The Dutch East India Company established of a trading station at the Cape in 1652 and the first vineyard was planted 3 years later. The Dutch had no real wine tradition and it was only after the French Huguenots settled at the Cape from 1680 onwards that the wine industry began to flourish. It was only during the first half of the 19th century that prosperity came to the industry. The British occupation of the Cape created a large new market for Cape wines but this did not last and was ultimately destroyed by the Boer War. During the 20th century, wine production has again increased and improved making South Africa one of the world’s largest wine exporters.

Wines include Bukettraube, Cape Reisling, Chenel, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Muscadel, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Shiraz, Pinotage and Pinot Noir. Some of the oldest grape varieties (cultivars) date back to ancient times and were developed from wild vines. The original wild vine belongs to the genus Vitis.
Most of South Africa’s vineyards are still in the Western Cape, but other regions are Constantia, darling Durbanville, Elim, Little Karoo, Olifants River, Northern Cape, Overberg, Paarl, Piketberg, Robertson, Stellenbosch, Swartland, Tulbagh and Worcester. The latter region is the largest.

South Africa wine producers include Altydgedacht, Bouchard Finlayson, Boschendal, Glen Carlou, Groote post, Haute Cabriere, Jordan, Kaapzicht, Kanonkop, Klein Constantia, Meelust, Mischa, Morganhof, Mulderbosch, Neil Ellis, Paul Cilver, Rupert & Rothschild, Rustenberg, Steenberg, Veenwouden, Vergelegen, Warwick and Zevenwacht.