Swartland

The Swartland region starts about 50 kilometers north of Cape Town and is located on the west coast of South Africa. The area is approximately 13,000 hectares in size and the name Swartland refers to the dark, fertile soil of this region.

History
Swartland was discovered from the Cape during an initial exploration of the Dutch settlers in the year 1660. The area was named Swartland because the 'Rhino Bush' (Renosterbos) turned black during a certain period of the year.

Soil & Climate
The climate here is dry and very warm. The temperature can rise to 44 ° C, but the fog and wind also provide cooling. Due to the heat, it is not uncommon for the grapes to be harvested at night, this to get a better color and fragrance extraction from the grapes. The flat areas in Swartland are often sandy, while granite and pebble-like sandstone are found on the hills. A fertile soil in combination with just enough water ensures that the vines have a low production of very good quality.

Wines
Robust, full-bodied red wines used to come from Swartland, but nowadays more and more good, cheap and light wines and wines are destined for export. In addition, the area is also known for the freshly scented and tasting table wines and the very nice port wines.