Growing Regions

The most famous regions are Stellenbosch, Paarl and Constantia, although cooler regions such as Walker Bay are beginning to attract attention.

Constantia

Historical region that's tucked away in the smart southern suburbs of Cape Town (this is where the first vineyards were planted in South Africa), now undergoing a bit of a revival. As well as being a beautiful region, the vineyards are ideally suited on the slopes of Constantia Mountain, where they are cooled by the sea breezes.

Elgin

Newish cool-climate region east of Stellenbosch, which is still predominantly a fruit-growing area. Because of the altitude, it's usually a good few degrees cooler than the main wine land regions.

Franschoek

The Franschoek valley is a small but significant region, inland (to the west) of Stellenbosch. Surrounded by the spooky-sounding Drakenstein mountains, the wide variety of soils and relatively high rainfall permits production of a wide variety of wine styles. It's a hotter region than Stellenbosch, and with its profusion of trendy restaurants it can rightfully claim to be the gourmet capital of the winelands.

Paarl

Well known region north-west of Cape Town. Traditionally a white wine region, but with its Mediterranean climate and terroirs it's now focusing more on reds. Hotter than Stellenbosch, so the very best wines come from the more elevated vineyards.

Robertson

Some 120 km east of Cape Town, next door to Worcester, this hot region is rather paradoxically best known for its whites.

Stellenbosch

Just a short distance east of Cape Town, this is the country's leading wine area, and is home to many of the country's leading estates. The town itself is dominated by the University, and despite its relatively large size has quite a relaxed feel. Vineyards fringed by mountains make for some lovely views, and the wine route, which takes tourists through several different trails, is well marked out. There are several different sub-regions, and the geology here is quite complex. Simplistically, the granite-based soils in the east are especially suited to the production of fine red wines, whereas the sandstone soils in the west are best for whites.

Swartland

Large region to the north of Cape Town, mostly given over to wheat farming. Rainfall is light, so irrigation is usually needed. The cooperatives dominate.

Walker Bay

This cool-climate wine region, on the Whale Coast to the south of Cape Town, is on the up with a few producers now making Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Worcester

Hot (thermally, that is) wine region located inland from Cape Town. Production here is dominated by several large cooperatives.