Regions

Vineyards in South Africa initially began as vines planted more than a meter apart since there was an abundance of space. However, wine farms eventually settled to high yield planting and mechanical harvesting which meant that vines are no longer planted as far as a meter apart but widely spaced so machinery can easily harvest the grapes. Today though, most vineyards in South Africa use the vertical trellis since it can be easier to maintain and harvest.

The regions that produce wine in South Africa are categorized according to the 1973 Wine of Origin program. It’s an adaptation of the French system which places great emphasis on labelling and accuracy. There are no regulations on the wine regions such as boundaries on which grape variety should be used or the manner of planting and harvesting grapes. The wine regions are merely geographical units with their own districts and then further divided into wards. For instance Western Cape is the wine region and has districts like the Walker Bay with wards like Elgin. The most recent wine region added was the Eastern Cape.

The Wine Region of Constantia Valley

Constantia has several wine farms and is known for its Sauvignon Blanc wines. The temperature here is cool because it is close to the ocean. This means that the grapes do not ripen as fast as in other regions especially during the summer months. The soil in this region is Table Mountain sandstone which has high levels of granite and loam.

The Stellenbosch Wine Region

This is one of the oldest wine regions in South Africa. Constantia is the oldest and Stellenbosch comes after. Fourteen percent of all South Africa’s wine comes from this region. It is surrounded by mountains and has an even temperature of about 20 degrees during summer months which is slightly warmer compared to the temperature needed for Bordeaux. The soil is mostly made of crushed and decomposing granite and many of the wine farms are located along the slopes of the mountains. This region is known for Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinotage red wines. Owing to the beauty of the area and the fact that Stellenbosch is a popular university for town, the property for sale in Stellenbosch is highly sought after and is seen as a prudent long term investment.

The Paarl Wine Region

Paarl was known as the “heart of South Africa’s wine industry.” This is where the annual Nederburg Wine Auction is held. Over time, this title was given to Stellenbosch because of its thrust in wine education and programs. Nonetheless, Paarl is known for its excellent fortified wine.

The Breed River Valley

This wine region is warm and dry. It can even get very arid during the year in spite of being close to the Drakenstein Mountains. It has lush vegetation and good irrigation from the Breed River which is why grape yield is very high. The soil is rich in calcium. This wine region is known for Chardonnay and Shiraz wines. One of its districts, Worcester, produces more wine than most wine regions. In fact 1/5 to a quarter of South Africa’s annual wine production comes from this district.

Other Wine Regions

Other wine regions that are exemplary in their winemaking are the Franschhoek Valley which is known for its full-flavored white wines and French style of winemaking. Overberg is a recent wine region which only got recognized in 1973. Other regions that produce wine are the Klein Karoo, Durbanville, the Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Hartswater region in the northern most side of South Africa.