White wine from South Africa

Coastal freshness and variety: white wine from the Cape

Origin and climate of white wine from South Africa

White wine from South Africa is wine made from white grapes grown at the Cape. The Wine of Origin system, introduced in 1973, regulates provenance: at every level, 100 percent of the grapes must come from the named area.^[1] If a grape variety appears on the label, at least 85 percent of the wine must come from that variety, and if a vintage is stated, at least 85 percent must come from that year.^[1]

Climate shapes the style. The cold Benguela Current cools the Atlantic, and the traditional winegrowing areas along the coast are seldom more than 50 kilometres from the sea. In spring and summer the southeasterly Cape Doctor wind blows across the southwestern Cape, which keeps vineyard disease down and lowers temperatures.^[1]

The most important white grape varieties

White varieties cover 48,271 hectares, or 55.8 percent of the vineyard area.^[1] The largest white variety is Chenin Blanc with 15,949 hectares (18.4 percent), followed by Sauvignon Blanc with 10,442 hectares (12.1 percent), Colombard with 9,155 hectares (10.6 percent) and Chardonnay with 6,574 hectares (7.6 percent).^[1][2]

Semillon has a smaller share of the total vineyard area, at 1.0 percent.^[2]

Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay

Chenin Blanc was known in South Africa as Steen for centuries. Only in 1963 did Professor C. J. Orffer of Stellenbosch University confirm that it is the same variety as the Chenin Blanc of the Loire.^[3] The Swartland is regarded as the centre of old vines, with dry-farmed bush vines on granite, schist and iron-rich soils.^[3] The oldest registered Chenin Blanc vines in the country date to 1942 and grow in Stellenbosch.^[3]

Cool coastal sites are regarded as ideal for Sauvignon Blanc. In Elim, at Cape Agulhas, the cooling winds are considered perfect for this variety.^[1] Chardonnay grows in Elgin, the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in Walker Bay, Durbanville and Paarl, among other places.^[1]

What is a white Cape Blend?

A white Cape Blend is a blend of several white grape varieties from the Cape. It is not a legal category, and there is no fixed definition: usually, but not always, Chenin Blanc forms the base, joined by almost anything from Semillon to Chardonnay to Viognier, but seldom Sauvignon Blanc.^[4]

The two main styles of white blends are mixes of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, and Chenin Blanc-led blends in a Mediterranean style.^[1]

Regions for white wine

In the Swartland, Chenin Blanc grows on bush vines.^[1] In Elgin, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc do particularly well.^[1]

Hemel-en-Aarde in Walker Bay is known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In Durbanville, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are drawing attention, and Elim is regarded as promising for Semillon.^[1]

White wine and food

Grilled line fish goes well with Sauvignon Blanc from cool Elim, and roast chicken with Chenin Blanc from Swartland bush vines.^[1] Off-dry Chenin Blanc also suits mild Cape Malay curries.^[3] In general, fresh white wines suit fish and seafood, and fuller-bodied ones suit poultry and cheese.

Which white wine suits you?

With Chenin Blanc, it is worth looking at the style: there are dry wines with little residual sugar, off-dry, fruit-forward wines, which are the dominant export style, old-vine wines made with natural fermentation, and dessert and straw wines.^[3] If you like it fresh, choose Sauvignon Blanc from cool coastal sites; for a fuller body, choose Chardonnay.^[1]

Fresh, dry white wines suit fish and seafood, fuller-bodied ones suit poultry and cheese. The filters let you narrow the selection by taste, for example dry, off-dry or sweet.

White wine in our range

Our range includes the Sauvignon Blanc from Van Loveren, the Sauvignon Blanc from Thelema, the Signature Sauvignon Blanc and Signature Chenin Blanc from Spier, the Buiten Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc Constantia from Buitenverwachting, Life from Stone from Springfield and the Neil's Pick Colombar from Van Loveren. The filters let you narrow the selection by grape variety, winery, region, price and food pairing.

Frequently asked questions about white wine from South Africa

What makes white wine from South Africa special?

Its climate and the variety of sites. The cold Benguela Current cools the coast, the southeasterly Cape Doctor wind lowers temperatures and keeps vineyard disease down. The Wine of Origin system also regulates provenance.

Which white grape varieties are typical of South Africa?

Chenin Blanc (15,949 hectares), Sauvignon Blanc (10,442 hectares), Colombard (9,155 hectares) and Chardonnay (6,574 hectares) are the largest white varieties (SAWIS, 2025).

How much of South Africa's vineyard area is white?

55.8 percent, or 48,271 hectares (SAWIS, 2025). The remaining 44.2 percent is red varieties.

What is Chenin Blanc?

The most planted variety in South Africa, with 15,949 hectares or 18.4 percent of the total vineyard area (SAWIS, 2025). It was long known locally as Steen, until it was confirmed in 1963 to be the Chenin Blanc of the Loire.

Where does Sauvignon Blanc grow best in South Africa?

On cool coastal sites. Elim at Cape Agulhas is regarded as ideal, and Elgin and Durbanville are also known for the variety.

Where does Chardonnay grow in South Africa?

Among other places in Elgin, the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in Walker Bay, Durbanville and Paarl. The variety covers 6,574 hectares (SAWIS, 2025).

What is a white Cape Blend?

A blend of several white grape varieties from the Cape, not a legal category. Usually, but not always, Chenin Blanc is the base, joined for example by Semillon, Chardonnay or Viognier.

What food goes with white wine from South Africa?

Fresh white wines suit fish and seafood, and fuller-bodied ones suit poultry and cheese. Sauvignon Blanc from Elim goes with grilled line fish, and Chenin Blanc from the Swartland with roast chicken.

What does Wine of Origin mean on the label?

It is South Africa's provenance system, in place since 1973. 100 percent of the grapes must come from the named area, and at least 85 percent from the stated variety and vintage.

Which South African white wines do you offer?

Among others, Sauvignon Blanc from Van Loveren, Thelema, Spier, Buitenverwachting and Springfield, Chenin Blanc from Spier and Colombar from Van Loveren.

Sources

1. Wine with Seth – South Africa: Wine of Origin, Regions and Grapes
2. TopWineSA – SA Wine Industry Stats
3. Wine with Seth – Chenin Blanc (Steen), South Africa's Workhorse White
4. Tim James, WINE Magazine – Cape white blends: what's in a name? (24 August 2015)