Breedekloof wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge

The Breedekloof vineyards lie in the Breede River Valley, in the western part of the wine region of the same name, between Worcester and Paarl in the Western Cape province. Enclosed by the Slanghoek and Du Toitskloof mountains to the west and the Hex River range to the north-east, the valley encompasses the Rawsonville, Slanghoek, Goudini and Breerivier areas. This mountain-bound setting traps cool night air, extending the ripening period and allowing later harvests than in most of the South African vineyard. Winter rainfall averages around 700 mm a year, placing Breedekloof among the country's higher-rainfall wine areas. Soils range from deep, heavy black soils to sandy shale soils in old riverbeds. Chenin blanc is the most widely planted variety, alongside sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, colombard, cinsault, pinotage and syrah.

The wines of this appellation

Breedekloof produces mostly white wines, led by chenin blanc, ranging from fresh, fruit-driven bottlings to fuller styles fermented in barrel, amphora or concrete egg, with denser texture and genuine ageing potential. Sauvignon blanc and chardonnay round out the white portfolio with taut, citrus- and stone-fruit-driven profiles. The reds, made from cinsault, pinotage, syrah and barbera, benefit from hot days and cool nights that preserve acidity while ripe fruit develops; they are supple to fleshy, with present but approachable tannins. The region also produces fortified and dessert wines from muscat of Alexandria, known locally as hanepoot, with aromas of dried grapes and honey. The crisper whites pair well with fish and seafood, the fuller whites with poultry and sauced dishes, the reds with grilled and roasted meats, and the hanepoot wines with desserts or blue-veined cheeses.