CEDERBERG TERROIR CONTINUED...

Terroir comprises four elements: topography, climate (meso-, macro- and microclimate) , geology and soil-type.

The West Coast of South Africa is one of the regions with the lowest rainfall in the country. From Graafwater to Clanwilliam the maximum average rainfall is 400 mm per annum, declining to 300 mm per annum in the Trawal/Koekenaap area. The Cederberg’s rainfall varies between 450 and 800 mm per annum. Cederberg Wines is situated in a unique climate: it can be described as a cool, continental or Mediterranean climate, rather than a maritime or coastal climate. The average temperature during the day varies between 12 and 18ºC in winter, rising to 29,3ºC in January and 29,9ºC in February.

The farm Dwarsrivier, where the grapes for Cederberg Wines are cultivated, is situated at the foot of Sneeuberg Mountain, one of the highest peaks in the Western Cape. Sneeuberg is 2 026 metres above sea level. Cederberg Wines claims to have the highest vineyards in the Western Cape at between 950 and 1 100 metres above sea level. The soil-types are well drained on weathered shale/slate on the hillsides and high mountain slopes, with a higher clay percentage well suited to red cultivars. Yellow-brown soil of granitic origin with a high acid content needs to be manipulated before planting. Lightly structured soil with sandstone, well suited to white cultivars, abounds. There are also duplex soils with coarse sand on clay. The soil-types belong to the Bokkeveld and Witteberg groups.

During harvest time only small amounts of grapes are harvested every day, never more than 5 tons at a time. In the morning harvesting starts at 05:30 while it is still cool, and continues until 09:00, before the heat of the day sets in. As a rule the first grapes are harvested around 15 February, and the harvest may last until 20 April. In 2005, which was a dry year, the first grapes were harvested on 1 February

The oldest vineyards on the farm are Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon, which were planted in 1978. The youngest vineyards were planted in 2002 and consist of Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.

When speaking of terroir, we often ignore the significance of the natural vegetation. Were we to examine the similarities of the natural vegetation and soil-types in different areas, we might be able to form a better understanding of what to plant where. The Western Cape has six biomes and 18 veld-types. Two biomes are found in the Cederberg, namely Fynbos and Succulent Karoo, with three veld-types: Central Mountain Renosterveld, Mountain Fynbos and Lowland Succulent Karoo.

The Cederberg is situated in one of eight core conservation areas in the Western Cape. The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest of the world’s six floral kingdoms, but the richest, boasting the highest concentration of plants per square metre: 1 300 species per 10 000 km². Of the 18 625 succulents occurring in South Africa, 9 489 are found in the Western Cape. Although the Western Cape is merely 0,5% of Africa’s total land surface, it is home to 20% of the continent’s fauna, with 153 animal, 305 bird, 39 amphibian and 52 reptile species. Three quarters of South Africa’s rare and endangered species are found in the Western Cape.

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