The West Coast of South Africa has a cold current, and a gently-ascending topography to the continental plateau some distance inland, lending its coastline an ideal climate for wines of many different types, some unique to South Africa.
This area was first cultivated in the mid-17th century by the Dutch settlers, followed by a most fruitful addition of French Huegenot immigrants in the mid-18th century, who have indupitably put their stamp on South African wine culture henceforth. Even today, imported French oak is the standard requirement for oak barrels.
Recently, in addition to the traditional areas of cultivation, two new areas have entered the dictionary of South African wine connoisseurs: the Swartland, and the Overberg regions.
The former is a hot and dry area across the first chain of mountains inland from the coast, where the rugged country is ideal for cultivating wines of intense flavour, as well as ports.
The latter, including the Hemel-en-Aarde (heaven on earth) valley near the whale-watching town of Hermanus, boasts a set of micro-climates that beautifully balance the coolness and humidity from the sea with the warmth and dryness of the South African inland.
All of these areas have some superlative wines to offer, and we are confident that even a casual perusal of our list of suppliers and their products will elicit interest and curiousity.
We welcome any trade or other enquiries and contact, please see our contact page for details.