South Africa s vineyards are mostly situated in the Western Cape near the coast, but wine is also produced in the drier northern and eastern regions, namely Little Karoo, the Olifants River Valley and the lower Orange River. There are considerable differences in climate between these regions, which determine the viticultural practices and wine styles of each region. The traditional viticultural regions of the Cape Peninsula and surrounding regions have a mainly Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and good winter rainfall, making irrigation unnecessary. From here, in a north-easterly direction towards the Little Karoo, the climate becomes progressively drier and warmer, with larger differences between summer and winter temperatures.
Rain sometimes falls in summer months.
There are five wine cellars in the ward and these continue the tradition of producing excellent wine. The vineyards cling to the slopes of Constantiaberg an extension of Table Mountain with the city of Cape Town spread out below. The vines benefit from shade cast by the mountain in the afternoon and from the cool sea breezes blowing in from the False Bay only 8 kilometres away. Rainfall is high and no irrigation is needed. Despite this, four estates continue to make a wide variety of wine styles although the emphasis is on red.