Situated less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, Breedekloof includes the wineries in the Rawsonville, Slanghoek, Goudini and Breede River areas which range from small boutique cellars to large co-operative wineries.Welcoming the news, Breedekloof Wine and Tourism chairman Stanley Louw said: “We are very excited by and proud of our wines. We feel there is so much value in what the Breedekloof has to offer but we have not been able to exploit that. Now we will be able to do so and say these are not Western Cape wines, these are Breedekloof wines.”Louw, winemaker and owner at Opstal Estate in the Slanghoek Valley, said the process had begun in 2003 and the application for Wine of Origin status was made to the Wine and Spirit Board by Rawsonville Wine and Tourism (now Breedekloof Wine and Tourism) on behalf of its members including 23 wine producers. On 2 June 2006 the Government Gazette carried news that the application had been successful.“We can now go out and focus on developing the Breedekloof brand. There is a great desire in the region to stand and work together and we will exploit that as best we can,” Louw said.The concept behind the Wine of Origin scheme is to identify wine producing areas which are differentiated by soil types, climate and location – factors which impact on the character of wines produced in each of these areas. To qualify for Wine of Origin status the wine producing area must be able to show that these factors can produce wine with a distinctive character.Breedekloof has a unique micro-climate. Rainfall varies from 150 mm to 2 000 mm a year over a 20km radius. This results in unique pockets for growing grapes. Due to the cooling effect of the Du Toitskloof Mountains the area benefits from significantly lower heat units and humidity than other prestigious wine-growing areas. The lower heat units result in slower ripening and more complex flavours, while lower humidity means reduced use of chemicals. Soils in the area are mostly alluvial, varying from pebble-covered, white, sandy Fernwood earth, to the darker, richer Oakleaf structure.Wineries in the area have always had a reputation for producing great wines at great value prices and Du Toitskloof Winery has consistently been rated the country’s best value winery. Breedekloof wineries also strike gold and even double gold at the annual Veritas awards, while their wines feature prominently in competitions including the prestigious Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show and the Juliet Cullinan Wine Connoisseur’s Awards.Breedekloof wine producers include Avondrood, Badsberg, Bergsig, Botha, Cape Vineyards, Daschbosch, Deetlefs, Du Preez, Du Toitskloof, Earl Buntman Wines, Goudini, Groot Eiland, Jason’s Hill, Kirabo Private Cellar, Lateganskop, Lorraine Private Cellar, Merwida Riverstone Vineyards, Mountain Ridge, Opstal, Rico Sutter Estate, Seven Oaks and Slanghoek.Breedekloof Wine and Tourism has an information and tasting centre in Rawsonville offering free winetasting of the area’s wines and a selection of maps and brochures for visitors. Visit www.breedekloof.com, email info@breedekloof.com or phone (023) 349-1791.