Elgin - discover South Africa's top cool wines

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Elgin - South Africa's coolest wine-growing region

The Elgin Valley is one of South Africa's most traditional wine-growing regions and is internationally famous for its apple orchards - but more and more wine lovers are also discovering the cool elegance of the region and its special top wines. Elgin has now developed into one of the most remarkable and successful wine regions in the country.

One reason for this is that it has the coolest climate of all South African wine-growing regions. Due to the cold Atlantic breeze, the grapes ripen more slowly and develop an extraordinary flavour. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir in particular find ideal conditions here and produce fresh, elegant wines.

Vineyards in the large, lush highlands

The Elgin wine region is one of the most fascinating wine-growing areas in South Africa: nestled in a wide highland valley, it offers a uniquely cool climate in which elegant, top-quality wines can be developed that are well worth discovering. Framed by the Hottentots Holland Mountains, the valley lies around 70 kilometres south-east of Cape Town and is aptly named - "Elgin" means "large, lush land surrounded by mountains".

The Elgin region is located around the town of Grabouw in the District of Elgin, which is part of the Cape South Coast and thus the Western Cape. The broad highland valley is characterised by sandstone mountains, abundant rainfall in winter and cool temperatures - ideal conditions for viticulture.

Top South African wines from cool climate zones

Most of the wineries in the Elgin Valley are still relatively young but have already won numerous international awards. The cool climate is just one of the success factors. The proximity to the Atlantic, the prevailing wind directions, the altitude and the abundant winter rainfall also create conditions for viticulture that are unique. The highest vineyard in Elgin lies at over 500 metres above sea level.

Wines of unique fruit and elegance

In Elgin, Pinotage vines grow on the top of the Spioenkop Hills on steep slopes that span almost a hundred metres in altitude. Grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Shiraz also thrive particularly well here. In this cool terroir, the grapes ripen late and thus develop an extraordinary fruitiness and elegance. Burgundy-style wines have also found their home in Elgin.

A "MASTER OF WINE" and his cool climate wines

The special climatic conditions also attracted the British "Master of Wine" Richard Kershaw to the region. He acquired five hectares of land on a high plateau and planted Chardonnay and Syrah there - with the aim of producing outstanding cool climate wines. Since 2010, he has been bringing a series of fresh, top-quality wines from Elgin to the market every year under the name "Richard Kershaw Wines", which have attracted international attention. His Shiraz clearly stands out from the usual representatives of this variety in South Africa. In 2011, Kershaw also became the first wine producer in the country to pass the "International Master of Wine" examination.

Award-winning wines and spirits from the Blomendahl winery

The Blomendahl winery also benefits from the cool climate of the Elgin region. Winemaker FJ Blomendahl, with 35 years of international experience, founded the winery in 2003 together with his son Benedikt. In addition to award-winning wines, high-quality spirits such as gin and vodka are also produced here. Blomendahl Vodka is now one of the best in the world and was honoured at the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards in 2019.

Elegant wines from Marke Sutherland

A former apple farm in Elgin is the origin of the Sutherland brand of the "Thelema" winery. Founder Gyles Webb, one of South Africa's most important winemakers, was looking for a new challenge in Elgin in 2002. He planted Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay on one of the coolest farms in the region. The maritime climate produces elegant wines with great minerality and intense fruit flavours.

Historic wine project with a showcase character

The Elgin Valley is also important for South Africa's wine history. Here, the coloured population was allowed to own their own vineyards and wineries earlier than in other parts of the country. The "Thandi" winery is one of the youngest wineries in South Africa and the second to be run exclusively by people of colour. In the Xhosa language, "Thandi" means "love and appreciation".

Clüver winemaking family cedes vineyards to estate worker families

The long-established Clüver family founded the project in 1995 and handed over part of their Paul Clüver vineyard to former labourers. In addition, almost 250 estate worker families received land from the state, so that "Thandi" ultimately cultivated over 200 hectares of vineyards. Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, among others, were planted here.

Thandi wine - first in the world to be Fairtrade labelled

In 2002, "Thandi Wines" launched its first wine on the market, and just one year later it was the first wine in the world to carry the Fairtrade seal. This made Elgin an international pioneer for fair winegrowing. Today, no other country produces more Fairtrade wine than South Africa. Since 1 October 2009, "Thandi Wines" has also been the first winery in South Africa to be completely owned by people of colour.