SWARTLAND
STORIES
Swartland Shiraz is no ordinary grape
Written by Clifford Roberts; Photography Johann Viljoen South Africa’s three biggest cultivars by vineyard hectares, at last record in 2020, are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage and Shiraz respectively. In terms of production, however, Shiraz ranks Number One. Yet within the monolithic 88 905 tons of the red grape that are used for wine, the Swartland easily …
Schenkfontein: A first time for everything
As the saying goes, there really is a first time for everything. Harvest 2021 on Schenkfontein was no exception. Along with the threat of a third coronavirus wave looming, masks worn in the stifling summer sun, and a cellar full of wine (from the previous vintage) still in the backyard, Schenkfontein Cellar experienced a few …
Small wonders of the Swartland
Written by Clifford Roberts; photography Johan Viljoen Small isn’t something one might first associate with the region. Its wheatfields spread to the horizon, somehow also making the sky seem bigger than it is. Yet it’s the small beginnings that are celebrated by, for example, the basket press that is the logo of the wine and …
The Sadie Family Wines: Planting for tomorrow’s sun…
Written by Eben Sadie, The Sadie Family Wines Global warming is on everyone’s lips and the debate has many polar arguments, but one thing stands for sure: current data affirms it as a future reality and today’s delayed response becomes the “too late” of tomorrow. Arguments aside: even if the globe is not warming, getting …
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City on a Hill: A shining beacon in the Swartland
By Anton Pretorius In the warm and wild Swartland, winemakers and grape-growers live by the mantra that good wine starts in the vineyard and is nurtured in the cellar. André Bruyns, winemaker and owner of City on a Hill, is a firm believer of this philosophy. At first glance, André doesn’t strike you as a …
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Paardeberg: Wild and Wonderful
Author: Clifford Roberts; Photographer: Johan Viljoen (unless otherwise specified) At first glance, there’s little remarkable about the Paardeberg. The low cluster of granite mounds just over half the height of Table Mountain seems out of place in a landscape dominated by sprawling wheat fields and patches of vineyard. But road trippers would be wrong to …
Riebeek Valley Wine Co: ‘Riebeek Boutique Cellar’ above expectation
Harvest 2021 has been above expectation for the new ‘Riebeek Boutique Cellar’. With the longest harvest season to date and exciting new wine projects, it has been a marathon for the entire team. But we are all excited about this vintage and especially the new wine innovations. From vinifying 15 ha of newly certified Old …
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A Big Year for the Swartland
It’s a milestone year for the Swartland. In March 1986 – 35 years ago – the region’s wine route, now officially named the Swartland Wine & Olive Route, came into being. As with reflection all such events, the rarely easy journey of how things came to be is worth remembering, particularly when it comes to …
Pulpit Rock Winery: Celebrating Family
What started in 2003 as a dream of owning a small boutique wine cellar and selling a premium product under the proud Brink family name, turned into one of South Africa’s biggest privately owned family wineries! Today Pulpit Rock Winery is a modern and state-of-the-art facility with a capacity of 6000 tons, where the grapes …