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Stellenbosch Cabernet Collective
When the South African wine industry began encouraging the planting of Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1920s, it was the Cape wine region of Stellenbosch that immediately proved itself an ideal home to this cultivar. Ancient soils of decomposed granite, mountain shale and clay offer ideal growing matter for the vines. A variety of aspects, ranging from the high slopes of the Helderberg and Simonsberg to the lower reaches of Stellenbosch Valley dissected by the Eerste River, ensure exposure to cooling breezes and diurnal temperature variation, the result of Stellenbosch being exposed to the Atlantic Ocean lying to the West and South of this region.
More About Terroir
The ideal terroir, expressive, visceral, and unique, was complemented by the skill of the Stellenbosch community of wine farmers whose viticulture and winemaking continue to craft world-class wines from the grape that is Cabernet Sauvignon.
Stellenbosch Cabernet Collective
Until the 1970s, Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon was predominantly used to make wines for brands belonging to the Cape’s large corporate wineries. With the advent of the Wine of Origin Legislation and the formation the Cape Estate Producers Association, the fame of Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon shot to the fore. Now individual wine estates began bottling Cabernet Sauvignon wines under their own labels, wines made from grapes on these farms expressing unique and singular characters of what is possible from this magnificent red grape cultivar.
The combination of excellent wines from one cultivar showcasing diverse terroir offered under formidable brands made by strong wine personalities and bearing the collective Wine of Origin Stellenbosch moniker, has over the past three decades captured the imagination of the wine world. Here Stellenbosch has become one of the few South African wine regions to command attention and become recognizable and talked-about on the global scene of fine wine.
Stories, personalities and geographical signatures
The Stellenbosch Cabernet Collective, thus, harnesses a myriad stories, personalities and geographical signatures under one banner. Representing some of the finest names in the world of wine who owe their status to their respective offering of Cabernet Sauvignon, this organization collectively underscores the reputation and image of Stellenbosch as one of the leading premier regional names in the world of wine. Stellenbosch is honoured to be able to offer diverse wines of premier quality made from Cabernet Sauvignon, the most famous red wine grape in the world. And likewise, we believe that the historical and global reputation of the magnificent Cabernet Sauvignon grape welcomes the degree of individual excellence Stellenbosch brings to its legacy.
“Stellenbosch is unique, it is beautiful, and it is a home for Cabernet Sauvignon.”
Christo le Riche, Chairman of the SCC