The Elgin Wine Region is only 1 hour east of Cape Town.

Predominantly a white wine district in South Africa, this relatively new, but beautiful wine valley has cool, high vineyards – best known for its apple orchards.

Cradled by the ancient sandstone Hottentots Holland Mountains, this award-winning region offers world class Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Shiraz wines.

The Wines of the Elgin Wine Region.

Proximity to the South Atlantic Ocean, just 7.5 miles away, means lower average temperatures over summer and refreshing early-morning mists.

This combination of climate-moderating factors makes for slower, more-gradual ripening and thus more-balanced wines with great depth and complexity of flavor.

The topography gently undulates across the Elgin Valley, providing wine growers with a diverse selection of sites on which to plant their vines.

The soil profile also varies, with gravel, sandstone, clay and weathered shale all contributing to the terroir.

It is hard to believe that before roads were built, this valley was mostly closed off.

The original ox-wagon trail is still clearly etched into the mountainside.

Today Elgin is one of the largest exporters of deciduous fruit, and, albeit small in comparison to other wine regions, the remarkable quality of cool climate wines has taken the world by storm.

Large apple and pear orchards flash past with vineyards gracing the undulating hills.

The odd farm gate leads up to quaint, unassuming cottages that add to the countryside’s rural charm. Other gates announce magnificent wine estates waiting to be explored.

Festivals and Events in and around the Elgin Wine Region.

For such a small district, Elgin’s events calendar is jam packed.

To name but a few, the following festivals and events takes place in the Elgin and Grabouw area.

• Applewood Harvest Festival
• Farmer’s Markets
• Harvest Festivals at various wine estates
• Elgin Cool Wine & Country Food Festival
• Xplorio Elgin & Grabouw
• Elgin Winter, Wine and Words

Whatever your reason for visiting this breathtaking wine valley, please enjoy every moment.

Believe it or not, but the perfect time to visit this area is actually in the winter.