Only 80 minutes’ drive from Cape Town, the Tulbagh Valley lies surrounded on three sides by mountains – in the west, the Obiqua Mountains, to the north the Winterhoek Mountains and to the east, the Witzenberg Mountain range. Cool, south-easterly winds blow in along the southern side of this beautiful valley during the summer – creating perfect conditions for viticulture.
The valley, graced with fertile soil, plenty of sunshine and good rainfall has a mild Mediterranean climate, characterised by extreme differences in temperature during the day and night and hot, dry summers. The true potential of the area is now being realised and the extremely variable soils in this secluded valley produce some award-winning wines.
The Tulbagh valley has some of the most natural beauty in the Cape and wine has become a focus of attention recently, particularly due to the string of national and international awards taken by a number of estates and private cellars. Some of South Africa’s best known wine estates, including Drostdyhof, Theuniskraal and Twee Jonge Gezellen are part of this valley’s wine route.