A good wine starts in the vineyards. Hazendal soils a mix of loam and sand soils create an optimal base for the vines and grapes to grow into a mature fruit. Hazendal soils are warm, permeable and rich in minerals and organic ingredients and are managed using strictly natural processes.

Hazendal's trellised Sauvignon Blanc vines, the Merlot and the Pinot Noir vines are all North East facing, thus receiving the early morning sun. Loam is great in storing water. The soil is called "Swartland", which can be literally translated to Black Soil.

The Cabernet Sauvignon is planted on soil by the name of "Oakleaf". This type of soil is also sandy and loamy with stones on its surface which provide an excellent way to store water. The vines are North facing, have a relatively flat slope and allow the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to benefit from plenty of midday sun. The big leaves of the Cabernet grape provide the necessary protection.

The young Shiraz is planted on a soiltype called "Estcourt", which is a soil with a very dense loam structure on the surface and a coarse sandy structure on the bottom. The vineyards are orientated towards the East. The Shiraz is a strong grape variety and does not need as much care and attention as other grape varieties.

The Sauvignon Blanc (bush vine) is planted on the "Klapmuts" soils, a combination of loamy and sandy soil. Klapmuts is considered to be a good storer of water. It faces North West.

Chenin Blanc (bush vine) is built on a soil type named "Cartref", a soil with a thin sandlayer on the upper layers and coarse stones on its bottom layers. This soil constellation is also excellent for keeping water as a reserve for the vines in the peak months of summer. The slope is North West facing.

An ideal terroir, meticulous care for the vineyards, and South Africa's treasures of all-year-round sun coupled with the cool breezes of the Atlantic are some of the prime ingredients of Hazendal's beautiful and elegant wines.

Find out more about the Hazendal wines.