With around 130,000 hectares of vineyards and an annual production of around 950 million liters, South Africa is a major wine producer in the New World.
South Africa produces 950 million liters of wine annually on 130,000 hectares; Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek are particularly well-known.
With
around 130,000 hectares of vineyards and an annual production of around 950
Millions of liters, South Africa is a major wine producer in the New World.
The wine regions extend primarily across the Western Cape, with
Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek are known for their quality.
History
The
South African viticulture began in 1655 with the first vines grown by
Dutchman Jan van Riebeeck planted in Cape Town. Simon van der Stel and the
Huguenots brought important impulses. Despite crises such as phylloxera and
Apartheid boycott, South African viticulture has been experiencing since the 1990s
a renaissance. Among the most renowned producers are Kanonkop with its “Paul Sauer” and the historic winery Klein Constantia.
Vines & Wine Styles
Die
The diversity of South African wines is remarkable. Important varieties are
Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Bordeaux blends and Rhone blends
are just as important. Pinotage, a South African specialty, only plays
a secondary role.
Climate & terroir
South Africa
offers a wide variety of terroirs. Cooler “cool climate” areas such as
Constantia and Walker Bay benefit from the ocean's cool air masses,
While the interior has hot days and cool nights. The soils vary
from sandy to clayey, often with granite in the mountains.
