Terroir
The terroir at Oak Valley is eminently suited to the production of distinctive cool
climate wines. A feature of the terrain is a sequence of rolling hills set in undulating
countryside.
As a result, a wide diversity of slopes is available for vineyard establishment;
the highest vineyard is situated at 600 metres above sea level on a south facing
slope at the toe of the Groenberg mountains.
The soils are Table Mountain Sandstone (TMS) and are made up of medium
textured gravel with a structured clay layer set on weathered Bokkeveld shale.
The lower mountain slopes have been targeted for future vineyard development
as these offer the coolest sites, with the added advantage of a southern sloping
topography.
In summer, when the traditional wine growing regions suffer from excessive heat,
the prevailing South Easterly winds bring a cloud mantle across the Elgin valley,
creating markedly lower daytime temperatures.
The average temperature between October-April is 17.7ºC, and Elgin is classified
as Region II on the Winkler scale.
| Weather Station * |
Days |
Jan |
Feb |
March |
Winkler Classification |
| Reims (France) |
1011 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Region I |
| Bordeaux (France) |
1328 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Region I |
| Elgin (SA) |
1486 |
19.3 |
19.55 |
18.55 |
Region II |
| Napa (California) |
1600 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Region II |
| Walker Bay (SA) |
1609 |
19.6 |
19.95 |
18.9 |
Region II |
| Constantia (SA) |
1720 |
20 |
20.6 |
19.75 |
Region III |
| Stellenbosch (SA) |
1898 |
21.45 |
22.15 |
20.7 |
Region III |
| Durbanville (SA) |
1906 |
21.4 |
22.4 |
20.85 |
Region III |
| Franschhoek (SA) |
2014 |
21.75 |
22.4 |
21.1 |
Region IV |
| Robertson (SA) |
2164 |
23.1 |
22.9 |
21.5 |
Region IV |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
* Knox, Graham Estate Wines of South Africa 2nd Edition, Cape Town David Philip
The Oak Valley soil are developed from ancient Bokkeveld shale (350 - 40Ma) that underwent intensive weathering and are therefore acid. The soils are predominantly comprised of reddish-brown, iron-rich gravelly material, underlaid by structured clay, with soft weathered porous shale still deeper down.
The physical properties of these soils contain growth limiting upper layers over a water storing subsoil that marries perfectly with the climate and high rainfall of around 1000mm per annum. This allows for moderate growth in the early season combined with some protection against heat and ground shocks during ripening.
