Thursday, 24 December, 2020
Wines of South Africa, Angela Lloyd
At the largest end of the scale, Greater Cape is an overarching Geographical Unit, encompassing Western, Northern and Eastern Cape; blends across these latter three may be certified as Wine of Origin Greater Cape as well as individually certified WOs.
A smaller new demarcation is the Cape West Coast, a sub-region carved from the Coastal Region and originates in the frequent use of the term West Coast. Determining factors were temperature (cool, buffered by cold Benguela Current) and geology (mostly associated with sandy soils). Some of the well-known other Wines of Origin now lying within this new sub-region are the District of Darling and Wards of Groenekloof, Bamboes Bay and Koekenaap.
Wards fall between the larger district and individual Estate; they are named for a place within the Ward. Stellenbosch District is the latest to gain another and eighth Ward, Vlottenburg. This adjoins the Polkadraai Hills and tracks the south-facing slopes down to the Eerste River. Raats and Spier are two producers falling within its boundaries.
Further north, in Northern Cape, the Central Orange River District has now been split into Wards focusing on each of the towns housing the cellars along the river: Groblerhoop, Grootdrink, Kakamas, Keimoes and Upington.
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