Visitors to the Cape Agulhas have the unrivalled opportunity to place each foot in two different oceans, the Atlantic and Indian. The area around the Southernmost tip of Africa also provides a wild, windy and challenging wine-growing area for intrepid viticulturists.
The Cape South Coast provides several jewels along the road less traveled.
Like nowhere else on earth
Under the Cape South Coast wine region, several districts stretch across the beautiful Cape. These districts include the Cape Agulhas, Elgin, Lower Duiwenhoks River, the Overberg, Plettenberg Bay, Swellendam, Walker Bay and others.
Aptly named Cold Mountain Vineyards is located in the relatively new ward of Sondagskloof, located roughly half-an hour from the Monrovian mission settlement of Elim.
Brunia Cold Mountain winemaker, Wade Sander, says: “Sondagskloof was a bit of an unknown in the sense that there are only two producers in the region and up until recently most of the wine was not labelled under the W.O. with Walker Bay being preferred. I was aware of the potential of the greater ward, Cape South Coast as a whole with regions producing high quality fruit. But upon visiting Sondagskloof you realise the potential of the place, and it shows in the quality of wine.”
Off the beaten track
In Elim, Strandveld Vineyards has the extraordinary distinction of being Africa’s Southernmost winery.
Also in Elim, Black Oystercatcher features a restaurant, wedding venue, self-catering cottages and a breadth of wine.
Strandveld, The Berrio, Black Oystercatcher, Zoetendal, Ghost Corner, The Giant Periwinkle and others have shone a light on Elim. In nearby Napier, Jean Daneel Wines, The Drift and Dabar have risen to great acclaim. Lomond Wines near Gansbaai and Sijnn Wines in Malgas are yet more Cape South Coast beacons.
Lesser frequented Sondagskloof is home to Hermanuspietersfontein and Brunia.
Wade explains: “Sondagskloof is very much out the way, but all the best places still have gravel roads leading to them. It is probably one of the Cape’s best kept secrets. The scenery is immense, vast tracts of pristine fynbos and folding mountains giving way to the some of the best beaches in the world.”
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