Coastal Region Wine (236)

Coastal Region: Winegrowing between Mountains and Sea

The Mediterranean climate and high humidity provide the best conditions for Coastal Region wine. No matter where your exploration through the wine region around Cape Town takes you - you are never more than 50 kilometers from the sea. Can you smell the Atlantic?

Coastal Region: Three Centuries of Growing Wine Culture

There was a time when wines from South Africa scarcely made it to the bottom shelf of supermarkets - most were directly turned into brandy. Today, South African red and white wines, cultivated on around 100,000 hectares, are among the best. A long journey, as the Dutchman Jan van Riebeeck planted the first vines there in the mid-17th century. Then the French arrived, also bringing vines and know-how. From the 18th to the 19th century, Cape Town made a name for itself with a dessert wine called Constantia - and sweet competition for the Hungarian Tokaji. Until phylloxera put a temporary end to viticulture. Today, wine lovers around the globe appreciate the Coastal Region for its dry red and white wines. But delicious sparkling wines, sweet wines, and sherries also come from here.

Viticulture in the Western Cape: A Bit of Geography

The Boland Mountains form the boundary of a wine region of over 30,000 hectares of vineyard, with numerous districts strung like a pearl necklace along the west coast. Viticulture in the Western Cape consists of four regions, divided into 20 districts and a total of 60 sub-districts. Connoisseurs worldwide are now eagerly listening for names like Franschhoek Valley or Stellenbosch District.

Mediterranean Climate, Soils from Sand to Clay

Hot summers with little rain allow sun-drenched, full-bodied grapes to thrive. Located right by the sea and the Benguela Current, fresh winds provide the necessary cooling. Different soil types characterize the Coastal Region. Further inland, red, moister clay soil dominates. But as you get closer to the coast, the soils become lighter and sandier, more calcareous and rockier. As the soil is, so is the taste experience: The spectrum in the Coastal Region produces the most diverse wines - from Chenin Blanc to Pinotage.

Knowing How Wine is Made - in the Napa Valley of South Africa

Vineyards in front of massive granite boulders: This postcard motive shows that we are in the heart of wine tourism. Stellenbosch is practically the Napa Valley of South Africa - and even has its own wine university. The number of wine producers is vast. How do you find the best drop? The secret: The award-winning wines often come from estates located on the glacial alluvial fans of the granite boulders. Accordingly, the wines grown there have a subtle mineral note.

Typical Coastal Region Wine: These are the Grape Varieties

Typical for the Coastal Region are the varied growing conditions that produce interesting characteristics. Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon are the grape varieties most commonly grown in South Africa. Unlike its fruity Californian counterpart, Cabernet in South Africa is more complex, often peppery, rounded with blackberry and plum. Merlot is often present in a blend with Cabernet Sauvignon, but can also be found in pure form in the Coastal Region. Many of the dry white wines made from Chenin Blanc still end up as brandy. However, international interest in this grape - peachy and floral - is growing. Why not trade your Pinot Gris for a sparkling Chenin Blanc from the inland of the Coastal Region? By the way, Pinotage and Shiraz also call this place home. Additional wines are made from Sémillon, Riesling, or Muscat. Chardonnay, which generally prefers cooler climates, also adapts to the temperatures along the coast. The Sauvignon Blanc, pure freshness with a hint of grapefruit, reminiscent of wines from New Zealand but at a more attractive price, thrives right by the sea.

Coastal Region Wine: The Whites

The Coastal Region delights passionate wine connoisseurs as well as the curious. Warwick in Simonsberg-Stellenbosch not only combines Cabernet and Merlot into cellar-worthy products but also delivers citrusy white wines like Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. Interested in a single-varietal Sauvignon Blanc Coastal from Buitenverwachting for an (celebration) evening on the balcony? Its delicate fruity aroma of apples, grapefruit, and a touch of gooseberry refreshes with sophistication. Enjoy the whites from the Coastal Region with carpaccio, scallops, smoked trout, or bouillabaisse - or simply with a bit of grilled goat cheese on fresh salad.

Coastal Region Wine: The Reds

Simonsberg-Stellenbosch: Deep reddish clay soils yield intense red wines that can benefit from a few years in the cellar for their tannins to evolve perfectly. They then taste of blackcurrant, black cherry, cedar, and a hint of tobacco. Like it spicier? Then Pinotage is your grape. Or highly elegant? Try the Meifort from Buitenverwachting, a stylish blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot - with a warm bouquet of cherries and plums, rounded off with wood notes. It’s no wonder this Meifort is often paired with game dishes from venison to pheasant. Power and finesse? The velvety, subtly spicy Christine forms a successful combination at drinking temperatures between 15 and 18 degrees - blackberry, vanilla, and a grand performance, with ten years of aging potential.

Order Coastal Region Wines Online at VINELLO

Have you become interested in putting together your own exploration tour through the Coastal Region? Just browse our selection - VINELLO offers numerous wonderful classics and exciting new discoveries. Explore the diversity of wines and also benefit from our sommelier advice. Secured shopping and guaranteed prompt delivery ensure that your journey of enjoyment can begin quickly and lead you directly to wine pleasure.