Calitzdorp is a small wine producing wine region located in the Klein Karoo semi desert area of South Africa.

Calitzdorp is a town on the Western side of the Little or Klein Karoo in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and lies on South Africa’s Route 62.

The farm Buffelsvlei, on which Calitzdorp stands, was granted to Jacobus Johannes and Matthys Christiaan Calitz in 1831.

The brothers donated part of their farm for the establishment of a church in 1853 and in 1858 the church started the sale of plots to church members.

In 1924 a railway line was opened, in 1937 electrification and a new cement road to Oudtshoorn was completed.

The Swartberg (in the North), Rooiberge (to the South) and the Mountains of the Huisrivier Pass (to the West) surrounds Calitzdorp’s challenging landscape with floods, droughts and extreme weather, from very hot to snow clad mountaintops in the winter.

Summers are very hot during the day, mainly a dry heat, up to 40 °C.

Wind from the sea every afternoon allows for moderate, cool evenings.

Winters have sunny days, very cold nights with occasional frost and snow often falling on the surrounding Swartberg Mountain Range.

Rainfall is approximately 200 mm per year, often with the changing of seasons.

Prevailing winds are mainly from the south in summer and hot wind from the North in August.

The Wines of the Calitzdorp Wine Region.

It has a similar climate to that of the Douro Valley in Portugal and as such is associated with the production of fortified wines similar to Port.

Traditional Portuguese grape varieties such as Touriga Nacional and Tinta Barroca are grown throughout the region.

The soils surrounding Calitzdorp are deep red in color, alluvial in nature and glacial in origin.

Their low quality and rapid drainage are ideal for the production of grapes for Port-style wines.

Dry soils lead to low yields, in turn giving greater concentration of sugars and flavors in the berries.

This suits the intense style of fortified wine perfectly.

Things to do in the Calitzdorp Wine Region.

Calitzdorp is a haven for enthusiasts of fishing, bird-watching, 4×4 and other scenic routes, horse-riding and wine tasting.

Festivals and Events in the Calitzdorp Wine Region.

A very small town, but close to Oudtshoorn, Calitzdorp actually offers a lot for those visiting.

• De Krans Blossom Festival
• Calitzdorp Port & Wine Festival
• Art on Track
• Klein Karoo Klassique
• Calitzdorp Succulent Festival
• Swartberg Mule Trail
• To Hell and Back – Extreme MTB Stage Race

We look forward to welcome you to our wine valley in the Klein Karoo.