Wednesday, 5 October
Morning Session: 10:00 – 13:00
Proudly South African Through Diversity
South Africa has distinct differentiators which make us unique – one being our two distinctive cultivars – Chenin Blanc and Pinotage. Another being our diverse cultures. Combined, we tell a story of history, quality, diversity and pride for an industry which is on a journey of change and is evolving to become stronger, more robust and inclusive and this is what makes the South African wine industry stand out from the rest.
Stellenbosch
A collective of Stellenbosch producers to whom quality is paramount ∙ Producers through whom the legacy of our ancestors lives on ∙ We are the storytellers, the curators of Earth’s expression ∙ We are the custodians of the oldest soils known to man ∙ Aiming to shatter perceptions and daring to be bold ∙ We are innovative craftsmen, artists of oenology and masters of agronomy. We are Stellenbosch Cabernet.
Constantia
As South Africa’s oldest wine-growing region, Constantia has plenty to hang its hat on. From its proximity to Cape Town, to its history, its unique location and microclimate which creates the foundation for its premium and age-worthy Sauvignon Blanc and flagship white blends, as well as it’s stately yet delicious red wines. Elegance remains the lineament of Constantia wines.
Paarl
Paarl is one of South Africa's most famous wine regions. Due to Paarl's distinctive terroir, wineries can experiment with a diversity of grape varieties and blends. This is one of the reasons Rhône varieties such as Shiraz/Syrah are one of the region's hallmarks. Chenin Blanc is the most widely planted white variety and its wines have become a signature of the region, especially those from old vines. With its unique terroir, Paarl produces distinctive wines.
Worcester
Among a vast landscape of rugged mountains, intercontinental valleys and outstretched vineyards, lie 12 award-winning wine estates inviting the world to discover their wines. This area, with its unmistakable beauty, remains mysterious to the world with its unique terroir of a diversity of soils, mostly derived from Cape and Karoo .The geological diversity, together with a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and wet, cold winters, marked by pockets of a mesoclimate that is much cooler than the greater region, makes the area ideal for growing wine grapes and citrus.
Tulbagh
Surrounded on three sides by the Groot Winterhoek, Witzenberg and Obiqua Mountains, the vineyards of the Tulbagh district grow alongside orchards and fields of wheat. Soils in the valley are extremely variable. The area is charecterised by extreme differences in day and night temperatures. Mountainous terrain creates numerous mesoclimates which can be used to great advantage, making the area ideal for making top-class Shiraz and Pinotage wine. Unique to the valley’s geographical composition is the 'cold trap', a phenomenon which occurs as a result of the encapsulating mountains, shaped like a horseshoe, with Tulbagh situated at the north of the 'bowl'.
Bot River
Comfortably settled at the top of a broad valley below the Hoewhoek Pass, you’ll find the small town of Bot River. The ward extends outwards from our ‘dorpie’, across the valley to the south and east, and is open to the delicious (and vicious) winds coming up from the cool sea to the southwest – particularly as summer sets in. We’re a relatively cool terroir, but it sure is dry. As the vines get older our Chenin blanc, Syrah, Grenache and Cabernet franc have risen up to the struggle and have shown themselves to thrive. Much like the few daring wine folk in the ward, the grapes have character, and indeed some thick skins. With the ancient Bokkeveld shale and Table Mountain sandstone soils, concentrated wines with texture emerge.
Klein Karoo
Parts of the Klein Karoo wine region share similarities to the terroir of the Douro Valley in Portugal and in Calitzdorp producers are developing dry wines from Portuguese varieties in addition to their Port-style wines. Single-varietal wines – white or red – are produced, as well as the Calitzdorp blend in which at least 70% of the grapes must be Portuguese varieties.
Swartland
The Swartland is a wild and wonderful place with an intricate geology and micro climates that is reflected in its wines. Sample some of our older vintages and reflect on how the wines and the region have evolved over the years.
Namaqua West Coast
The diversity of this region is best described in its extreme terroir. Vineyards have been planted as close as 500 m from the Atlantic Ocean in Bamboes Bay – through the intensely cultivated valley of the Olifants River to unique pockets planted in the Piekenierskloof mountains or up to the foot of Sneeuberg high in the Cederberg mountains. The terroir is evident in the wide selection of premium cultivars and wines on offer.
