Kanonkop Wine Estate

Kanonkop Estate is situated on the lower slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain in the Stellenbosch Region of the Cape.

It is between Stellenbosch and Paarl on the R44 and falls in a ward called Simonsberg, more commonly known as the “red wine bowl” of South Africa. It has earned a reputation both at home and abroad as an area producing the best wines in the country.

The Estate is situated on 125 hectares, of which 100 hectares are planted to vine.

Besides the solid foundation on which the estate’s winemaking principles are based, it is also blessed with ideal soils, cool sea breezes and long summer days, creating the perfect climate for growing grapes.

Soils

The soils are predominantly red decomposed granite and Hutton, with a high clay content, both of which have a very good water retention capacity.

A small portion of about seven percent of the total area under vine is planted on Pinedene type soils, which become very wet in winter, but dry out in summer, necessitating supplementary irrigation.

Climate and rainfall

The Estate has an ideal micro-climate for red wine production, with cooling breezes from the False Bay coast in the late afternoons during summer, significantly moderating warm inland temperatures. Being a Mediterranean climate, the majority of the 605 mm of rainfall is in winter.