South African Wine Educational Course

Module 4 – South African Wine Regions Influenced by the Coast

1. West Coast and Darling
2. Durbanville, Philadelphia and Tygerberg
3. Constantia and Cape Point
4. Elgin
5. Bot River
6. Walker Bay
7. South Coast and Elim
4.1 - West Coast and Darling
 4.2 - West Coast and Darling

• Vineyards strongly influenced by the cool Benguela Current and

sea breezes.
• District of Lutzville Valley and wards of Bamboes Bay, Lamberts
Bay and Groenekloof are particularly close to the sea.
• Groenekloof has predominantly eastern-aspect vineyards,
providing shelter from strong ocean winds.
• Darling Hills runs parallel to the coast, giving altitude to some
vineyards.
 4.3 - West Coast and Darling

•
• Soils–mainly
Soils – mainlygranite
graniteand
andwith
withgood
good water-retention
water-retentionso
so
somevineyards
some vineyardsare
areunirrigated.
unirrigated.
• Mean temperature in February is 22.7⁰C.
• Mean temperature in February is 22.7⁰C.
• Average annual rainfall in Darling is 586mm but the
• Average
northernannual
part ofrainfall
Olifantsin River,
Darling is 586mm,
around but the
Vredendal,
drops
northern part of OlifantsRiver, around Vredendal, drops
to 122mm.
to 122mm.
• Best known for Sauvignon Blanc with some big producers
• supplying
Best knowngrapes for many Blanc
for Sauvignon different
withlabels.
some
4.4 - Durbanville, Philadelphia and Tygerberg
 4.5 - Durbanville, Philadelphia and Tygerberg

• The Tygerberg range of hills runs parallel to the coast giving

altitude to some vineyards.
• Temperatures can vary as much as 5⁰C between vineyards close
to the coast and others on the eastern side of the hills.
• Best vineyards have an easterly aspect providing protection
from strong ocean breezes.
 4.6 - Durbanville, Philadelphia and Tygerberg

• Soils are greywacke and phyllitic shales, well drained and deep.
• Mean temperature in February is 22.8⁰C.
• Average annual rainfall is 481mm.
• Best known for Sauvignon Blanc.
4.7 - Constantia and Cape Point
 4.8 - Constantia and Cape Point

• Winemaking began in 1685 on Simon van der Stel’s Groot

Constantia farm.
• Vineyards situated on slopes of Constantiaberg – an extension
of Table Mountain.
• Climate is mild maritime with cool breezes from False Bay (five
to 10km away).
• Ocean winds are a problem in Cape Point, reducing yields
significantly.
 4.9 - Constantia and Cape Point
• Soils –mainly granite and sandstone, deep and well drained.

•
• Mean temperature
Soils – in February
mainly granite is 20.6⁰C.
and sandstone, deep and well drained.
•
• Mean temperature
Average in February
annual rainfall is 20.6⁰C.
is 1,000mm, so irrigation is unnecessary.
• Average annual rainfall is 1 000mm so irrigation is unnecessary.
• Mainly known for elegant Sauvignons and Sauvignon-led blends.
• Mainly known for elegant Sauvignons and Sauvignon-led blends.
4.10 - Elgin
 4.11 - Elgin

•
• Vineyards
Vineyardsare aresituated
situatedslightly
slightlyinland
inland some
some 4.5km from sea
sea,but
but
still still benefit
benefit fromfrom
coolcool maritime
maritime climates.
climates.
•
• Manyofofthe
Many thevineyards
vineyardswere
werepreviously
previouslyapple
apple orchards
orchards and
and lie
lie
200–1 000m above sea level.
200–1,000m above sea level.
• Grapes ripen significantly later in these regions allowing for
• Grapes ripen
excellent significantly later in these regions, allowing for ex
flavour-development.
cellent flavour-development.
 4.12 - Elgin

• Soils are often ferruginous, developed from Devonian Bokkeveldshale.

•
• Soils are
Mean often ferruginous,
temperature developed
in February from Devonian Bokkeveld shale.
is 19.7⁰C.
• Mean temperature in February is 19.7⁰C.
• Average annual rainfall 1,011mm and winters are cold, often with snow
• Average
on annual rainfall 1 011mm and winters are cold, often with snow
the mountains.
on the mountains.
•
• Mainly
Mainlyknown
knownfor
forChardonnay,
Chardonnay,Sauvignon
SauvignonBlanc,
Blanc, Pinot
Pinot Noir
Noir and Riesling.
and Riesling.
4.13 - Bot River
 4.14 - Bot River

• Vineyards lie between Bot River lagoon and the foothills of the
Groelandberg and Babylonstoren mountains.
• Cool maritime micro-climate influenced by the ocean and the
lagoon.
• Wineries clustered around the village, giving strong, unified
identity.
 4.15 - Bot River

• Soils are Bokkeveld shale and Table Mountain sandstone.

• Mean temperature in February is 21.2°C.
• Average annual rainfall is 653mm.
• Mainly known for elegant cool-climate Chenin and Pinotage, as
well as Sauvignon and Rhône varieties.
4.16 - Walker Bay
 4.17 - Walker Bay

• Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (‘Heaven on Earth’) stretches from

Hermanus up to Groelandberg mountains.
• Three appellations, all of which benefit from cool ocean
breezes which reduce vigour and yields.
• Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is nearest the sea, Upper Hemel-en-
Aarde Valley is the largest, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge is the
smallest, highest and furthest from the sea.
 4.18 - Walker Bay

• Soils are variable, most being derived from Bokkeveld shale with
high clay content, similar to Côte d’Or in Burgundy, France.
• Mean temperature in February is 20.3⁰C.
• Average annual rainfall is 722mm.
• Mainly known for benchmark Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with
Sauvignon and Pinotage as well.
4.19 - South Coast and Elim
 4.20 - South Coast and Elim

• Agulhas Plain is one of the richest biospheres in the world.

• Some cereal crops were replaced by vines around village of Elim
in 1996.
• Region characterised by extremely strong south-easterly winds
which give a long ripening period.
• Very promising region for quality wines with unique flavour
profiles.
 4.21 - South Coast and Elim

• Soils are massively varied – 10m2 can contain 10 different soil

types.
• Mean temperature in February is 20.3⁰C.
• Average annual rainfall is 535mm.
• Mainly known for intensely pure Sauvignon Blanc and aromatic
Shiraz.