Swartland's Wine Country

The swartland—literally “black land,” named for the color of its tangled undergrowth—extends north along South Africa’s Atlantic coast from the outskirts of Cape Town. A beautiful region of mountains, gabled Cape Dutch architecture, and farmland, it’s recently been drawing daytripping Cape Towners with a cluster of emerging vineyards. After years of selling grapes—Shiraz, Cabernet, and some of the country’s best Chenin Blanc—to top producers in Stellenbosch and Paarl, Swartland growers are finally making their own wines.
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