Riebeekberg is a wine-producing area that sits beneath Kasteelberg Mountain in the Swartland district of South Africa’s Western Cape. Encompassing the picturesque twin towns of Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West, the region is famous both for olives and big, robust, red wines, particularly those made from the Shiraz grape.
Riebeekberg has a long history of viticulture, rivaling only that of the more famous ward of Constantia in the south. The neighboring towns of Riebeek were established in the 1660s, and French Huguenots who arrived in the area began to plant vineyards. A lot of the wineries that were started during this era are still active today.
The vineyards of Riebeekberg sit along the eastern slopes of the Kasteelberg Mountain. The area is hot and dry in the summer, with cooling westerly breezes from the Atlantic Ocean helping to moderate the heat of the day. The estates also benefit from the shade of the mountain in the late afternoon. Cold winters give the vines a chance to rest and replenish their resources, while moderate rainfall tops up the water table. This means that despite the heat of the summer, little irrigation is needed over the growing season.
The Malmesbury shale that is found on the slopes of the Kasteelberg Mountain has a unique vertical layering structure caused by tectonic shifts. Water drains away almost instantly, causing vines to dig deeper for liquid nourishment. As well as strengthening them, this results in lower yields and a higher concentration of flavor in the wine.
Riebeekberg’s hot, dry terroir is perfectly suited to the production of heavy, dense red wines made from Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The white grapes Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay also do well, yielding rich, complex wines.
