Vineyards & Viticulture

The vineyards are farmed as naturally as possible, micromanaged to nurture each vine to its full potential.

– Winemaker

The vineyards at Benguela Cove are unique. Dedicated to the craft of allowing each wine to tell its own story, only estate-grown grapes are used to encapsulate this quintessential cool-climate. Basked in sunshine yet cooled by maritime winds, our wine farm in the Hemel en Aarde region proudly boasts some of the most sought-after terroirs in the Western Cape.

The Story of our Vineyards

The story of our vineyards is told from the roots up. Our vines are thoroughly adjusted to the marginal conditions close to the sea. Varietals are anchored in diverse soil types and on different elevations. As a result the terroir creates various microclimates to harbor different varieties. Exposed to the wrath of the stormy Cape, the wind is also our friend, keeping the vines healthy and cool. The estate is planted with a variety of red and white wine cultivars, as well as various clones thereof to create a diverse winemaking canvas.

Terroir

Location: Our 2.7km stretch of ocean facing vineyards grow from a mere 3m above sea level. Where Walker Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, between Cape Town and Hermanus, on Cape Coast of South Africa.

Vines: Planted between 2003 and 2007, with Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Semillon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot

Soil: Chalk | Sandstone | Iron Rich Cobblestone | Quartz | Cape Granit | Bokkeveld Shale

Sustainable Vineyards & Wine Tourism

Benguela Cove Champions Sustainability and Conservation

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate is a leading South African ecotourism wine destination, located in the UNESCO designated Kogelberg Biosphere. World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) has awarded the estate the top award for excellence. It is for exceptional commitment to the collective conservation of threatened habitat in South Africa’s Succulent Karoo and the Cape Floral Kingdom as well as for outstanding dedication to environmentally responsible farming practices.

Benguela Cove is committed to the standards recommended by Wines of South Africa (WoSA) and its Sustainable Wine South Africa (SWSA) programme.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO:

  • farm sustainably
  • be a custodian of the land and preserve it for our future generations
  • nurture a culture of respect among the people who work with us on our farms and in our cellars
  • promote an environment of dignity, equality and upliftment for all
  • protect the unique and valuable biodiversity of our winelands
  • safeguard the rich heritage of South Africa’s winelands
#HANNUWA

We do everything here with a sense of #hannuwa;the gathering of good fortune through living in sustainable harmony with our natural environment.

The /Xam San, known in colonial times as the Bushmen, were the painters of the rock art we find in the Cape Fold mountains. They were the original environmentalists, regulating their behaviour in harmony with plant and animal cycles, astral movements and climatic phenomena. They saw land as a source of life, a gift to mankind that nourishes, supports and teaches.

Today in South Africa, our wine industry is in a unique position to benefit from this rich heritage, to regain that understanding of our environment, and to relearn this sense of belonging to a natural place. The /Xam San had a word for this, which neatly embodies the new philosophy of the South African wine industry. The word is #hannuwa.

How you can contribute to WWF and sustainable living? Simply enjoy great food, wine and experiences with local conservation champions like Benguela Cove.

Our UK Vineyards

Our UK Vineyards have equally interesting and unique stories.

UK’s First Golf & Wine Estate

To bring the much-celebrated South African wine farm experience to the UK, the Streeter family purchased Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate in West Sussex and planted 37 acres of vineyards for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier sparkling varietals. Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate will produce its first vintage of Estate English Sparkling wine in 2023.  

The UK’s First Pinotage Vineyard

The next acquisition was Grade I Listed Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens in 2018, just three miles away from Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate, where with estate manager Adam Streeter has created the first commercial Pinotage vineyard in the UK – a new wine tourism destination, with an exciting programme of annual events.   

Our wines are available both at the cellar doors and online shops. We deliver nationwide. Find a supplier near you.  

 

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