Short description
The photographs of landscapes, vineyards, wine cellars and winemakers, and the text of this title, provides a broad overview of winemaking in South Africa.
Long description
The provisions of nature introduces the topography, climate and soils of the various wine regions of the Western Cape, revealing the area's great natural endowment for growing grapes and making fine wines;
Three centuries of Cape Wines describes the history of winemaking in South Africa, from the earliest planting of vines in the seventeenth century to the major developments since the country's emergence from political and economic isolation in the 1990s. Cape Dutch architecture, South Africa's unique contribution to world architecture, is also highlighted in this chapter; Fruits of the earth and sky examines the evolving preferences for different varieties and wine styles; the grape varieties most commonly planted in South Africa; the typical seasonal activities on Cape wine farms between harvests; and recent developments aimed at the Empowerment of labourers on wine farms; the Cape at Harvest Time describes the critical operation of harvesting the grapes and extracting the juice.