Swellendam, in the Breede River Valley, is a small wine-producing district in the Western Cape province of South Africa. At its center is the historic town of Swellendam, dating back to 1743 and located 136 miles (218km) from Cape Town. The overall climate of the area can be classified as Mediterranean, with long summer days and mild winters, although the Langeberg mountain range has an effect on vineyard growing conditions.
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are the main white varieties grown here, while Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are the prominent reds.
The two wine-producing wards within the Swellendam Wine of Origin (WO) district are Buffeljags and Stormsvlei.
