The Vineyards:
33° 39' 17.43'' S / 19° 13' 53.58'' E / 226m - 240m above sea level

To familiarize you with our terroir.
It's a land we love, and even more importantly, it's a landscape we intimately understand. We have learnt which combination of cultivars, soil types and areas on the farm lends our wines the complexity and personality (styles) for which they're celebrated - Kobus Deetlefs

The different nutrients from the soils, surrounding environment, from latitude to hours of sunshine, soil temperatures, shelter, the presence of water, contours of the land, the management of the vineyards and a multitude of other geo-physical and man-engineered elements impact on the wine in the glass.

The Deetlefs vineyards are established in the Western Cape at the foot of the Du Toitskloof Mountain range. It is these magnificent mountains that provide the early shadow formations and long cooling period at night. The vineyards benefit from the unique terroir on the banks of the Smalblaar River that forms the one border. Ideal conditions for enhancing the delicate and complex flavours in the grapes.

The farm consists of 100Ha under vines (40% red and 60% white)

• Red: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot
• White: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc

The Breedekloof region has various micro-climate zones.

• Rainfall varies from 150mm to 2000mm per year in a 20km radius.
  The special "pocket" where Deetlefs Estate is situated contributes to our specific wine styles.
• Heat units are significantly lower than in some coastal regions ( ±14% - 17%), which ensures slower ripening with more complexity.
• Humidity is also ±15% lower, which assists our environmental friendly approach
• Significantly lower winter temperatures contribute to even budburst;

This unique micro-climate is optimized by environmentally friendly farming practices that ensure the production of healthy grapes.
Although not required by legislation, we use an independent laboratory to certify that our grapes have no traces of chemicals.

Soil Types:
Similar to the Left and Right bank in Bordeaux, the Estate has a variety of soil compositions. It varies from well-drained, stone-rich alluvial soils to sand loam and combinations thereof. This diversity of terroir imbues the grapes with different flavours, which explains the different styles and complexity of our wines.

To preserve these flavours and develop the variations in style, we insist on harvesting by hand in the early morning and at different stages of ripening.
The ripening phase for different parts of the same vineyard block is carefully monitored and selected with a specific style in mind.



The Cellar

The key is to focus on basic principles and create the best possible conditions for specially selected grapes, to ensure you optimize natures gift! Winemaking is like building a 5000 piece puzzle; if one small piece is missing it is going to bother you… - Kobus Deetlefs

Our cellar has a capacity of 1.8 million liters and combines the latest in modern technology with the well-worn traditions passed down through the generations.
This allows each variety to be vinified in its optimum condition, bringing out its individual characters unique to the Deetlefs terroir.

The viticulturist and winemaker operate as a team to ensure that grapes are selected at an optimum stage for the specific styles of Deetlefs Familie, Deetlefs Estate and Stonecross.
These styles are according to our individuality, specific ranges and customer needs.

The priceless advantage of intimate knowledge and experience built up over many generations creates clear guidelines for the different styles that guarantee the “storyline” and customer satisfaction.

Grapes are processed, blended and bottled under the watchful eyes of an experienced and qualified winemaking team.
Winemaking takes place against the backdrop of an environmental friendly approach, health consciousness and a strict Quality Management Program (BRC).