Wineries:
Elgin is a district that belongs to the Overberg district, including the Walker Bay and Bot River districts.
Newer wine regions have settled in the southern Overberg district. The elevated Elgin district, nestled in the sandstone mountains of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, was originally an apple-growing area. Today, fruit-driven wines are produced here, with Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz particularly excelling in this cool area with a late ripening period. The annual rainfall is approx. 530mm per square meter.
On the other side of the mountains is Bot River, with an increasing number of hectares and some new wineries joining the few, but well-established, wineries.
The Walker Bay district, which surrounds the coastal town of Hermanus, is known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, which come from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. This area is praised for the outstanding and consistent quality of its Pinotage. Beautiful examples of Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Shiraz are also grown here. The cool climate is the coveted characteristic of this area, where the vineyards benefit from the prevailing cool winds of the nearby ocean. The soils, mainly weathered slate, and the terroir are also perfect for grape varieties that love cool conditions.
In this area, also known for one of the world's best whale-watching stations (June to November), are also the Groenlandberg and Kogelberg Reserves with their diversity of indigenous flora and fauna.
