Swartland, a wine-producing region about 40 miles north of Cape Town in the Western Cape is the winemaker’s winemaker region. The winemakers specialize in dry farming, often from old bush vines. These hardy, drought-resistant bush vines work really well in the hottest, driest parts of the region.
Swartland, was once famous for its vast swaths of renosterbos, or rhinoceros bush. After rain, the plant’s leaves look black, making the land look black, hence the name Swartland, which is based on the Afrikaans, het zwarte land, or “the black land.” Today Swartland is more known for the wine than the fynbos and renosterbos. It is South Africa’s most exciting wine region.
