History of wine making in Western Cape Region of South Africa

Wine making in Western Cape region of South Africa originated back in 1659 when the founder of Cape Town Jan van Riebeeck produced the first wine. He was asked to plant grape yards and manage a supply station for sailors travelling along the Western Cape by the Dutch East India Company which had arrived at the Cape in the course of its explorations. In a few years the wine Constantia was produced and by 1778 it went on to develop into a famous blend of four ingredients the Muscat de Frontignan, Pontac, red and white Muscadel and a little Chenin Blanc.

Some landmark developments in the history of wine making in the Western Cape region are listed here.

From 1659 to 1972

What began in 1659 as a small supply station transformed into a successful venture very soon. The estate changed hands and eventually in 1778 Hendrik Cloete evolved the Constantia wine which is famous even today. In 1918 the wine makers formed a Cooperative, the Koöperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging, abbreviated to KWV, which aimed at taking care of the farmer’s interests. During the period of Apartheid the KWV took over the market completely. In 1930 after the Second World War all restrictions regarding colored labor were lifted.

By 1990 gradually all regulatory functions of the KWV were handed over to the South African Wine industry Trust. Another Cooperative called the Wijngaard Co-operative was formed by the wine makers to take care of their interests. Today South African wine makers are spread over the Western Cape and the Northern Cape.

Wine of origin

In early 17^th century Western Cape area established itself as a wine growing area. The wine from this area was very famous and unique but there was no governing body to protect the producers for a long time. Then in 1972 a scheme was launched under the wine, beverages and spirits act where in, legislations were formulated to protect the producers and the consumers of wine too. The basic principles of business ethics and consumer rights are addressed under this scheme. Wine from this region was exported all over Europe hence it was essential to have a regulatory board. It was named the South Africa’s Wine of Origin Certification Scheme.

Types of wines produced in the Western Cape region

In the late 17^th century the wine makers of Western Cape concentrated more on producing chardonnay but with the advent of the French wines into the European markets they also started making Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. To utilize the surplus grapes being produced the wine makers also made brandy and fortified wines such as port, sherry, Madeira and so on.

The major setback that the Western Cape wine industry suffered was during the period of the Apartheid when all produce from South Africa was banned world over. It was in the 1990s that things started looking up finally for South Africa and the grape growers used new technology and innovation to revive their marketability. In the initial stages they used their grapes for making brandy and other beverages too along with wine but gradually now the Western Cape wine industry has once again found its place in the consumer market.