Afternoon Session: 14:00 – 17:00
Durbanville
Cool-climate diversity and multi-generational know-how lies at the heart of Durbanville Wine Valley’s world-renowned excellence across the spread of red- and white-wine styles. Among its renowned cultivars are category-leading Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage, whose gentle nature comes to full expression in Cape Town’s northern vineyards. Here, vineyards thrive under oceanic influences and farming that embraces the rhythm of nature.
Darling
With vineyards ranging from Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz overlooking the icy Atlantic waters, to Chenin Blanc and Cinsaut in the warm valleys below, and a choice of 33 different grape varieties in one of the smallest regional demarcations, Darling is known for its diversity. Diversity and creativity are well reflected in the winemaking of the region with several unique blends, both red and white, having made their mark locally and internationally.
Wellington
Apart from being known as the vine garden providing most of the nursery material for the South African wine industry, the area of Wellington is also home to a collection of some of the oldest vineyards in South Africa. Chenin Blanc has always been known as a stalwart and tops the list for hectares planted in terms of white-wine varieties. Many different styles emanate from the various wards. In recent years, through determining which varieties do best in Wellington, Malbec has also emerged as a variety very well suited to the weathered granite soils that dominate the slopes on our surrounding mountains.
Robertson
The noble Burgundian white grape, Chardonnay, has made the Robertson Wine Valley its South African home, with the country’s largest plantings of this variety found in the ancient limestone-rich soils of this region, situated 160 km east of Cape Town. An integral part of Cap Classique sparkling wine, as well as used in making some of the Cape’s foremost Chardonnays, this cultivar is Robertson’s calling card, offering an astoundingly diverse range of still wines and great sparkles made to the traditional method of secondary bottle fermentation. Excellence in Chardonnay here is shown through diversity and uniqueness.
Walker Bay
Stretched between Bot River to the north and Sunday's Glen to the east, Walker Bay is one of the renowned winegrowing areas of the Western Cape. The region's most celebrated vineyards are nestled in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, extending from the hamlet of Hermanus on the coast. Walker Bay enjoys a cool maritime climate influenced by the region's proximity to the cold Atlantic Ocean.
Agulhas Wine Triangle
The Agulhas Wine Triangle (AWT) is the exciting new wine growing area at the southernmost tip of Africa. Arguably one of the most extreme viticultural regions of the world, growing conditions are severe, with devigorating, intensely mineral-rich soils rolling over windswept vistas to the cold ocean. White blends are very successful and expressive of the AWT, especially Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blends that age with a rare resilience. Syrah/Shiraz has evolved as a standout variety, packed with white pepper and spice, while outliers such as Barbera, Malbec and Trincadero produce flag bearers for the adventurous. The wines all share elegance and poise, many with lower than usual alcohol.
Franschhoek
Cap Classique has been produced in Franschhoek for over 40 years. South Africa’s first Cap Classique Route was started by the Franschhoek Wine Valley in 2008. Today, there are over 15 producers of Cap Classique in the Franschhoek Wine Valley. Franschhoek and Semillon are synonymous in many ways. Home to the oldest Semillon vineyard in the country, Franschhoek has historically significant plantings of Semillon.
Breedekloof
Chenin Blanc represents almost 20% of South Africa’s vineyards and one-fifth of all wines made from Steen in South Africa are grown in the Breedekloof Wine Valley. The variety has found its true home in our region, flourishing in our sandstone soils and expressing diversity through site-specific terroir. Taste Chenin Cap Classique, unwooded Chenin, wooded Chenin, fortified Chenin – yes, it’s all about Chenin in the Breedekloof Wine Valley. Welcome to Chenin Country!
Elgin
Situated just 20 kms from the Atlantic Ocean, the Elgin Valley is a saucer-shaped inland plateau, surrounded by mountains and between 260 and 600 m above sea level. The combination of altitude, proximity to the ocean, and the resulting sea breezes and cloud cover, afford Elgin a climate comparable with the south of Burgundy, and it is South Africa’s coolest wine-producing region. The wines typically show an elegance and purity of fruit. The distinctive character of Elgin Chardonnays is characterised by fresh citrus notes and an underlying minerality that is best described as a salty core. The Elgin Pinot Noirs are charming in their expression of sour cherries, supported by savoury notes embellished by the judicious use of oak.
