Areas within South Africa where wine is manufactured
The wine regions of South Africa were defined under the "Wine of Origin" (Wyn van Oorsprong) act of 1973. Mirroring the FrenchAppellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) system, all South African wines listing a "Wine of Origin" must be composed entirely of grapes from its region.[1] The "Wine of Origins" (WO) program mandates how wine regions of South Africa are defined and can appear on wine labels. While some aspects of the WO are taken from the AOC, the WO is primarily concerned with accuracy in labeling. As a result, the WO does not place adjunct regulations on wine regions such as delineating permitted varieties, trellising methods, irrigation techniques, and crop yields.
The WO system divides growing regions into four categories. The largest and most generic are Geographical Units (such as the Western Cape region) which subsume the smaller, but still broad spanning Regions (such as Cape South Coast). Under these are clustered districts (like Walker Bay) and within them are wards (such as Elgin). Although these are geographic units, regions and districts are largely traced by political boundaries (wards are the segment most defined by unique, Terroir characteristics).[2]
Summary table
Geographical units
Western Cape - A large multi-regional designation covering every appellation except those in the Northern Cape.
KwaZulu-Natal - The whole Province was designated as a Geographical Unit in August 2005.
Breedekloof district of the Breede River Valley - Goudini and Slanghoek
Robertson district of the Breede River Valley - Agterkliphoogte, Bonnievale, Boesmansrivier, Eilandia, Hoopsrivier, Klaasvoogds, Le Chasseur, McGregor and Vinkrivier
Worcester district of the Breede River Valley - Aan-de-Doorns, Hex River Valley, Nuy and Scherpenheuvel
Cape Agulhas district of the Cape South Coast - Elim
Swellendam district of the Cape South Coast - Buffeljags, Malgas and Stormsvlei
Walker Bay district of the Cape South Coast - Bot River, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Sunday's Glen, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Other wards from the Cape South Coast - Herbertsdale and Stilbaai East
Darling district of the Coastal Region - Groenekloof
Paarl district of the Coastal Region - Simonsberg-Paarl, Voor Paardeberg, and Wellington
Stellenbosch district of the Coastal Region - Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch