Wine regions of South Africa
Encyclopedia
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(AOC) system, all South African wine
South African wine
South African wine has a history dating back to 1659, and at one time Constantia was considered one of the greatest wines in the world. Access to international markets has unleashed a burst of new energy and new investment. Production is concentrated around Cape Town, with major vineyard and...
s listing a "Wine of Origin" must be composed entirely of grapes grown in that region. The "Wine of Origins" (WO) program legislates how wine regions of South Africa are defined and can appear on wine labels. While some aspects of the WO is taking from the French Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(AOC) system, the WO is primarily concern with accuracy in labeling and doesn't place any additional regulations on wine regions such as permitted varieties, trellising methods, irrigation and crop yields. Wine regions under the WO system fall under one of four categories-the largest and most generic are Geographical Units (such as the Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
region) which includes the smaller, but still largely defined Regions (such as Overberg
Overberg
Overberg is a district in South Africa to the east of Cape Town beyond the Hottentots-Holland mountains. It lies along the Cape Province's south coast between the Cape Peninsula and the region known as the Garden Route in the east...
), followed by districts (like Walker Bay
Walker Bay
Walker Bay is a large bay located in the south-western Western Cape province of South Africa. It is the next major bay between False Bay near Cape Town and Cape Agulhas to the south-east. The bay is famous for having some of the best land based whale-watching in the world, which a town on its...
) and then finally wards (such as Elgin
Elgin, Western Cape
Elgin, situated in the Overberg region of South Africa, is an apple-growing area near Grabouw and is about 70 km southeast of Cape Town. A group of apple farms called Glen Elgin - owned by the Molteno family - gave the place its name...
. While geographical units, regions and districts are largely defined by political boundaries-wards are the level of origin designation that is most defined by unique terroir
Terroir
Terroir comes from the word terre "land". It was originally a French term in wine, coffee and tea used to denote the special characteristics that the geography, geology and climate of a certain place bestowed upon particular varieties...
characteristics.
Geographical units
- Western CapeWestern CapeThe Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
- A large multi-regional designation covering every appellation except those in the Northern Cape.
- KwaZulu-Natal - The whole Province was designated as a Geographical Unit in August 2005. Instigated by Tiny and Judy van Niekerk of The Stables Wine Estate in Nottingham Road. Wine was first certified as KwaZulu-Natal Wine Of Origin by The Stables Wine Estate in July 2006 and was a Pinotage Clariet (barrel fermented blanc de noir). The Stables Wine Estate have subsequently won many national and international awards for their wines, including Internaitonal Woman Winemaker of the World in 2008.
- Eastern CapeEastern CapeThe Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
- The Eastern CapeEastern CapeThe Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
Province was designated South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
’s newest wine region in 2009. Ronnie and Janet Vehorn established Harrion Hope Wine Estate in Whittlesea and pressed their first estate wines in February 2009, exactly 350 years to the month from the first wine pressing in Cape TownCape TownCape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
. Owner and winemaker Ronnie Vehorn planted the Genesis Vineyard in 2006 and Emma’s Plot in 2009. Both vineyards are certified single block vineyards by SAWIS, the wine industry’s controlling body. Harrison Hope is producing the only estate wines in the entire Eastern CapeEastern CapeThe Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
Province.
Regions
Western Cape- Breede River ValleyBreede River ValleyBreede River Valley is a region of Western Cape Province, South Africa known for being the largest fruit and wine producing valley in the Western Cape, as well as South Africa's leading race-horse breeding area...
- contains three wine districts and fifteen wards - Cape South Coast - contains five districts and 15 wards
- Coastal Region - contains eight districts and seventeen wards
- Klein Karoo - contains two districts and five wards
- Olifants River - contains three districts and five wards
Northern Cape
- Northern CapeNorthern CapeThe Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley. It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, part of an international park shared with Botswana...
- contains two districts and three wards
Eastern Cape
- Eastern CapeEastern CapeThe Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
- contains no districts and one ward - Boberg - For use in respect of fortified wines from Paarl, Franschhoek and Tulbagh.
Districts
- Boberg - PaarlPaarlPaarl is a town with 191,013 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its the third oldest European settlement in the Republic of South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township, it is now a de facto urban unit with Wellington...
, Franschhoek and TulbaghTulbaghTulbagh is a town in the Tulbagh valley and is situated in the Witzenberg Local Municipality, with the valley called "Die Land van Waveren" locally. Closest towns are Wolseley, Prince Alfred's Hamlet, Gouda and Ceres in the Boland district of the Western Cape Province, South Africa.The valley has... - Breede River Valley - Breedekloof, Robertson, and Worcester
- Cape South Coast - Cape AgulhasCape AgulhasCape Agulhas is a rocky headland in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is the geographic southern tip of Africa and the official dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, OverbergOverbergOverberg is a district in South Africa to the east of Cape Town beyond the Hottentots-Holland mountains. It lies along the Cape Province's south coast between the Cape Peninsula and the region known as the Garden Route in the east...
, Plettenberg BayPlettenberg BayPlettenberg Bay, nicknamed Plet or Plett, is the primary town of the Bitou Local Municipality in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. As of the census of 2001, there were 29149 population...
, SwellendamSwellendamSwellendam is the third oldest town in the Republic of South Africa, a town with 28,072 inhabitants situated in the Western Cape province. The town has over 50 National monuments most of them buildings of Cape Dutch architecture....
and Walker BayWalker BayWalker Bay is a large bay located in the south-western Western Cape province of South Africa. It is the next major bay between False Bay near Cape Town and Cape Agulhas to the south-east. The bay is famous for having some of the best land based whale-watching in the world, which a town on its... - Coastal Region - Cape Point, Darling, PaarlPaarlPaarl is a town with 191,013 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its the third oldest European settlement in the Republic of South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township, it is now a de facto urban unit with Wellington...