Thursday, 6 October
Morning Session: 10:00 – 13:00
Proudly South African Through Diversity
South Africa has distinct differentiators which make us unique – one being our two distinctive cultivars – Chenin Blanc and Pinotage. Another being our diverse cultures. Combined, we tell a story of history, quality, diversity and pride for an industry which is on a journey of change and is evolving to become stronger, more robust and inclusive and this is what makes the South African wine industry stand out from the rest.
Stellenbosch
A collective of Stellenbosch producers to whom quality is paramount ∙ Producers through whom the legacy of our ancestors lives on ∙ We are the storytellers, the curators of Earth’s expression ∙ We are the custodians of the oldest soils known to man ∙ Aiming to shatter perceptions and daring to be bold ∙ We are innovative craftsmen, artists of oenology and masters of agronomy. We are Stellenbosch Cabernet.
Constantia
As South Africa’s oldest wine-growing region, Constantia has plenty to hang its hat on. From its proximity to Cape Town, to its history, its unique location and microclimate which creates the foundation for its premium and age-worthy Sauvignon Blanc and flagship white blends, as well as it’s stately yet delicious red wines. Elegance remains the lineament of Constantia wines.
Paarl
Paarl is one of South Africa's most famous wine regions. Due to Paarl's distinctive terroir, wineries can experiment with a diversity of grape varieties and blends. This is one of the reasons Rhône varieties such as Shiraz/Syrah are one of the region's hallmarks. Chenin Blanc is the most widely planted white variety and its wines have become a signature of the region, especially those from old vines. With its unique terroir, Paarl produces distinctive wines.
Worcester
Among a vast landscape of rugged mountains, intercontinental valleys and outstretched vineyards, lie 12 award-winning wine estates inviting the world to discover their wines. This area, with its unmistakable beauty, remains mysterious to the world with its unique terroir of a diversity of soils, mostly derived from Cape and Karoo .The geological diversity, together with a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and wet, cold winters, marked by pockets of a mesoclimate that is much cooler than the greater region, makes the area ideal for growing wine grapes and citrus.
Tulbagh
Surrounded on three sides by the Groot Winterhoek, Witzenberg and Obiqua Mountains, the vineyards of the Tulbagh district grow alongside orchards and fields of wheat. Soils in the valley are extremely variable. The area is charecterised by extreme differences in day and night temperatures. Mountainous terrain creates numerous mesoclimates which can be used to great advantage, making the area ideal for making top-class Shiraz and Pinotage wine. Unique to the valley’s geographical composition is the 'cold trap', a phenomenon which occurs as a result of the encapsulating mountains, shaped like a horseshoe, with Tulbagh situated at the north of the 'bowl'.
Bot River
Comfortably settled at the top of a broad valley below the Hoewhoek Pass, you’ll find the small town of Bot River. The ward extends outwards from our ‘dorpie’, across the valley to the south and east, and is open to the delicious (and vicious) winds coming up from the cool sea to the southwest – particularly as summer sets in. We’re a relatively cool terroir, but it sure is dry. As the vines get older our Chenin blanc, Syrah, Grenache and Cabernet franc have risen up to the struggle and have shown themselves to thrive. Much like the few daring wine folk in the ward, the grapes have character, and indeed some thick skins. With the ancient Bokkeveld shale and Table Mountain sandstone soils, concentrated wines with texture emerge.
Klein Karoo
Parts of the Klein Karoo wine region share similarities to the terroir of the Douro Valley in Portugal and in Calitzdorp producers are developing dry wines from Portuguese varieties in addition to their Port-style wines. Single-varietal wines – white or red – are produced, as well as the Calitzdorp blend in which at least 70% of the grapes must be Portuguese varieties.
Swartland
The Swartland is a wild and wonderful place with an intricate geology and micro climates that is reflected in its wines. Sample some of our older vintages and reflect on how the wines and the region have evolved over the years.
Namaqua West Coast
The diversity of this region is best described in its extreme terroir. Vineyards have been planted as close as 500 m from the Atlantic Ocean in Bamboes Bay – through the intensely cultivated valley of the Olifants River to unique pockets planted in the Piekenierskloof mountains or up to the foot of Sneeuberg high in the Cederberg mountains. The terroir is evident in the wide selection of premium cultivars and wines on offer.
