<P> KwaZulu - Natal was designated as a Geographical Unit in 2005 and is one of South Africa's most recent wine regions . The first wine estate in this region was The Stables Wine Estate, and the region's first Wine of Origin wine was released by Tiny and Judy van Niekerk in July 2006 . The Stables Wine Estate went bankrupt in 2012 . Current cultivars doing well in the growing wine region of KwaZulu - Natal are: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay . With mild summer temperatures, the region boasts South Africa's coolest vineyards . </P> <P> The Eastern Cape followed soon after through the pioneering efforts of Ronnie and Janet Vehorn . In 2009, Harrison Hope Wine Estate was registered as the first wine estate in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa . The estate made history again with its 2009 Merlot becoming the first certified estate wine ever produced in the Eastern Cape region . Situated in the Amatola Mountains, this area enjoys high temperatures in summer with little to no humidity . Unfortunately, late frost, hail, summer rainfall, and duiker make for some of the harshest conditions for wine grapes . Grapes grown in this region include: Chardonnay, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinotage, Sauvingnon Blanc and Shiraz . </P> <P> The Ruiterbosch ward, located southwest of the Klein Karoo around Mossel Bay, has a generally cool climate influenced primarily by the Indian Ocean . The area is planted largely with Riesling, Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir . The Cederberg located east of the southern reaches of the Olifants rivers includes some of the highest elevated vineyards in South Africa, planted at altitudes more than 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). </P> <P> Historically vineyards in South Africa were planted with untrellised bush vines planted 1.2 metres (3 ft 11 in) apart at a density of 7,000 vines per hectare (2,800 vines per acre). Following the phylloxera devastation, the focus of viticulture in South Africa was more on quantity rather than quality . Vineyards were planted with high yield varieties, widely spaced to facilitate the use of mechanical harvesting . In the late 20th century, more producers began to focus on quality wine production and adopted modern viticultural practices . Vines were planted to an average density of 3,300 per hectare (1,300 per acre) and pruned to keep yields down to 49--56 hl / ha (2.8--3.2 tons / acre). The most common form of trellising found in South Africa is the vertical hedge row system that uses a split cordon supported on a wire kept around 750 millimetres (2.46 ft) off the ground . The grapevine leaves are trained upright on separate wires that allow plenty of sunshine to reach the grapes, but provide enough coverage to keep them from being sunburned . The vines are usually pruned to allow four to five spurs each with two to three buds (potential grape clusters) per cordon . Heat is also a concern come harvest time with some wineries harvesting only at night in the cooler temperatures under floodlights . </P>

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