The picturesque Durbanville Wine Region is situated in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa.

The area was originally assigned for farming by Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 and by 1719 Durbanville, as it’s known today, consisted of 22 farms.

Originally known as Pampoenkraal, the village served as a watering station for people travelling between Cape Town and interior villages.

In 1825, local farmers obtained permission from Lord Charles Somerset to build a church and a year later the Dutch Reformed Church was inaugurated.

The village grew and the first name change was petitioned in 1836, when residents requested to name the area D’Urban, in honour of Sir Benjamin d’Urban, Governor of the Cape Colony at the time.

As D’Urban was easily confused with Durban, a port city situated on the east coast, the name was changed again in 1886 to Durbanville.

Today, Durbanville is a flourishing suburb and although it offers a myriad of businesses and trendy restaurants, it remains proud of its heritage.

Driving down Oxford and Church Streets, you can still spot some of the original Edwardian buildings proudly proclaiming the rich history of the town.

The Wines of the Durbanville Wine Region.

The vineyards of Durbanville sit among the Tygerberg Hills in a valley that runs from north to south. False Bay is 16 miles (26km) south of the valley, and the west coast just 13 kilometers (eight miles) away.

Intense sunshine in Durbanville is tempered by the cooling southerly breezes from False Bay that are funneled up through the valley in the afternoons.

Vineyards rise between 250 and 400 meters (820 and 1300ft), which also serves to lower the temperature of the region.

These climate-moderating factors have enough of an effect on the average temperatures in the area that Durbanville wines are characteristically cool-climate in style.

The gently rolling terrain provides different microclimates, and growers have a wide choice of aspect, slope and exposure to suit their viticultural needs.

Higher vineyards that are more exposed to the wind are often several degrees cooler than those in the more-sheltered valleys.

The shadows of the hills also serve as a cooling influence.

Typically, white-wine varieties are planted on the shaded north-facing slopes and red-wine grapes on the sunnier south-facing slopes.

The majority of the rainfall in Durbanville comes in the cold winter months, allowing the water table to replenish while the vines lie dormant.

Well-drained shale soils with good water retention mean that very little irrigation is needed over the summer, and many growers prefer to forgo it completely.

The town of Durbanville sprung up around a local spring in the 17th Century.

It initially served as a rest and refreshment point for people traveling from Cape Town to the trading posts in the north.

As traffic grew, so did the town, and vineyards planted in Durbanville were producing wine as early as 1702.

In the 20th Century, Durbanville has become a part of the larger Cape Town urban area.

As such the region is well-placed for wine tourists eager to visit a tasting room or cellar door.

Things to do in the Durbanville Wine Region.

Being part of the northern suburbs of Cape Town, Durbanville has a lot to offer any visitor to the area.

Hiking, biking, fishing, golfing, bird-watching, shopping, wine tasting, beer tasting, 4×4 trails and so much more is possible here.

Festivals and Events in the Durbanville Wine Region.

There is so much on offer in Durbanville.

To name but a few, the following festivals and events can be enjoyed in the area.

• Oysters, Bubbles and Blanc Festival
• Vodka Fest
• FAB Bridal Expo
• Soup, Sip and Bread
• Cape Epic Cycle Tour
• Durbanville Plaasfees

We look forward to host you in this dynamic wine region.