Afternoon Session: 14:00 – 17:00
Durbanville
Cool-climate diversity and multi-generational know-how lies at the heart of Durbanville Wine Valley’s world-renowned excellence across the spread of red- and white-wine styles. Among its renowned cultivars are category-leading Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage, whose gentle nature comes to full expression in Cape Town’s northern vineyards. Here, vineyards thrive under oceanic influences and farming that embraces the rhythm of nature.
Darling
With vineyards ranging from Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz overlooking the icy Atlantic waters, to Chenin Blanc and Cinsaut in the warm valleys below, and a choice of 33 different grape varieties in one of the smallest regional demarcations, Darling is known for its diversity. Diversity and creativity are well reflected in the winemaking of the region with several unique blends, both red and white, having made their mark locally and internationally.
Wellington
Apart from being known as the vine garden providing most of the nursery material for the South African wine industry, the area of Wellington is also home to a collection of some of the oldest vineyards in South Africa. Chenin Blanc has always been known as a stalwart and tops the list for hectares planted in terms of white-wine varieties. Many different styles emanate from the various wards. In recent years, through determining which varieties do best in Wellington, Malbec has also emerged as a variety very well suited to the weathered granite soils that dominate the slopes on our surrounding mountains.
Robertson
The noble Burgundian white grape, Chardonnay, has made the Robertson Wine Valley its South African home, with the country’s largest plantings of this variety found in the ancient limestone-rich soils of this region, situated 160 km east of Cape Town. An integral part of Cap Classique sparkling wine, as well as used in making some of the Cape’s foremost Chardonnays, this cultivar is Robertson’s calling card, offering an astoundingly diverse range of still wines and great sparkles made to the traditional method of secondary bottle fermentation. Excellence in Chardonnay here is shown through diversity and uniqueness.
Walker Bay
Stretched between Bot River to the north and Sunday's Glen to the east, Walker Bay is one of the renowned winegrowing areas of the Western Cape. The region's most celebrated vineyards are nestled in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, extending from the hamlet of Hermanus on the coast. Walker Bay enjoys a cool maritime climate influenced by the region's proximity to the cold Atlantic Ocean.
Agulhas Wine Triangle
The Agulhas Wine Triangle (AWT) is the exciting new wine growing area at the southernmost tip of Africa. Arguably one of the most extreme viticultural regions of the world, growing conditions are severe, with devigorating, intensely mineral-rich soils rolling over windswept vistas to the cold ocean. White blends are very successful and expressive of the AWT, especially Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blends that age with a rare resilience. Syrah/Shiraz has evolved as a standout variety, packed with white pepper and spice, while outliers such as Barbera, Malbec and Trincadero produce flag bearers for the adventurous. The wines all share elegance and poise, many with lower than usual alcohol.
Franschhoek
Cap Classique has been produced in Franschhoek for over 40 years. South Africa’s first Cap Classique Route was started by the Franschhoek Wine Valley in 2008. Today, there are over 15 producers of Cap Classique in the Franschhoek Wine Valley. Franschhoek and Semillon are synonymous in many ways. Home to the oldest Semillon vineyard in the country, Franschhoek has historically significant plantings of Semillon.
Breedekloof
Chenin Blanc represents almost 20% of South Africa’s vineyards and one-fifth of all wines made from Steen in South Africa are grown in the Breedekloof Wine Valley. The variety has found its true home in our region, flourishing in our sandstone soils and expressing diversity through site-specific terroir. Taste Chenin Cap Classique, unwooded Chenin, wooded Chenin, fortified Chenin – yes, it’s all about Chenin in the Breedekloof Wine Valley. Welcome to Chenin Country!
Elgin
Situated just 20 kms from the Atlantic Ocean, the Elgin Valley is a saucer-shaped inland plateau, surrounded by mountains and between 260 and 600 m above sea level. The combination of altitude, proximity to the ocean, and the resulting sea breezes and cloud cover, afford Elgin a climate comparable with the south of Burgundy, and it is South Africa’s coolest wine-producing region. The wines typically show an elegance and purity of fruit. The distinctive character of Elgin Chardonnays is characterised by fresh citrus notes and an underlying minerality that is best described as a salty core. The Elgin Pinot Noirs are charming in their expression of sour cherries, supported by savoury notes embellished by the judicious use of oak.
