Regional info.

Kloovenburg estate lies in the picturesque Riebeek Valley - an area renowned for its top quality red wines, especially those made from Shiraz. Steeped in history, the property has been producing wine since 1704 and is currently owned by virtuoso winemaker Pieter du Toit.

Kloovenburg was planted with grapes as early as the mid-18th century, but it had to wait for the two generations of Du Toits to transform these into significant wines. In 1998 Pieter produced his first Shiraz and its success encouraged him to renovate Kloovenburg's cellar, with the purpose of establishing a new name in the South African wine industry: Kloovenburg, the 'place in the ravine'. His confidence was well placed. Kloovenburg wines from subsequent vintages have already won several top awards. Over the years, Pieter and his team have won countless credentials, including coveted Gold medals and five-star Decanter magazine ratings. The reason is the sheer concentration and power of Kloovenburg wines, and the intensity of ripe fruit flavours. Their Shiraz is no exception!

Kloovenburg stretches along the lower contours of Kasteel (Castle) Mountain, where the north-easterly slopes have proved ideal for the Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon cultivars and the south-westerly and easterly slopes favour Shiraz.

Here the climate is perfectly balanced, with the warm, low-rainfall months tempered by cool afternoon south-westerly breezes blowing in from the Atlantic ocean. Kloovenburg's mountain-side situation ensures higher winter rainfall than is usual for this area, thus replenishing the water table and reducing the need for summer irrigation. The cold winters allow the vines to rest and build up better reserves.

The soil is mainly Malmesbury shale, with strong loamy soil on the higher ground. The more sandy loam lower down the slopes is supplemented by the area's rich Hutton soil. This varied selection of soils lends itself to planting proportion of 60% red and 40% white, comprising Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Colombar, Pinot Noir and Pontac.

Of the farm's 300 hectares, 130 are under wine grapes, 25 under table grapes and 30 under olives. 20% of the best grapes are reserved for making Kloovenburg's own wines.

All the vines on the farm are trellised and 80% grow on slopes. Irrigation is limited to the minimum, with a resultant low yield (six to eight tons per hectare) but high quality fruit. Winter rain, collected in storage dams against the mountain, supplies fresh water for supplementary irrigation only. Drip irrigation is regulated according to daily soil moisture readings taken with neutron hydrometers.

Traditionally a grain-producing area, in summer the Swartland district is marked by green pockets of vineyards clambering up the foothills of the mountains (Piketberg, Porterville, Riebeek, Perdeberg) and along the banks of the Berg River. In the past, the region was planted mainly to bushvines but trellising is increasingly being adopted due to advances in management strategies and quality considerations.

The Swartland literally translated means 'the black land' and the area takes its name from the indigenous renosterbos (rhino bush) which still turns the landscape a dark colour at certain times of the year. The district was traditionally a source of robust, full-bodied red wines and high quality, fortified wines.

In recent times, some exciting award-winning wines have emerged, both red and white, and the area continues to produce top port-style wines. Increasing percentages of Pinotage, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are being grown here, as well as Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. It has two designated wards, Malmesbury and Riebeekberg. The district of Swartland borders Piketberg to the north, which is not dissimilar in both geography and climate.

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