Wine regions of South Africa

The wine regions of South Africa were defined under the "Wine of Origin" (Wyn van Oorsprong) act of 1973. Mirroring the French Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) system, all South African wines listing a "Wine of Origin" must be composed entirely of grapes from its region.[1] The "Wine of Origins" (WO) program mandates how wine regions of South Africa are defined and can appear on wine labels. While some aspects of the WO are taken from the AOC, the WO is primarily concerned with accuracy in labeling. As a result, the WO does not place adjunct regulations on wine regions such as delineating permitted varieties, trellising methods, irrigation techniques, and crop yields.

General location of some South African wine regions

The WO system divides growing regions into four categories. The largest and most generic are Geographical Units (such as the Western Cape region) which subsume the smaller, but still broad spanning Regions (such as Cape South Coast). Under these are clustered districts (like Walker Bay) and within them are wards (such as Elgin). Although these are geographic units, regions and districts are largely traced by political boundaries (wards are the segment most defined by unique, Terroir characteristics).[2]

Summary table

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Geographical units Region District Ward
Western Cape Breede River Valley Breedekloof Goudini
Slanghoek
Robertson Agterkliphoogte
Bonnievale
Boesmansrivier
Eilandia
Hoopsrivier
Klaasvoogds
Le Chasseur
McGregor
Vinkrivier
Cape South Coast Cape Agulhas Elim
Overberg Elgin
Greyton
Klein Rivier
Theewater
Plettenberg Bay
Swellendam Buffeljags
Malgas
Stormsvlei
Walker Bay Bot River
Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Sunday's Glen
Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Other Herbertsdale
Stilbaai East
Coastal Region Cape Peninsula
Darling Groenekloof
Franschhoek/Franschhoek Valley
Paarl Simonsberg-Paarl
Voor Paardeberg
Wellington
Stellenbosch Banghoek
Bottelary
Devon Valley
Jonkershoek Valley
Papegaaiberg
Polkadraai Hills
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Swartland Malmesbury
Riebeekberg
Tulbagh
Tygerberg Durbanville
Philadelphia
Wellington
Other Constantia
Hout Bay
Klein Karoo Calitzdorp
Langeberg-Garcia
Other Montagu
Tradouw
Tradouw Highlands
Outeniqua
Upper Langkloof
Olifants River Citrusdal Mountain, Piekenierskloof
Citrusdal Valley
Lutzville Valley Koekenaap
Other Bamboes Bay
Spruitdrift
Vredendal
Cederberg
Ceres
Lamberts Bay
Prince Albert Valley
Swartberg
Northern Cape Douglas Hartswater
Central Orange River
Rietrivier FS
Sutherland-Karoo
Eastern Cape St Francis Bay
KwaZulu-Natal
Limpopo

Geographical units

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Regions

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Western Cape

Northern Cape

Eastern Cape

Districts

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Wards

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A Sauvignon blanc from the WO of Stellenbosch.

Western Cape:

Other wards in the Olifants River Region - Bamboes Bay, Spruitdrift, Vredendal, Cederberg, Ceres, Lamberts Bay, Prince Albert Valley and Swartberg

Northern Cape:

Eastern Cape:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ T. Stevenson. "The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia", pp. 445-446, Dorling Kindersley 2005, ISBN 0-7566-1324-8.
  2. ^ J. Robinson (ed). "The Oxford Companion to Wine", Third Edition, pp. 162-163, Oxford University Press 2006 ISBN 0-19-860990-6.
  3. ^ Sokopo, Asa (5 June 2010). "Eastern Cape's First Wine Estate". Daily Dispatch - South Africa. Retrieved 2010-06-05.