We anticipate that the trend to planting in cooler areas will continue and predict there will be more vineyards along our Southern coast, where they benefit from the prevailing ocean winds.  And, like elsewhere in the world our growers will also experiment with hardier, drought –resistant varieties, which we’ve seen with The Drift Estate, Sijnn and Olivedale Wines. 

This latest collaboration in the South African wine industry brings together wineries flourishing in one of South Africa’s most extreme viticultural terrains, as well as some of South Africa’s most celebrated winemakers. Cold, sea-borne winds sweep inland across the Agulhas plain where it is believed that 330 million years ago Africa and Antarctica were once part of the same giant continent. The resultant soils are unique in the world.

Today the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet at Cape Agulhas, Africa’s most Southern point. It’s an area exceptionally rich in biodiversity, and the members’ shared commitment to protecting the extraordinary abundance of plant and bird life as well as the great white sharks, whales and plentiful sea life is another driver that brings these wineries together. The Elim growers have for example, along with several neighbors, created the remarkable Nuwejaars Wetland SMA, successfully re-introducing hippos and buffalo to the area, with many other similar initiatives by members within the AWT.

The maritime climate and cool ocean winds result in lower yields and gradual ripening of the grapes with the result that the wines from the Agulhas Wine Triangle show a very distinctive common theme of elegance, with concentrated flavour and depth. The Agulhas Wine Triangle collaborative aims to highlight the wines from this climatically distinct region which they believe is poised to be the next exciting discovery to unfold in the South African portfolio.