Strandveld Vineyards

Our vineyards are the most southerly in Africa. The farm is situated 9km from the Atlantic ocean, between Elim and Cape Agulhas. It is made up of two farms; Blomfontein (44ha planted under vine) and Uintjieskuil (25ha planted under vine)  The cool climate and unique location is perfect for producing special wines.

Strandveld Vineyards forms part of the Elim Wine Ward.

Elim Wine Ward

The Elim Wine Ward is one of the newest coastal wine producing regions in South Africa and is being eagerly watched by wine connoisseurs around the world.

The moderate, cool maritime climate creates soft ripening conditions over a longer period which promotes colour and flavour in the grapes. The low to moderate soil potential promotes balanced vine growth, resulting in small yields from the vines, with a strong character enhanced by strong coastal winds.

The unique climate and the rich geology of this area makes for exciting wine making and the terroir of the wines produced here seems to not only embody the natural characteristics of the area, but the cultural ones too.

There is something enchanting about the Agulhas Plain. Something that gives you a primal sense of being in tune with the earth.

Perhaps it is the boundless landscape that has not changed much since Diaz landed here in 1488....

Perhaps it is the energy of the southwesterly gales that battle against the southward flowing Agulhas current....

Perhaps it is the electromagnetic turmoil that affected the compasses of ancient mariners.... 

You can taste the reflection of the vines in the wine, intense flavours, supple tannins, generous fruit and an elemental awareness of life.

Elim

In 1824 German missionaries established Elim as a Moravian Mission Station. They did not only come to teach the Gospel to the local inhabitants, but also to teach them various trades and skills.

The Elim thatchers have been renowned for their craftsmanship for hundreds of years and the village filled with thatched, whitewashed cottages pay tribute to this skill. This picturesque town has not changed much since its inception and is still only inhabited by members of the Moravian Church. All the roads in the village lead to the church. The community consists of farmers, farm workers and artisans and the area is becoming renowned for the export of fynbos and the cultivation of vineyards.

Vineyards are not new to Elim. The location of the town is, in fact, due to the suitability of the terrain for the planting vines and its accessibility to water. The Moravian missionaries placed high importance on these factors when deciding where to establish a mission, so that communion wine could easily be produced.

The Agulhas Plain

The Agulhas Plain has rich natural and cultural features. It has a plant biodiversity that is equivalent to a tropical rain forest and many wetlands, which not only contribute to a high diversity of plants and animals, but also attract a host of water birds. The coastline supports a rich marine and intertidal life, and in spring the Southern Right Whales come to mate and calve along the Agulhas coast.

The Agulhas Plain is also known as the 'Strandveld' (literally where the beach meets the land). The Agulhas current, one of the great ocean currents of the world, runs from northeast to southwest along the eastern African coastline.  The prevailing winds blow against the Agulhas current, from the southeast in the summer and the northwest in the winter. This causes freak waves and perilous sea conditions and has given rise to this stretch of coastline being called the 'Cape of Storms'.

The Agulhas area receives approximately 450 mm of rainfall per annum.