Calitzdorp is a small wine-producing area in the middle of the Klein Karoo semi-desert in South Africa’s Western Cape. It has a similar climate to that of the Douro Valley in Portugal and as such is associated with the production of fortified wines similar to Port. Traditional Portuguese grape varieties such as Touriga Nacional and Tinta Barroca are grown throughout the region.
Calitzdorp is bordered by the Swartberg Mountains in the north and the Rooiberg Mountains in the south. The area’s dry, hot climate is a constant challenge for grape growers. Rainfall reaches only seven inches (200mm) a year, and in the summer, daytime temperatures can reach up to 100F (40C). However, afternoon breezes from the Indian Ocean 45 miles (72km) to the south make the evenings significantly cooler. This diurnal temperature variation gives the grapes time to cool down overnight, creating complexity in the resultant wines while preserving acidity. Calitzdorp winters are fairly mild, with August winds bringing hot air from the north.
The soils surrounding Calitzdorp are deep red in color, alluvial in nature and glacial in origin. Their low quality and rapid drainage are ideal for the production of grapes for Port-style wines. Dry soils lead to low yields, in turn giving greater concentration of sugars and flavors in the berries. This suits the intense style of fortified wine perfectly.
Calitzdorp started life as farmland granted to the Calitz family in 1831. It soon became clear that the farm’s 30-mile (46-km) distance from Oudtshoorn in the east was problematic, and in the 1850s, a church and a school were established on the property. The construction of a railway line and the introduction of electricity in the 1930s cemented Calitzdorp’s place as a bustling village in the heart of the Klein Karoo region.
Port-style wines are predominant in Calitzdorp, but wineries in the area also make smaller quantities of table wines from Touriga Nacional, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
