Citrusdal Mountain is a district in the west of Olifants River Valley, 100 miles (160km) north of Cape Town, South Africa. It is part of the Western Cape region. The official Citrusdal Mountain winegrowing area overlaps parts of the neighboring Citrusdal Valley. The mountain's varied terroir is particularly suited to the key Rhône varieties such as Syrah and Grenache, but also supports cooler-climate white-wine varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc that are marked by intense minerality.
Sitting between 1600ft and 2200ft (500m and 700m) above sea level, the vineyards in Citrusdal Mountain are among South Africa’s highest. This elevation means hot, dry days are followed by significantly colder nights, giving the berries time to cool down overnight. The diurnal temperature variation leads to complex aromas in the wines without sacrificing acidity.
Sandstone and shale make up the soil profile of Citrusdal Mountain. The excellent drainage afforded by these soil types means that the roots are forced to dig deeper for water and nutrients, which in turn leads to healthier plants and wines that demonstrate certain mineral characteristics from the soils.
Given the region’s strong affinity for Rhône varieties, and in particular Grenache, bush vines are not uncommon in Citrusdal Mountain. This is especially true in the ward of Piekenierskloof, an unusual vineyard area with some of the Western Cape's oldest vines, some of which were planted in the 1950s. Piekenierskloof's vineyards provide the Grenache component for one of South Africa’s most famous wines, Boekenhoutskloof’s "The Chocolate Block".