Friday, 7 October
Morning Session: 10:00 – 13:00
Proudly South African Through Diversity
South Africa has distinct differentiators which make us unique – one being our two distinctive cultivars – Chenin Blanc and Pinotage. Another being our diverse cultures. Combined, we tell a story of history, quality, diversity and pride for an industry which is on a journey of change and is evolving to become stronger, more robust and inclusive and this is what makes the South African wine industry stand out from the rest.
Stellenbosch
A collective of Stellenbosch producers to whom quality is paramount ∙ Producers through whom the legacy of our ancestors lives on ∙ We are the storytellers, the curators of Earth’s expression ∙ We are the custodians of the oldest soils known to man ∙ Aiming to shatter perceptions and daring to be bold ∙ We are innovative craftsmen, artists of oenology and masters of agronomy. We are Stellenbosch Cabernet.
Constantia
As South Africa’s oldest wine-growing region, Constantia has plenty to hang its hat on. From its proximity to Cape Town, to its history, its unique location and microclimate which creates the foundation for its premium and age-worthy Sauvignon Blanc and flagship white blends, as well as it’s stately yet delicious red wines. Elegance remains the lineament of Constantia wines.
Paarl
Paarl is one of South Africa's most famous wine regions. Due to Paarl's distinctive terroir, wineries can experiment with a diversity of grape varieties and blends. This is one of the reasons Rhône varieties such as Shiraz/Syrah are one of the region's hallmarks. Chenin Blanc is the most widely planted white variety and its wines have become a signature of the region, especially those from old vines. With its unique terroir, Paarl produces distinctive wines.
Worcester
Among a vast landscape of rugged mountains, intercontinental valleys and outstretched vineyards, lie 12 award-winning wine estates inviting the world to discover their wines. This area, with its unmistakable beauty, remains mysterious to the world with its unique terroir of a diversity of soils, mostly derived from Cape and Karoo .The geological diversity, together with a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and wet, cold winters, marked by pockets of a mesoclimate that is much cooler than the greater region, makes the area ideal for growing wine grapes and citrus.
Tulbagh
Surrounded on three sides by the Groot Winterhoek, Witzenberg and Obiqua Mountains, the vineyards of the Tulbagh district grow alongside orchards and fields of wheat. Soils in the valley are extremely variable. The area is charecterised by extreme differences in day and night temperatures. Mountainous terrain creates numerous mesoclimates which can be used to great advantage, making the area ideal for making top-class Shiraz and Pinotage wine. Unique to the valley’s geographical composition is the 'cold trap', a phenomenon which occurs as a result of the encapsulating mountains, shaped like a horseshoe, with Tulbagh situated at the north of the 'bowl'.
Bot River
Comfortably settled at the top of a broad valley below the Hoewhoek Pass, you’ll find the small town of Bot River. The ward extends outwards from our ‘dorpie’, across the valley to the south and east, and is open to the delicious (and vicious) winds coming up from the cool sea to the southwest – particularly as summer sets in. We’re a relatively cool terroir, but it sure is dry. As the vines get older our Chenin blanc, Syrah, Grenache and Cabernet franc have risen up to the struggle and have shown themselves to thrive. Much like the few daring wine folk in the ward, the grapes have character, and indeed some thick skins. With the ancient Bokkeveld shale and Table Mountain sandstone soils, concentrated wines with texture emerge.
Klein Karoo
Parts of the Klein Karoo wine region share similarities to the terroir of the Douro Valley in Portugal and in Calitzdorp producers are developing dry wines from Portuguese varieties in addition to their Port-style wines. Single-varietal wines – white or red – are produced, as well as the Calitzdorp blend in which at least 70% of the grapes must be Portuguese varieties.
Swartland
The Swartland is a wild and wonderful place with an intricate geology and micro climates that is reflected in its wines. Sample some of our older vintages and reflect on how the wines and the region have evolved over the years.
Namaqua West Coast
The diversity of this region is best described in its extreme terroir. Vineyards have been planted as close as 500 m from the Atlantic Ocean in Bamboes Bay – through the intensely cultivated valley of the Olifants River to unique pockets planted in the Piekenierskloof mountains or up to the foot of Sneeuberg high in the Cederberg mountains. The terroir is evident in the wide selection of premium cultivars and wines on offer.
