South African Wine

Situated at the Southernmost tip of the African continent, South Africa is a country rich in diversity, steeped in history, and with a bright future ahead of it. Agriculture is one of South Africa's principal industries, and its rich culture of winemaking spans 300 years.

Overview of South African Wine

Situated at the Southernmost tip of the African continent, South Africa is a country rich in diversity, steeped in history, and with a bright future ahead of it. Agriculture is one of South Africa's principal industries, and its rich culture of winemaking spans 300 years. Today, one of the best ways to experience South Africa's unique heritage is by tasting its world-class wine.

Leopard's Leap is based in the picturesque town of Franschhoek, situated in the heart of South Africa's winelands, located in the Western Cape province. An hour's drive from Cape Town, Franschhoek is not only home to some of the country's finest wine estates, but is also considered to be the culinary capital of South Africa.

Overview of South African Wine Industry

With a winemaking history dating back 300 years, the South African wine industry combines the tradition of Old World winemaking with contemporary New World style. In the past few years, the industry has truly come of age, with a deeply embedded sense of social responsibility and ethical trade.

According to industry regulator, Wines of South Africa, more than 3 999 farmers cultivate some 101 957 hectares of land under vines. About 256 908 people are employed both directly and indirectly in the wine industry.

The annual harvest in 2008 amounted to 1 425 612 tons (1 089 million litres), of which 70% was used for wine. The estimated annual harvest in 2009 amounted to 1 330 357 tons (1 015,4 million litres), of which 77% was used for wine.

All wines for export must be granted an export licence. Samples of each batch of wine destined for foreign countries are sent to the Wine & Spirit Board - a state body - where they undergo detailed tasting tests and chemical analysis in laboratories, before licences are granted. An official seal is given to each bottle by the Wine & Spirit Board, which verifies that the claims made on the label regarding origin, vintage and grape variety are true.

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