, Franschhoek/Franchhoek Valley, Stellenbosch, SwartlandSwartlandThe Swartland begins some 50 kilometres north of Cape Town and consists of the regions between the towns of Malmesbury in the south, Darling in the west, Piketberg in the north and the Riebeek West and Riebeek Kasteel in the east...
, TulbaghTulbaghTulbagh is a town in the Tulbagh valley and is situated in the Witzenberg Local Municipality, with the valley called "Die Land van Waveren" locally. Closest towns are Wolseley, Prince Alfred's Hamlet, Gouda and Ceres in the Boland district of the Western Cape Province, South Africa.The valley has...
and TygerbergTygerbergTygerberg is one of the northern suburbs of Cape Town in South Africa. It is also the name the range of hills above the town.... - Klein Karoo - Calitzdorp and Langeberg-Garcia
- Olifants River - Citrusdal Mountain, Citrusdal Valley and Lutzville Valley
- Northern Cape - Douglas and Sutherland-Karoo,
Wards
Western Cape:- Breedekloof district of the Breede River Valley - Goudini and Slanghoek
- Robertson district of the Breede River Valley - Agterkliphoogte, Bonnievale, Boesmansrivier, Eilandia, Hoopsrivier, Klaasvoogds, Le Chasseur, McGregorMcGregor, Western CapeMcGregor is a small village in the mountains of the Western Cape, South Africa. It is roughly 150 km east of Cape Town. It is located in Ward 5 of the Breede River Winelands Municipality. According the Census 2001, this Ward has a population of 10,254 people .The village was established in...
and Vinkrivier - Worcester district of the Breede River Valley - Aan-de-Doorns, Hex River Valley, Nuy and Scherpenheuvel
- Cape Agulhas district of the Cape South Coast - Elim
- Overberg district of the Cape South Coast - Elgin, GreytonGreytonGreyton is a small town in the Overberg area in the Western Cape, South Africa.Greyton was established in 1854 by Herbert Vigne and takes its name from the Governor of the Cape at the time, Sir George Grey. The village was designed by surveyor J. G...
, Klein RiverKlein RiverKlein River is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located at Hermanus. Its tributaries include the Karringmelk River. It falls within the Drainage system G.- See also :* List of rivers of South Africa...
and Theewater - Swellendam district of the Cape South Coast - Buffeljags, Malgas and Stormsvlei
- Walker Bay district of the Cape South Coast - Bot RiverBot RiverBot River is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located at Fischerhaven. Its tributaries include the Swart River. It falls within the Drainage system G.- See also :* List of rivers of South Africa...
, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Sunday's Glen, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley - Other wards from the Cape South Coast - Herbertsdale and Stilbaai East
- Darling district of the Coastal Region - Groenekloof
- Paarl district of the Coastal Region - Simonsberg-Paarl, Voor Paardeberg, and Wellington
- Stellenbosch district of the Coastal Region - Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
- Swartland district of the Coastal Region - Malmesbury and Riebeekberg
- Tygerberg district of the Coastal Region - Durbanville and Philadelphia
- Other wards in the Coastal Region - ConstantiaConstantia- People :* Flavia Julia Constantia, daughter of Roman Emperor Constantius Chlorus and Flavia Maximiana Theodora* Flavia Maxima Constantia, daughter of Constantius II and his third wife Faustina...
and Hout BayHout BayHout Bay is the name of a coastal suburb of Cape Town, South Africa with a mix of neighbourhoods from the very rich to the very poor. It lies in a valley on the Atlantic Seaboard of the Cape Peninsula and is twenty kilometres south of the Central Business District of Cape Town... - Other wards in the Klein Karoo Region - Montagu, Tradouw, Tradouw Highlands, Outeniqua and Upper Langkloof
- Citrusdal Mountain district of the Olifants River region - Piekenierskloof
- Lutzville Valley district of the Olifants River region - Koekenaap
Other wards in the Olifants River Region - Bamboes Bay, Spruitdrift, Vredendal, Cederberg
Cederberg
The Cederberg mountains and nature reserve are located near Clanwilliam, approximately 300 km north of Cape Town, South Africa at about . The mountain range is named after the endangered Clanwilliam Cedar , which is a tree endemic to the area. The mountains are noted for dramatic rock...
, Ceres
CERES
CERES may refer to:* California Environmental Resources Evaluation System * Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies of the University of Toronto...
, Lamberts Bay
Lamberts Bay
Lamberts Bay is a small fishing town in the Western Cape province of South Africa situated 280 kilometres north of Cape Town. It is part of the Cederberg Municipality....
, Prince Albert Valley]] and Swartberg
Swartberg
The Swartberg mountains make up a mountain range that runs roughly east-west along the northern edge of the semi-arid Little Karoo in the Western Cape province of South Africa...
Northern Cape:
- Wards of the Northern Cape - HartswaterHartswaterHartswater is an agricultural town serving the northern section of the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The town was laid out in 1948...
, Central Orange River and Rietrivier FS
Eastern Cape:
- Wards of the Eastern Cape - St Francis Bay
See also
- List of wineries in South Africa
- History of South African wineHistory of South African wineThe early history of South African wine can be traced to the founding of a supply station at the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch East India Company. Jan van Riebeeck was given the task of managing the station and planting vineyards to produce wine and grapes; that could be used to ward off scurvy...
- South African wineSouth African wineSouth African wine has a history dating back to 1659, and at one time Constantia was considered one of the greatest wines in the world. Access to international markets has unleashed a burst of new energy and new investment. Production is concentrated around Cape Town, with major vineyard and...