Plant to grow old

South Africa has a rich wine history, dating back to 1659, and boasts some of the oldest viticultural soils in the world.

Vineyards
Vineyards

South Africa has a rich wine history, dating back to 1659, and boasts some of the oldest viticultural soils in the world.

Vineyards Overview

The interaction between these ancient soils, the variety of terroirs found around the Cape, and the vibrant people who have cared for these vineyards over the centuries, provides us with a proud platform from which the OVP has emerged and strives to preserve.

South Africa has a total of 4292 hectares of vineyards that are 35 years and older (Ref: SAWIS, 2022) In between familiar names and landscapes, are diverse soils, varying landscapes, different proximity to the Sea, and vastly different median temperatures and slope aspects.

If you are a wine or grape producer or a member of the media requiring more detailed information, please contact us directly at info@oldvineproject.co.za

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Citrusdalberg

125 ha

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Citrusdalberg

125 ha

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Citrusdalberg

125 ha

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Swartland

805 ha

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Tulbagh

85 ha

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Breedekloof

241 ha

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Darling

111 ha

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Worcester

105 ha

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Robertson

176 ha

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Wellington

288 ha

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Paarl

522 ha

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Franschhoek

120 ha

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Stellenbosch

1014 ha

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Cape Town

120 ha

TOP 12 WINE OF ORIGIN DISTRICTS WITH THE MOST OLD VINES

Hectares of Old Vine

PER WINE OF ORIGIN DISTRICT IN SOUTH AFRICA

W.O. DistrictHectares
STELLENBOSCH 1014
SWARTLAND 805
PAARL 522
WELLINGTON 288
BREEDEKLOOF 241
ROBERTSON 176
CITRUSDAL MOUNTAIN 125
FRANSCHHOEK 120
CAPE TOWN 120
DARLING 111
WORCESTER 105
TULBAGH 85
CENTRAL ORANGE RIVER 62
LUTZVILLE VALLEY 45
CALITZDORP 34
OVERBERG 25
WALKER BAY 18
CITRUSDAL VALLEY 12
SWELLENDAM 9
ELGIN 8
DOUGLAS6
OTHER362
TOTAL4292
Hectares of Old Vine

PER CULTIVAR IN SOUTH AFRICA

CultivarHectares
CHENIN BLANC 2207
SAUVIGNON BLANC 454
COLOMBAR 426
MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE 257
CINSAUT 145
PINOTAGE 132
PALOMINO (FRANSDRUIF) 74
CHARDONNAY 74
CROUCHEN 63
SEMILLON61
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 51
RIESLING 35
TINTA BAROCCA 31
SHIRAZ 30
MUSCAT BLANC 27
CLAIRETTE BLANCHE 24
MERLOT 24
PINOT NOIR 18
CARIGNAN 18
GRENACHE (RED) 18
MUSCADEL (RED) 14
GEWURZTRAMINER 14
BUKETTRAUBE 13
SOUZAO 11
FERNAO PIRES 9
HARSLEVELU 9
CHENEL 7
KANAAN 6
RUBY CABERNET 5
PINOT GRIS 4
WINE GRAPE VARIETY 4
CABERNET FRANC 4
MUSCAT OTTONEL 3
GAMAY NOIR 3
EMERALD RIESLING 3
UGNI BLANC 2
HANEPOOT (RED) 2
RAISIN BLANC 2
CINSAUT GRIS 2
MORIO MUSCAT 1
VIOGNIER 1
PINOT BLANC 1
MALBEC 0,44
TEMPRANILLO 0,3
TINTA FRANCISCA 0,3
THERONA 0,18
TOTAL4292
Hectares of Old Vine

IN SOUTH AFRICA

NumberPlant YearCultivarHectaresW.O. District
11900CINSAUT0.25WELLINGTON
21900MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE0.35SWARTLAND
31900MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE0.76BREEDEKLOOF
41902MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE0.04FRANSCHHOEK
51902SEMILLON 0.69FRANSCHHOEK
61905SEMILLON 4FRANSCHHOEK
71905SEMILLON 0.82FRANSCHHOEK
81908MUSKADEL (ROOI)0.42ROBERTSON
91910MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE0.14BREEDEKLOOF
101922SEMILLON 0.52SWARTLAND
111926MUSKADEL (ROOI)0.15ROBERTSON
121927PALOMINO (FRANSDRUIF) 1.11ROBERTSON
131928PALOMINO (FRANSDRUIF) 1.21ROBERTSON
141930MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE1.08CALITZDORP
151932CINSAUT1.76FRANSCHHOEK
161932MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE1.28CALITZDORP
171932PALOMINO (FRANSDRUIF) 1.43ROBERTSON
181932SEMILLON 0.47FRANSCHHOEK
201936SEMILLON 4.25FRANSCHHOEK
211940MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE0.67CALITZDORP
221942CHENIN BLANC 1.37STELLENBOSCH
231942MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE0.3BREEDEKLOOF
241942SEMILLON 0.67FRANSCHHOEK
251947CHENIN BLANC 1.55STELLENBOSCH
261947PALOMINO (FRANSDRUIF) 0.15CALITZDORP
271947PALOMINO (FRANSDRUIF) 0.13CALITZDORP
281950CINSAUT0.8STELLENBOSCH
291950MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE0.25SWARTLAND
301950PINOTAGE0.47STELLENBOSCH
301951CINSAUT 0.95WELLINGTON

“OLD VINES ARE A WONDERFUL SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF PLANTS AND THE AGING PROCESS OF VINES, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CHALLENGING TIME OF CLIMATE CHANGE.” – Rosa Kruger

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André Morgenthal
Old Vine Project Manager
andre@oldvineproject.co.za

Nadia Hefer
Old Vine Project Consultant
info@oldvineproject.co.za