As a new geological map of the region is launched, Malu Lambert takes the pulse of this dynamic wine community to see what trends are driving its wines.
The new frontier is coming of age. Look back 25 years ago and South Africa’s vast Swartland region was dismissed. The idea of fine wine being made in this hot, dry place, rolling with golden wheat fields, seemed absurd.
But a few brave producers broke through the boundaries set by the controlling regime of the time. Released to prospect new areas, they transformed the very face of South African winemaking.
Today, the appellation is just 100ha shy of Stellenbosch. Chenin Blanc and Syrah still make the finest wines, as they have historically, with the grapes dominating plantings. Pinotage is also notable, with lighter, new wave styles being made alongside more traditional bottles.
Farming is becoming progressively regenerative and climate-resilient grapes are being planted. While the potential of the Swartland’s diverse, ancient geology is being investigated like never before.
Mapping the Swartland
Eben Sadie of Sadie Family Wines and viticulturist Jaco Engelbrecht aren’t afraid to dig deep. With minimal financial backing, they have spent the past two years constructing a highly detailed map of the region, now available online.
‘It’s for the geeks,’ laughs Engelbrecht. They’ve identified up to 700 polygons – specific soil types or combinations delineated by boundaries – and condensed these into nine ‘soil introductions’.
‘What makes it unique is that we have simplified the complex geology and linked it to the effect on wine styles of the different areas,’ underlines Sadie.
The new map is available online in low resolution at Swartland Wine and Olive Route. High-resolution printed versions can be ordered from the Swartland Wine and Olive Route at R650 per map.
A section of the new Swartland geological map. Credit: Jaco Engelbrecht for the Swartland Wine and Olive Route
Exploring St Helena
Swartland has seven official wards: Malmesbury, Paardeberg/Perdeberg, Paardeberg South, Piket-Bo-Berg, Porseleinberg, Riebeekberg and Riebeeksrivier. St Helena is an outlying satellite classified as WO Swartland, under the subregion Cape West Coast.
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