Sandstone soils produce exceptional fruit-forward Steen with diverse expressions from ripe and sun-baked berries across the low-lying alluvial areas to the slow-ripening grapes on the Slanghoek slopes. The Breedekloof is decorated for her white varieties; the preferred, the expected, the awarded - but don’t mistake this wine region as limited to white wine production.
Top Rated Reds
In the last three years, the Breedekloof has produced a Top 10 Pinotage, Platter’s 5-star Cape Blend, Winemag.co.za's Top 10 Merlot, Top 10 Cape Bordeaux Blend, AND the SA Young Wine Show’s General Smuts Trophy, on top of a staggering amount of national and international platinum and double gold medals for anderkant die berg red wine.
From Mourvèdre to Barbera
Surrounded by mountains, the Breedekloof Valley is uniquely influenced by the various aspects, altitude, soils, and micro-climes. Vines are planted in the shade of the Du Toitskloof mountain range in the southwest and continue along the Old N1 to Rawsonville. The region splits toward Louwshoek in the east, Olifantsberg in the north, and Slanghoek valley in the northwest through to the Breede River region. Micro-climates form small pockets that enable wineries to pursue planting anything from Mourvèdre to Carignan, Grenache Noir to Barbera, and on some of the smallest family estates, even all five red Bordeaux cultivars made into their flagship blends.
Clean Fruit
Cold Breedekloof winters allow red grapes plenty of time to ripen and lead to mature tannin structures with rich colour profiles, two of the most definitive elements in red winemaking. The cool nights preserve aromas and natural acidity that contribute to the bright and fresh, fruit-forward wines associated with the region. Warm day temperatures in the valley are ideal for photosynthesis and sugar development in the grapes. The contrast in day and night temperatures not only ensures that winemakers have both summer shorts and winter beanies on hand, but the high diurnal shift is also extremely beneficial in forming flavours, which in the Breedekloof really showcase the region’s complex and clean fruit profiles.
The Case
The Onswijn Breedekloof Red Collection is a group of hand-picked wines showcasing the diversity of the wine region. From juicy, low tannin wines like Merwida’s Barbera and Olifantsberg’s Grenache Noir on opposite sides of the valley to Botha’s Cape Blend Turoc, Mountain Ridge’s Shiraz-driven Vino Rood, Bergsig’s full-body Oom Prop Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Breedekloof legend – Jason’s Hill Izak Reserve, an outstanding Bordeaux blend made in the Slanghoek Valley.
