Kloovenburg, Company

Kloovenburg stretches along the lower contours of Kasteel (Castle) Mountain, where the north-easterly slopes have proved ideal for the Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon cultivars and the south-westerly and easterly slopes favour Shiraz. Here the climate is perfectly balanced, with the warm, low-rainfall months tempered by cool afternoon south-westerly breezes blowing in from the Atlantic ocean. Kloovenburg's mountain-side situation ensures higher winter rainfall than is usual for this area, thus replenishing the water table and reducing the need for summer irrigation. The cold winters allow the vines to rest and build up better reserves. The soil is mainly Malmesbury shale, with strong loamy soil on the higher ground. The more sandy loam lower down the slopes is supplemented by the area's rich Hutton soil. This varied selection of soils lends itself to planting proportion of 60% red and 40% white, comprising Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Colombar, Pinot Noir and Pontac. Of the farm's 300 hectares, 130 are under wine grapes, 25 under table grapes and 30 under olives. 20% of the best grapes are reserved for making Kloovenburg's own wines. A falcon guards the day, an owl the night. Below them are depictions of other creatures and plants indigenous to this mountainside, who are in turn watched and protected by the conservation-minded Du Toits. Kloovenburg was planted with grapes as early as the mid-18th century, but it had to wait for the two generations of Du Toits to transform these into significant wines. In 1998 Pieter produced his first Shiraz and its success encouraged him to renovate Kloovenburg's cellar, with the purpose of establishing a new name in the South African wine industry: Kloovenburg, the “place in the ravine”. His confidence was well placed. Kloovenburg wines from subsequent vintages have already won several top awards.