Durbanville Hills

Winegrowing in the Durbanville Hills 

The Durbanville Hills vineyard is located just 20 minutes from Cape Town and offers spectacular views of Table Mountain and the Bay at the Cape of Good Hope. Due to its proximity to the sea, the estate can score with excellent conditions for its Sauvignon Blanc.

History of the region

Viticultural history in the Durbanville area dates back to the 17th century. Durbanville began as an "outspan" (resting place) area called Pampoenkraal, which became a gathering place for early travelers, transport riders and local farmers. In 1685, one of the farms in the area, Roosboom, so impressed the Governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel, that he noted it for posterity. At the time of his trip, the first farmers had been in the area around the spring and pan for over twenty years. The spring became a popular resting place in the early 18th century. Travelers to and from the coast stopped here to replenish their water and food supplies, creating a demand for fresh meat and a market for ranchers.Soon, ranching was supplemented by the cultivation of wheat. Not long after, the first vineyards were planted, and within a decade most farmers were producing enough wine for themselves and their family members. As early as 1702, the first surplus of wine was recorded among the producers and may well have led to the first sales of wine from the region. The small village developed over time and was renamed Durbanville in 1886.

The names behind Durbanville Hills

However, Durbanville Hills only came into being in the 1990s when seven winemakers joined forces to build a winery. They were supported by the Distell Group, one of South Africa's largest wine producers. Shortly thereafter, two more winemakers joined the joint venture. Although Durbanville Hills has a short history, that of its partners begins much earlier, with the oldest member in 1685, the youngest in 1714. The partners today are:

• Little Rosboom
• Ongegund
• Hillcrest
• Maastricht
• Morgenster
• Bloemendal
• Hooggelegen
• Welbeloond
• De Grendel

Nature and technology in the Durbanville Hills

The Durbanville Hills area mainly benefits from the cool air blowing in from the sea. The water acts as a temperature buffer, absorbing the greatest temperature peaks. In this comparatively cold climate, Sauvignon Blanc thrives very well. The north-facing slopes, which face away from the sea, are in turn a bit warmer, which benefits the red grape varieties growing there.

The Durbanville Hills winery has been built into the hillside so as not to appear too bulky. Modern technology is used in the cellar. 247 steel tanks are available for fermentation. Different sizes ensure that the harvest from different vineyards can be vinified separately and efficiently. Approximately 8000 tons of harvest material can be processed in the winery at the same time. In order to preserve the tannins as much as possible, the winery has two fixed and two mobile presses to pump the wine over as little distance as possible. Finally, in the deepest part of the cellar one finds the barrels for aging, which are stored in a temperature and humidity controlled room.