olifants river wine route

Definitely not your average wine route, the Olifants River wine route immerses one in all the landscapes of the west coast. Only 270 km from Cape Town, on the N7 or simply follow the R27 along the West Coast, this wine route is different from all the others.

One minute you will find yourself a stone's throw from the seaside with its charming fisherman's cottages,the next on top of a purple mountain, or knee deep in wild daisies. The Olifants River Wine Route winds amongst country that is as complex as the bouquet of a fine wine.

This wine route is not a montage of whitewashed manors with Cape Dutch gables, ancient oak trees and 5-star restaurants. Their wine co-op truck is nicknamed Black Betsie, and their website carries an over-18 age restriction (South Africa’s legal drinking age).

In fact life in this valley is very different all round. You may have to make appointments to visit many of the wineries since winemakers tend to wander off to tread their grapes, save endangered tortoises or rushed off to preserve a rare succulent or two.

Astounding in the diversity of its terroir, the sheltered valley floor is ideally suited to varieties such as Colombar and Chenin blanc, while the shy-bearing noble varieties do well on the Karoo soils above the canal system. There are some vineyards placed a mere 800 m away from the cooling influences of the Atlantic Ocean, perfect for the cultivation of premium quality Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir. Even fussy Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs are nursed here beside the ocean, while thanks to careful canopy management and micro-irrigation techniques, Colombar and Chenin Blanc thrive on the valley floor

There are several petite boutique cellars on the route, where visitors are welcomed with open arms and you might discover wines you've only heard about. To crown it all there is also a special cellar on the route, which amongst other things produces grape pip oil and verjuice. All the cellars on the route have as their prime objective the production of high quality wines and they are continuously planning how new available technology, to produce high quality wines, can be utilized in the production of their wines.

At the Namaqua winery in Vredendal, over 5000 hectares are under vines and the vineyards literally flow to the ocean’s edge. The cellars sell over 35,000,000 litres of wine every year.

Lutzville has the second biggest cellar in South Africa selling some very well-priced wines, such as Vin de la Tortue at Stoumann Wines the sales proceeds of which go towards saving Namaqualand’s geometric tortoises, and do call in at Rosslo and the Teubes family estates. Or detour to the Seal Breeze winery to experience 100% handmade wine. At Fryers Cove’s vineyards, closer to the sea, buy your self a bottle or 6 of Richard Fryer – a Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend – if it’s not sold out!

It's worth stoppong in to Klawer Cellars to purchase their Birdfield Pinotage, wooded Voignier, and muscadels and then finally travelling on to Stellar Organics, South Africa’s biggest organic wine producer, for natural sweet wine that’s a taste of pure heaven.

In early August and September, seemingly overnight, the dusty valleys of Namaqualand are transformed into a wonderland, carpeted with wildflowers