The Klein Karoo is famous all over the world for many reasons, including its wines. This region, where the skyline extends as far as the eye can see, forms part of the Succulent Karoo Biome and is internationally recognised as one of the top 26 areas in the world for its biological diversity.
The Klein Karoo is known for its rich, fertile soils and unique microclimates, which offer supreme conditions for producing wine grapes with great complexity and deep flavour. Although long famous for its fortified wines, in the last couple of years the region has come into its own as a producer of world-class dry table wines. Terroir driven wines unfold in this unique wine appellation with the latest development being the Calitzdorp blend, a wine produced from grapes only from Wine of Origin Calitzdorp, of which 70% of the blend must comprise of Portuguese varietals.
There are currently 11 wine growers in the region ranging from historical estates to boutique wineries. Discover the wineries in the gallery below.
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Just outside Oudtshoorn lie the vineyards of Sandkoppies, home of Grundheim Wines, established in 1858. Six generations have been farming here for more than a century. The farm uses a historic wine cellar, more than 100 years old. Grundheim is famous for it’s fermentation process in open tanks.
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In a slight deviation from its Port focus, Axe Hill released the Machado (meaning AXE in Portuguese). This unique blend is made from the Portuguese varietals planted at the farm – Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca, Souzão.
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Nestled between the Rooiberg and majestic peaks of the Swartberg, with fertile red glacial alluvial soils fed by the Gamka and Olifants rivers, the Nel’s established their vineyards and orchids on Boplaas – meaning “top farm”, due to its location on slight plateau over-looking the Gamka valley.
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De Krans Wine Cellar is situated along the upper reaches of the picturesque Gamka River Valley near Calitzdorp. The history of the farm dates back to 1890, when it was bought by the Nel family. Since 1985, most of the classic Portuguese port and wine varieties have been planted. De Krans is widely known as one of the leading port producers, as well as one of the most innovative cellars in South Africa.
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Calitzdorp Cellar has produced a number of award winning white, red and fortified wines since 1928. In the last 13 years, cellar production increased from 2000 tons to 5000 tons. Alwyn Burger is the man behind the winery’s award-winning wines
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Herold Wines is unique. At between 650m and 700m its vines are rooted at a higher altitude than most other South African vineyards. This, together with frequent mountain mists, icy winter frosts and snow, cooling summer south easterly winds drawn by the Outeniquas from the nearby Indian Ocean and year round rainfall, results in a protracted growing season.
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Meyer Joubert was the first winemaker to identify the popularity of the world-famous R62 and consequently trademarked ‘R62’ as a wine. He produces the only R62 wine on this popular route.
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Karusa Vineyard is nestled in the tranquil village of Schoemanshoek, en-route to the world-famous Cango Caves from the Little Karoo town of Oudtshoorn. Well-known for its Cap Classique and Mediterranean-styled wines, Karusa is a family-operated and managed Southern Cape Premium Wine producer & Craft Brewery.
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In January 2010, the cellars Rietrivier and Uitvlucht joined forces to form Montagu Wine and Spirits Company. The winery produced the very first muscadel, way back in the 1940’s. Today they also make delicate dry whites, full bodied barrel matured reds and sweet sparkling grape juice.
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Star Hill Wines is the creation of Grant Hatch and Christopher Palmer Tomkinson who sought to find a high altitude site to fulfill a passionate belief in producing great wines at altitude. Single vineyard blocks on the farm consist out of have Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Chenin Blanc.
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Peter and Yvonne Bayly headed into this secluded valley over a decade ago to fulfil their lifelong dream of crafting artisanal wines . At a bend in the river, with the majestic Swartberg as backdrop, lies a meticulously tended 1.2 hectares of Touriga Naçional, Tinta Barocca and Souzão planted in between shale and quartz. These Portuguese varietals were chosen by the Baylys in 2000, with the explicit aim of crafting the finest Cape Port and distinctive Klein Karoo red wines.
In addition to its multitude of wine estates dotting the stepped hillsides, the Klein Karoo is endowed with some of South Africa’s most spectacular scenery and exhilarating, hairpin drives, making it a worldclass wine tourism destination.
A wine producing region with a long tradition, the Klein Karoo boasts wines that will surprise you for their excellence, aromas and colours as unique as the landscape and the cuisine.
Visit kleinkaroowines.co.za for more information about the region, the wines and the friendly people.