South Africa has a rich wine history, dating back to 1659, and boasts some of the oldest viticultural soils in the world.
South Africa has a rich wine history, dating back to 1659, and boasts some of the oldest viticultural soils in the world.
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 4879 hectares of vineyards that are 35 years and older (Ref: SAWIS, 2023 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
Citrusdalberg
132 ha
Citrusdalberg
132 ha
Swartland
928 ha
Tulbagh
101 ha
Breedekloof
306 ha
Darling
128 ha
Worcester
122 ha
Robertson
191 ha
Wellington
322 ha
Paarl
587 ha
Franschhoek
136 ha
Stellenbosch
1111 ha
Cape Town
119 ha
TOP 12 WINE OF ORIGIN DISTRICTS WITH THE MOST OLD VINES
PER WINE OF ORIGIN DISTRICT IN SOUTH AFRICA
| W.O. District | Hectares |
|---|---|
| STELLENBOSCH | 1111 |
| SWARTLAND | 928 |
| PAARL | 587 |
| WELLINGTON | 322 |
| BREEDEKLOOF | 306 |
| ROBERTSON | 191 |
| FRANSCHHOEK | 136 |
| CITRUSDAL MOUNTAIN | 132 |
| DARLING | 128 |
| WORCESTER | 122 |
| CAPE TOWN | 119 |
| TULBAGH | 101 |
| CENTRAL ORANGE RIVER | 87 |
| LUTZVILLE VALLEY | 52 |
| OVERBERG | 25 |
| CALITZDORP | 21 |
| WALKER BAY | 19 |
| CITRUSDAL VALLEY | 14 |
| ELGIN | 11 |
| SWELLENDAM | 10 |
| OTHER | 447 |
| TOTAL | 4870 |
PER CULTIVAR IN SOUTH AFRICA
| Cultivar | Hectares |
|---|---|
| CHENIN BLANC | 2475 |
| COLOMBAR | 530 |
| SAUVIGNON BLANC | 459 |
| MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE | 270 |
| CINSAUT | 161 |
| PINOTAGE | 141 |
| CHARDONNAY | 103 |
| CABERNET SAUVIGNON | 88 |
| PALOMINO (FRANSDRUIF) | 79 |
| CROUCHEN | 75 |
| SEMILLON | 67 |
| MERLOT | 42 |
| CLAIRETTE BLANCHE | 41 |
| SHIRAZ | 38 |
| TINTA BAROCCA | 37 |
| RIESLING | 35 |
| MUSCAT BLANC | 31 |
| PINOT NOIR | 18 |
| CARIGNAN | 18 |
| GRENACHE (RED) | 18 |
| GEWURZTRAMINER | 18 |
| BUKETTRAUBE | 17 |
| MUSCADEL (RED) | 14 |
| SOUZAO | 11 |
| FERNAO PIRES | 10 |
| HARSLEVELU | 9 |
| RUBY CABERNET | 8 |
| THERONA | 7 |
| PINOT GRIS | 7 |
| KANAAN | 6 |
| CHENEL | 5 |
| WINE GRAPE VARIETY | 4 |
| CABERNET FRANC | 4 |
| EMERALD RIESLING | 4 |
| MUSCAT OTTONEL | 3 |
| RAISIN BLANC | 3 |
| GAMAY NOIR | 3 |
| PEDRO LUIS | 2 |
| UGNI BLANC | 2 |
| HANEPOOT (RED) | 2 |
| CINSAUT GRIS | 2 |
| MORIO MUSCAT | 1,3 |
| PINOT BLANC | 1,3 |
| MALBEC | 0,44 |
| TEMPRANILLO | 0,3 |
| TINTA FRANCISCA | 0,3 |
| TOTAL | 4870 |
IN SOUTH AFRICA
| Number | Plant Year | Cultivar | Hectares | W.O. District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1900 | CINSAUT | 0.25 | WELLINGTON |
| 2 | 1900 | MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE | 0.35 | SWARTLAND |
| 3 | 1900 | MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE | 0.76 | BREEDEKLOOF |
| 4 | 1902 | MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE | 0.04 | FRANSCHHOEK |
| 5 | 1902 | SEMILLON | 0.69 | FRANSCHHOEK |
| 6 | 1905 | SEMILLON | 4 | FRANSCHHOEK |
| 7 | 1905 | SEMILLON | 0.82 | FRANSCHHOEK |
| 8 | 1908 | MUSKADEL (ROOI) | 0.42 | ROBERTSON |
| 9 | 1910 | MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE | 0.14 | BREEDEKLOOF |
| 10 | 1922 | SEMILLON | 0.52 | SWARTLAND |
| 11 | 1926 | MUSKADEL (ROOI) | 0.15 | ROBERTSON |
| 12 | 1927 | PALOMINO (FRANSDRUIF) | 1.11 | ROBERTSON |
| 13 | 1928 | PALOMINO (FRANSDRUIF) | 1.21 | ROBERTSON |
| 14 | 1932 | CINSAUT | 1.76 | FRANSCHHOEK |
| 15 | 1932 | MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE | 1.28 | CALITZDORP |
| 16 | 1932 | PALOMINO (FRANSDRUIF) | 1.43 | ROBERTSON |
| 17 | 1932 | SEMILLON | 0.47 | FRANSCHHOEK |
| 18 | 1933 | MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE | 0.73 | WELLINGTON |
| 19 | 1936 | SEMILLON | 4.25 | FRANSCHHOEK |
| 20 | 1942 | CHENIN BLANC | 1.37 | STELLENBOSCH |
| 21 | 1942 | MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE | 0.3 | BREEDEKLOOF |
| 22 | 1942 | SEMILLON | 0.67 | FRANSCHHOEK |
| 23 | 1947 | CHENIN BLANC | 1.55 | STELLENBOSCH |
| 24 | 1947 | PALOMINO (FRANSDRUIF) | 0.15 | CALITZDORP |
| 25 | 1947 | PALOMINO (FRANSDRUIF) | 0.13 | CALITZDORP |
| 26 | 1950 | CINSAUT | 0.8 | STELLENBOSCH |
| 27 | 1950 | MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE | 0.25 | SWARTLAND |
| 28 | 1950 | PINOTAGE | 0.47 | STELLENBOSCH |
| 29 | 1951 | CINSAUT | 0.95 | WELLINGTON |
| 30 | 1952 | MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE | 0.1 | BREEDEKLOOF |
| 31 | 1952 | MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE | 0.13 | BREEDEKLOOF |
| 32 | 1952 | MUSCAT D'ALEXANDRIE | 0.25 | OVERBERG |
| 33 | 1952 | CHENIN BLANC | 1.2 | WELLINGTON |
| 34 | 1952 | GRENACHE | 0.61 | SWARTLAND |
| 35 | 1952 | GRENACHE | 0.62 | SWARTLAND |
| 36 | 1952 | PALOMINO | 1.08 | PAARL |
| 37 | 1952 | PALOMINO | 0.53 | PAARL |
| 38 | 1952 | CINSAUT | 0.68 | PAARL |
| 39 | 1952 | CINSAUT | 0.77 | PAARL |
| 40 | 1952 | CINSAUT | 0.69 | PAARL |
| 41 | 1952 | CINSAUT | 0.7 | PAARL |
| 42 | 1952 | CINSAUT | 4.88 | STELLENBOSCH |
“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
