is the source of the country’s finest Port wines which prefer these conditions. There are many similarities between the climate of Calitzdorp and the Douro valley in Portugal.

These port - wines are produced from internationally recognized varieties such as Tinta Barocca and Touriga Nacional.

Coastal Region
The Coastal Region covers what many would consider to be the most famous of South Africa's wine producing areas including Constantia, Paarl and Stellenbosch in the Cape Valley.

The Constantia Valley is the most historic of the country's wine growing areas. Four of the five estates in the region form part of the original farm, Groot Constantia, established in 1685 by Simon van der Stel, the first Dutch Governor of the Cape.

This is a good region for Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet. There's a legendary Muscat produced here called Vin de Constance, a wine regarded by many as a benchmark.

The Winelands'.

Paarl, Stellenbosch, Wellington and Franschhoek all lie in the area that is commonly known as 'The Winelands'. Paarl, home to the KWV Cellars, is the venue for the world-renowned Nederburg Auction.

This is one of South Africa's premier wine producing districts where some of the most prestigious wine producers are situated. Chenin Blanc accounts for a lot of the vineyards, but Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsaut and Pinotage are widely cultivated.

Located close to Paarl, Wellington is known for its top quality red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinotage as well as old favourites such as Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

The Franschhoek valley has retained a definitely French atmosphere, having been originally settled by French vintners. Although it is a small region, it is particularly significantwhere many wines are still created in traditional French ways. Here is a profusion of attractive small shops and trendy award winning restaurants that allow the town the rightful claim of being the gourmet capital of the winelands.

Stellenbosch is a delightfully picturesque university town and one of the most visited spots in the Cape. Renowned for its Cape Dutch architecture and oak-lined streets, Stellenbosch is also home to many of the country's leading wine estates.

The district, with its mix of historic estates and contemporary wineries, produces excellent examples of almost all the noble grape varieties and is known for the quality of its reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage, and Shiraz.

Durbanville hosts several estates and wineries situated mainly on the rolling hill slopes of the Northern suburbs and make a wide variety of wine styles. This is one of the less commercialised wine routes but produces some sophisticated wines at affordable prices.

North-west of Durbanville is the Swartland (Black land), a region named for the characteristic dark foliage of its bushes. This region is particularly dry and harsh and a large percentage of the vines in this area are grown under dry land conditions in bush form. Vines are grown without irrigation and the resulting wine is of an excellent quality with various concentrated flavours.

Tulbagh is a small area east of Swartland and the vineyards of this district grow alongside orchards and fields of wheat. There are 16 wineries and several of them are relative newcomers making acclaimed wines with local cultivar Pinotage. Tulbagh’s historic Church Street boasts no less than 32 national monuments.

Olifants River
This region stretches in a belt from north to south along the broad valley of the Olifants River. It incorporates the Cederberg Mountains and Lutzville Valley.

The Olifants River famous for rooibus tea, citrus fruits and fine winesis home to the country's highest cellar, situated 1150m above sea level. The wine route winds over 200km through the Cederberg Mountains and Namaqualand, famed for its profusion of wild flowers in South Africa’s spring.

Nestled between the picturesque Cederberg and surrounded by numerous orchards of citrus fruits is Citrusdal. Citrusdal Cellars produce exceptional wines from grapes grown high up in the Cederberg and Piekenierskloof mountains.

Tourists should visit the "Goede Hoop Citrus Koöp" as well as the Golden Valley Wine Cellar. These two can be described as the heart of Citrusdal. The Golden Valley Cellar has wine tasting facilities where visitors are welcome.