Afternoon Session: 14:00 – 16:00
Durbanville
Cool-climate diversity and multi-generational know-how lies at the heart of Durbanville Wine Valley’s world-renowned excellence across the spread of red- and white-wine styles. Among its renowned cultivars are category-leading Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage, whose gentle nature comes to full expression in Cape Town’s northern vineyards. Here, vineyards thrive under oceanic influences and farming that embraces the rhythm of nature.
Darling
With vineyards ranging from Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz overlooking the icy Atlantic waters, to Chenin Blanc and Cinsaut in the warm valleys below, and a choice of 33 different grape varieties in one of the smallest regional demarcations, Darling is known for its diversity. Diversity and creativity are well reflected in the winemaking of the region with several unique blends, both red and white, having made their mark locally and internationally.
Wellington
Apart from being known as the vine garden providing most of the nursery material for the South African wine industry, the area of Wellington is also home to a collection of some of the oldest vineyards in South Africa. Chenin Blanc has always been known as a stalwart and tops the list for hectares planted in terms of white-wine varieties. Many different styles emanate from the various wards. In recent years, through determining which varieties do best in Wellington, Malbec has also emerged as a variety very well suited to the weathered granite soils that dominate the slopes on our surrounding mountains.
Robertson
The noble Burgundian white grape, Chardonnay, has made the Robertson Wine Valley its South African home, with the country’s largest plantings of this variety found in the ancient limestone-rich soils of this region, situated 160 km east of Cape Town. An integral part of Cap Classique sparkling wine, as well as used in making some of the Cape’s foremost Chardonnays, this cultivar is Robertson’s calling card, offering an astoundingly diverse range of still wines and great sparkles made to the traditional method of secondary bottle fermentation. Excellence in Chardonnay here is shown through diversity and uniqueness.
Walker Bay
Stretched between Bot River to the north and Sunday's Glen to the east, Walker Bay is one of the renowned winegrowing areas of the Western Cape. The region's most celebrated vineyards are nestled in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, extending from the hamlet of Hermanus on the coast. Walker Bay enjoys a cool maritime climate influenced by the region's proximity to the cold Atlantic Ocean.
Agulhas Wine Triangle
The Agulhas Wine Triangle (AWT) is the exciting new wine growing area at the southernmost tip of Africa. Arguably one of the most extreme viticultural regions of the world, growing conditions are severe, with devigorating, intensely mineral-rich soils rolling over windswept vistas to the cold ocean. White blends are very successful and expressive of the AWT, especially Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blends that age with a rare resilience. Syrah/Shiraz has evolved as a standout variety, packed with white pepper and spice, while outliers such as Barbera, Malbec and Trincadero produce flag bearers for the adventurous. The wines all share elegance and poise, many with lower than usual alcohol.
Franschhoek
Cap Classique has been produced in Franschhoek for over 40 years. South Africa’s first Cap Classique Route was started by the Franschhoek Wine Valley in 2008. Today, there are over 15 producers of Cap Classique in the Franschhoek Wine Valley. Franschhoek and Semillon are synonymous in many ways. Home to the oldest Semillon vineyard in the country, Franschhoek has historically significant plantings of Semillon.
Breedekloof
Chenin Blanc represents almost 20% of South Africa’s vineyards and one-fifth of all wines made from Steen in South Africa are grown in the Breedekloof Wine Valley. The variety has found its true home in our region, flourishing in our sandstone soils and expressing diversity through site-specific terroir. Taste Chenin Cap Classique, unwooded Chenin, wooded Chenin, fortified Chenin – yes, it’s all about Chenin in the Breedekloof Wine Valley. Welcome to Chenin Country!
Elgin
Situated just 20 kms from the Atlantic Ocean, the Elgin Valley is a saucer-shaped inland plateau, surrounded by mountains and between 260 and 600 m above sea level. The combination of altitude, proximity to the ocean, and the resulting sea breezes and cloud cover, afford Elgin a climate comparable with the south of Burgundy, and it is South Africa’s coolest wine-producing region. The wines typically show an elegance and purity of fruit. The distinctive character of Elgin Chardonnays is characterised by fresh citrus notes and an underlying minerality that is best described as a salty core. The Elgin Pinot Noirs are charming in their expression of sour cherries, supported by savoury notes embellished by the judicious use of oak.