Voor-Paardeberg

Voor-Paardeberg experiences the warmest climate of the three wards; however, cooling influences from nearby mountain ranges and southerly winds are critical in tempering its intensity. Each afternoon, cool ocean air pumps in between Paarl Mountain and Paarderberg Mountain, driving down temperatures during the late afternoon heat. This also contributes to major shifts between day and night temps, which is critical to acidity retention in this hot area.

This area abuts southern Swartland, and has had quite a bit of influence from the likes of Adi Badenhorst and Eben Sadie. While this small region has not gained cult status like Swartland, the quality potential is there, and major notoriety may just be in the cards soon. The soils in Voor-Paardeberg are predominantly granite-based, providing good water retention and contributing to the wines’ structure and intensity. Because of this, Rhône varietals (red and white) do best here often with fleshy fruit and mineral cores.