Wines from Protected Regions - how does it work in South Africa?

Significance of Origin in South African Wines

Given the importance of origin, traditional wine-growing regions in Europe have long established control systems to protect both producers and consumers. This approach was adopted by the South African wine industry and legislated in 1973. The two aspects that most influence a wine's character are natural factors (soil, climate, and topography) and human influences (grape selection, viticulture methods, and winemaking techniques). Of these two, natural factors are deemed more significant and influential. Certain areas are better suited for wine cultivation, and within the South African wine regions, there are significant differences in soil, climate, and topography, resulting in variations in wines between regions and even vineyards.

The production of grapes in South Africa has demonstrated that each origin grants its own unique character to the wine and that certain regions are more suitable for producing specific wine styles. When a wine claims an origin, it is the legal regulations that ensure it genuinely comes from this source.

If the term “Wine of Origin” or the abbreviation “W. O.” appears on a label alongside the name of a region such as Stellenbosch, Durbanville, or Robertson, it confirms that 100% of the grapes used to create the wine come from this specific delineated area.

Delineation of Origin Areas

A production unit can be any delineated area, from a single vineyard to a geographical unit. The boundaries of all production units, whether small or large, are identified and defined by experts in collaboration with affected producers and are then legislated. On April 2, 1993, the origin wine scheme was revised to define the geographical unit. Currently, six geographical units are delineated: Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Free State.

Cape Coastal is an example of an overarching region delineated to allow producers to blend wines from various regions with a maritime climate while marketing them under an origin name. Cape Coastal encompasses the Cape South Coast and Coastal Region.

The next delineated production unit is a Region, Klein Karoo, and Coastal Region, which is a combination of various districts or parts of districts. The Coastal Region has been delineated to allow producers to blend wines from different areas with a maritime climate, marketing them under an origin name. It includes the districts of Cape Town, Darling, Franschhoek, Lutzville Valley, Paarl, Stellenbosch, Swartland, Tulbagh, and Wellington.

The districts of Bamboes Bay and Lamberts Bay are not within a district but belong to the region. Another example of a region is the Breede River Valley, which encompasses the districts of Breedekloof, Robertson, and Worcester along with their respective wards.

The next delineated production unit is a District such as Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Robertson. The District refers to a delineated wine area, which is larger and less homogeneous than a ward but still exhibits distinctive climatic conditions.

The next delineated production unit is a combination of various farms in close proximity to each other and an adjacent area, referred to as a Ward, such as Voor-Paardeberg and Constantia. The term “Ward” is used for a relatively small delineated wine area with a relatively homogeneous pattern of natural factors, which may include agricultural operations and is normally, but not necessarily, part of a district. For instance, the Voor-Paardeberg ward is part of the Paarl district, while the districts of Cederberg and Bamboes Bay do not belong to a specific district.

The next delineated production unit is an Estate Wine unit, which can consist of one or more contiguous properties, provided they are managed as a unit and have their own production cellar on the unit where the wine is made. If the term Estate Wine appears on the label, it confirms that the wine was bottled and produced on the estate and that the wine is made solely from grapes of that specific unit.

The unit for producing a Single Vineyard is the smallest production unit and must not exceed six hectares.

Criteria for Delimiting Origin Areas

The smallest production unit is a single vineyard. Beyond the requirement of not exceeding a size of 6 hectares, there are several other criteria that a Single Vineyard must meet. In the case of an Estate Wine unit, which can consist of one or more farms, it must be taken into account that the natural conditions may vary, but the wine remains distinctive, as in most cases there is only one producer, and the farms are managed as a unit.

In defining a Ward, soil, climate, and geographical factors are significant, as they greatly influence the character of the wine from this ward. The proposed area name must also correspond to the actual geographical or historical sociological name, and there should be indications that the specific area can indeed produce wine with a distinctive character.

Districts must meet the same criteria as wards but allow for a broader definition of the relevant area using macro-geographical features such as mountains and rivers, and should largely reflect a pronounced climate. Naturally, a greater diversity of soil types is permitted than in wards.

Regions are mainly defined by the encompassing area name that extends along a river from source to mouth.

How is the subdivision of South African wine regions?

An overview of the geographical units, the regions, the districts, and wards (wards)

BREEDE RIVER VALLEY REGION

BREEDEKLOOF district with wards of Goudini and Slanghoek, ROBERTSON district with the following wards: Agterkliphoogte, Ashton, Boesmansrivier, Bonnievale, Eilandia, Goedemoed, Goree, Goudmyn, Hoopsrivier, Klaasvoogds, Le Chasseur, McGregor, Vinkrivier, and Zandrivier. WORCESTER district – including the wards Hex River Valley, Nuy, Scherpenheuwel, and Stettyn.

CAPE SOUTH COAST REGION

CAPE AGULHAS district with the ward of Elim, ELGIN district, Herbertsdale ward, LOWER DUIVENHOKS RIVER district, Napier ward, OVERBERG district with wards of Elandskloof/Kaaimansgat, Greyton, Klein River, and Theewater, PLETTENBERG BAY district, Still Bay East ward, SWELLENDAM district with wards of Buffeljags, Malgas, and Stormsvlei, WALKER BAY district with wards of Bot River, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Sunday’s Glen, Springfontein Rim, and Stanford Foothills.

COASTAL REGION

Bamboes Bay ward, CAPE TOWN district with wards: Constantia, Durbanville, Hout Bay, and Philadelphia (Cape Point / Noordhoek not officially a separate ward), DARLING district with the ward Groenekloof, FRANSCHHOEK district, Lambert’s Bay ward, LUTZVILLE VALLEY district with the ward of Koekenaap, PAARL district with wards of Agter-Paarl, Simonsberg-Paarl, and Voor-Paardeberg, St Helena Bay ward, STELLENBOSCH district with the following wards: Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, and Vlottenburg (Faure, Helderberg, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Somerset West, and Stellenbosch Mountain not officially demarcated as separate wards), SWARTLAND district with wards of Malmesbury, Paardeberg/Perdeberg, Paardeberg South, Riebeekberg, and Riebeeksrivier, TULBAGH district, WELLINGTON district with wards of Blouvlei, Bovlei, Groenberg, Limietberg, and Mid-Berg River.

KLEIN KAROO REGION

CALITZDORP district, Cango Valley ward, LANGEBERG-GARCIA district, Montagu ward, Outeniqua ward, Tradouw ward, Tradouw Highlands ward, Upper Langkloof ward.

OLIFANTS RIVER REGION

CITRUSDAL MOUNTAIN district with the ward of Piekenierskloof, CITRUSDAL VALLEY district, Spruitdrift ward, Vredendal ward.

OTHER DISTRICTS & WARDS

Cederberg ward, CERES PLATEAU district with the ward of Ceres, Lepoldtville-Sandveld ward, Nieuwoudtville ward, Prince Albert Valley ward, Swartberg ward.