The Breede River Valley produces more wine than any other region. Located in the Western Cape region of South Africa, and surrounded on three sides by mountain ranges, stretches from Breedekloof in the west to Swellendam in the east. The Breede River Valley runs for approximately 80 miles in an east-west direction. The Langeberg Mountains on the valley’s northern border separate it from the Klein Karoo semi-desert, while the Boland Mountains separate it from Paarl and Stellenbosch in the west. The area includes the smaller districts of Worcester, Breedekloof, Robertson, and Swellendam in the Wine of Origin (WO).
The vines of Breede River Valley take advantage of the microclimates created by the altitude and aspect of the slopes, and many different grape varieties can be and are grown here.
Soil types in the Breede River Valley are varied. Surrounding the river, they are mainly alluvial, with some sandy loam in the Breedekloof area. Higher in the mountains, they are more rocky and stony. Shale and sandstone are dominant in Worcester, while Robertson’s red, gravelly soils benefit from pockets of limestone, which add a chalky minerality to the wines made there.
