South Africa 2019 part IV – Regional Profiles

Written by Tom Cannavan for Wine-Pages.com

Breedekloof

As one of the Cape’s newest and smallest appellations, Breedekloof has a rising reputation for bottled wines. The terroir is varied, largely thanks to the effect of the twin geographic features of the Breede River and Badsberg Mountains, and today there are around 20 wine producers, almost all old family farms. The region is setting out its stall as a Chenin Blanc stronghold – Breedekloof claims to provide fruit for 20% of all of the Cape’s Chenin production. A focus here was The Chenin Blanc Initiative, where members guarantee to make at least three special barrels each year that express something singular about the region and variety. As a relatively new quality bottled wine region, most of these wines are not yet listed in the UK.

Olifantsberg

Located on the fertile slopes of the Brandwacht Mountains at altitudes ranging from 250m to 450m above sea level. With Hallgarten in the UK.