Raise a glass to the South African wine industry and toast 350 years of viticulture in our wonderful land. This year is the 350th anniversary of the first grapes ever pressed to make wine in the Fairest Cape.

On that auspicious day, 2 February 1659, Jan van Riebeeck penned in his diary

 

"Today, praise be to God, wine was pressed for the first time from Cape grapes."

 

And his thanks have been heartily endorsed by wine-lovers who’ve enjoyed the fruits of the South Africa’s vineyards down the years ever since.

 

South African wine straddles old and new world winemaking practices, wherein both traditional and cutting edge viticulture is practiced.

 

The Cape Winelands include vineyards and estates from Constantia, just 15 minutes from the CBD to Cape Point at the tip of the Peninsula, from the Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek valleys, across the Overberg and even up the West Coast.

 

The wide variety of soil quality, climate and other factors that affect the grapes grown across this vast region result in an enormous range of products – red, white, rose, sparkling, sweet, dry. Whatever wines you enjoy you’ll find plenty of options from which to choose.
 

 

Wine Industry South Africa provides the following statistics:

•    We have100,000 hectares of vineyards across the country
•    We produce 56 percent of white grape varietals and
•    44 percent red grape varietals.
•    We rank ninth in overall volume production of wine in the world
•    2008 saw a record-breaking 400 million litres + of wine exported from SA
 

Celebrate with the wine industry this year by visiting a wine farm you’ve never been to before, drinking a South African wine you’ve not tried before, giving SA wine as gifts to friends and family or serving only South African wine at your table throughout the year.

Book a romantic Winelands weekend with someone special (Valentine's Day is coming up remember) - contact Portfolio Collection for assistance and reservations.