Riebeek Valley Wine Co.

Riebeek Valley Wine Co. - the expression of the Swartland

Riebeek Valley Wine Co. is a bottler and wine producer in the valley of the same name in the Swartland, which is situated about 50 km north of Cape Town. The company was founded in 1941. It produces its own wines as well as wines from the grapes of local winegrowers. All wines of the Riebeek Wine Valley Co. come from the Swartland appellation, which is called "Wine of Origin" in South Africa. 

Viticulture at Riebeek Valley Wine Co.

The terroir of the Riebeek Valley is primarily influenced by the Mediterranean climate and the diverse, prehistoric sandstone and slate soils of the majestic Kasteelberg. Both significantly influence the style and quality of the local wines.

The vineyards of Riebeek Valley Wine Co. are situated at an altitude of 60 to 300 metres above sea level, on the slopes and foothills of the Kasteelberg. Due to the topography, the soils offer a rich diversity, including: Oakleaf and Dundee alluvial soils from the sediments of the Berg River and Glenrosa soils from the underlying shale along the Kasteelberg. Rainfall occurs in the winter months with enough cold days to ensure adequate dormancy for the vines before budbreak in early September. Summers are very hot and dry with some cooling westerly winds, providing ideal conditions for the production of fine white and red wines. As this is a low yielding region with limited irrigation, the main vineyards are still farmed either on dry land or with supplementary irrigation to bring the crop to optimum ripeness.

The soils and dry land conditions have proven ideal for growing bush vines (without trellises). The dry soil conditions result in small berries with complex flavors, near-perfect color, and soft tannin structures that produce fruit-driven, expressive wines. A wide variety of grape varieties thrive in the Riebeek Valley, but it is the exceptional Chenin Blanc, Shiraz and Pinotage from Riebeek Valley Wine Co., which showcase the very best that the Swartland terroir is capable of. Producing wines to be proud of is largely dependent on the provenance of the vineyards. Communication and trust are essential to growing excellent grapes. Riebeek Valley Wine Co. works closely with its growers to cultivate long-term, mutually beneficial relationships that focus on research, education and knowledge transfer to ultimately produce great wines.

The wines of Riebeek Valley Wine Co.

Riebeek Valley Wine Co. today produces both red, white and sparkling wines. The portfolio consists of the following lines:

• Kasteelberg - the flagship wines of the company, the best that the cellar master has to offer
• Raar - wines made from rather unknown grape varieties, which thrive in the Swartland region
• Pieter Cruythoff - sparkling wines, named after the "discoverer" of the Riebeek Valley
• Klein Kasteelberg - Cuvées from different corners of the Swartland
• Short Street - Cuvées from Rhône grape varieties
• Riebeek Cellars Collection - varietal wines at a lower price point
• Zero.5 - non-alcoholic wines

Sustainability and ethical standards at Riebeek Valley Wine Co.

Riebeek Valley Wine Co. is passionate about the ideals of Integrated Production of Wine (IPW), a South African initiative that aims to reduce the use of chemicals and improve waste management across the industry. For this reason, we are also a member of WWF's Biodiversity in Wine Initiative (BWI), which emphasises a commitment to protecting the remaining endemic 'Renosterbos' and adopting better farming practices to ensure healthier natural systems. Riebeek Valley Wine Co. is accredited by WIETA and requires that all participating growers are also certified. WIETA accreditation helps focus efforts on ethical trade, fair working conditions and adherence to the highest standards of occupational health and safety.