Warm Mediterranean climate (latitude 33-35 as California) but > various growing regions influenced by Western Cape's many mountain ranges, slopes, aspects cooling influence by proximity to the ocean Pinot noir in coolest sites, Syrah/Tinta Barocca in hotter sites main cooling influence: north-flowing Benguela current from the South Pole mingling with the warmer Mozambique current from the Indian Ocean > lowering water temperatures between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas > large difference land-ocean temperatures > beneficial coastal fog and cooling breezes