UNIQUE LOCATION
Elgin is a coastal plateau located just 70km east of Cape Town and is the only South African wine ward surrounded by mountains. Think of it as an elevated bowl, roughly 15km across, where the valley floor is 300 to 550 meters above sea level and home to several farms. The valley floor is divided into fruit orchards, vineyards and pine plantations comprising 7,000 hectares of farmland.

NATURAL ENCLOSURE
The vineyards of Wines of Elgin are nestled within the Kogelberg Biosphere, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Cape Floral Kingdom. It was proclaimed in 1988 as South Africa’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS
Environmental stewardship is paramount in Elgin, with sustainable viticulture practices endorsed by five WWF Conservation Champions and aligning with Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) principles.

DIVERSE TERROIR
Within the valley, there is a seemingly endless series of undulating hills which offer a range of microclimates, so deciding where to establish a vineyard and what to grow is a complex choice. Our soils are made up of Table Mountain sandstone and Bokkeveld shale, a thick pile of sedimentary rock deposited between 375 and 500 million years ago. Our soils are very old and mineral-rich, but nutrient-poor. This contributes to low vigour in the vineyards but produces wines with great complexity.

SUSTAINABILITY EMPHASIS
Wineries in Elgin prioritize eco-friendly practices like regenerative farming, biodiversity conservation, water preservation and sound employment practices.