<P> As of 2003, South Africa was 17th in terms of area planted with vines, with the country owning 1.5% of the world's grape vineyards with 110,000 hectares (270,000 acres). Yearly production among South Africa's wine regions is usually around 10 million hL (264 million US gallons) which regularly puts the country among the top ten wine producing countries in the world . The majority of wine production in South Africa takes place in the Cape, particularly the south - west corner near the coastal region . The historical heart of South African wine has been the area near the Cape Peninsula and modern - day Cape Town . This area is still of prominence in the industry being home to the major wine regions of Constantia, Stellenbosch and Paarl . Today, wine is grown throughout the Western Cape and in parts of the Northern Cape, KwaZulu - Natal and Eastern Cape regions . The river regions along the Breede Valley, Olifants and Orange Rivers are among the warmest areas and are often the location of bulk wine production and distillation . The cooler climate regions east of Cape Town along the Indian Ocean coast, such as Walker Bay and Elgin, have seen vast expansion and development in recent years as producers experiment with cool climate varietals and wine styles . </P> <P> Below are some notable Wine of Origins districts . </P> <P> The Constantia Valley is located south of Cape Town on the Cape Peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean . Because of its location, the region receives oceanic influences on each side that create a cooling effect contributing to a long, slow ripening period in the summer where average daily temperatures fall between 18--19 ° C (64--66 ° F). Winters are often moderate and mild but wet with annual precipitation usually over 1,000 millimetres (39.37 in). The soil of the region is composed primarily of Table Mountain sandstone with high concentrations of loam and granite . The area grows a wide range of grapes with Sauvignon blanc being particularly noted . The area is now home to 11 wine farms (Andrews, 2017). It is the oldest wine - growing region in the country, with the farm Groot Constantia being the oldest wine estate . </P> <P> The Stellenbosch district is the second oldest wine region in South Africa, after Constantia, and is responsible for around 14% of the country's annual wine production . First planted in 1679, Stellenbosch is located 45 kilometres (28 mi) east of Cape Town . The region is surrounded by the Helderberg, Simonsberg and Stellenbosch Mountains and receives some climatic influences from nearby False Bay . The bay tempers the climate and keeps average temperatures during the summer growing season to around 20 ° C (68 ° F), just slightly warmer than Bordeaux . Vineyard soil types range from decomposed granite on the hillside near the mountains to sandy, alluvial loam in the valleys near the rivers . </P>

This winelands area is known as the birthplace of south africa’s wine industry