|
The attractive town of Stellenbosch, whose university has a department of viticulture and oenology, has the greatest concentration of fine wine estates in South Africa, and 15.6% of the country's vineyards. It has three types of soil: Table Mountain sandstone in the west (favoured for white wines), alluvial soils around the Ferste River, and granite in the east (best for reds), where the ward of Simonsberg?Stellenbosch WO is situated in the mountain foothills. Rainfall varies, but irrigation is seldom necessary.
Plantings include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Shiraz. The Stellenbosch district is also the home of some of the best Pinotage wines. Many of the top wines are blended reds, often aged in oak barrels.
Top producers include Beyerskloof, Louisvale, Meetlust, Mulderbosch, Neethling-shof (for Weisser Riesling Noble late?harvest), Overgaauw, Rustenberg, Rust?en-Vrede, Simonsig, Thelema, Vriesenhof, Warwick (Trilogy, a bordeaux?style blend).
|
|
|
|