In the 19th century, missionaries settled in the village of Elim and cultivated vines for the pressing of mass wine. After that the wine cultivation at the Cape South Coast was forgotten for a long time. It was not until the 1990s that experimental farmers began planting new vines again. In the meantime, the advantages of the region have led many reputable companies to acquire vineyards here and start production. Although the area under cultivation is still relatively small, Cape South Coast promises great potential for wine in the future.
Wine-growing region Cape South Coast
The Cape South Coast wine growing region in South Africa is characterised by a maritime, partly temperate climate. In combination with the predominant grape varieties, the winegrowers there produce numerous wines that come very close to the "European style". A good opportunity to get to know the diversity directly on site is offered by several wine routes, for example in Cape Agulhas, Plettenberg Bay or Hemel-en-Aarde.
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Grape varieties in the Cape South Coast wine growing region
Chardonnay is by far the most popular grape variety in the entire production area, although there are different local preferences. Other important plants for white wine are Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Chenin Blanc. Red wine production is lower on the Cape South Coast. Preferred vines are Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.
A characteristic is the red Pinotage, a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, which was first bred in South Africa and is also mainly cultivated there because it hardly thrives elsewhere. Pinotage is mostly pressed according to variety, but also occurs in cuvées with Cabernet Sauvignon.
VINELLO offers you with the selected wines from Cape South Coast a representative tour through the different districts with some outstanding wineries like Paul Cluver, Cederberg or Hamilton Russell. Among them are noble wines for special occasions as well as high-quality wines for everyday use.
Cape South Coasts Ancient Soils
South Africa has some of the oldest soils in the world. There are slate formations that were formed about a billion years ago and contain no fossils at all, because at that time there were no vertebrates at all. Then, 500 million years ago, folding and erosion formed what is now continental Africa. These prehistoric times resulted in a variety of soil types.
On the Cape South Coast, sandstone predominates, partly over a layer of granite. Further away from the coast into the interior, the subsoil consists mostly of slate. This terroir supplies the vines with numerous minerals, which in combination with the winegrowers' craft have a strong effect on the taste of the wines.
Difficult climatic conditions for Cape South Coast wine
At the southern tip of the African continent, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, the climate is naturally predominantly maritime. This has its advantages and disadvantages for the winegrowers of the region. The constant wind ensures that the grapes are not very big and at the same time develop thick skins, which promotes a higher concentration of aromas. In addition, the wind allows the vines to dry out quickly after rainfall, thus reducing the incidence of fungal diseases. On the other hand, young vines in particular are often damaged when the wind is too strong. Another problem is the salt content of the air, which varies depending on the direction of the wind. Depending on the weather conditions, the vineyards have to be sprinkled with fresh water to prevent the salt from settling on the vines. Despite these adversities, wine from the Cape South Coast has become an integral part of the South African map.
Buy Cape South Coast wines online at VINELLO
We would like to invite you to try the popular wines from Cape South Coast. Browse through our offer to your heart's content and find your new favourite wine at VINELLO today. We are proud to present you a wide range of wines from all over the world.
We attach great importance to the satisfaction of our customers. Therefore we guarantee that your purchase with us is safe. We also stand for fast delivery, so that your requested package reaches you without long waiting times. Please feel free to ask our sommeliers for advice - we are happy to be there for you!
