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 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
* Extracted from the publication "Estate Wines of South Africa" by Graham Knox (1982)
Published by David Philip
