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Wine ... the commonly understood term used to describe the final product of the process of fermenting the juice
of fresh grapes.
Nowhere is this process better portrayed than in the Northern Cape, the largest of South Africa's provinces comprising
an area of 361 000 sq km. It is here, in the least populated part of the country, where thousands of hectares of
vineyards decorate the countryside in immediate proximity to the Orange River for hundreds of kilometres. The Northern
Cape is also home to Orange River Wine Cellars which was established in 1963.
The sundrenched, undulating landscape, renowned for its cerulean skies and the mesmerising beauty of the red Kalahari
sands, hides in its heart a living oasis of unrivalled beauty - the Orange River or Great Gariep as it was historically
called.
The Great River, unbowed and untamed after hundreds of years of change, runs through endless horizons, painting
its banks in a kaleidoscope of green colours.
The Orange River provides an artery of life to plant and beast, and to the tapestry of cultures interwoven in the
history of this land. Tradition has it that the original Khoikhoi people, habitating the shores of the river, were
told ancient stories by listening to the whispers from the streams of the Gariep.
In the land of contrasts flows the Orange River, which is the life source
of this arid landscape. Together with the red Kalahari desert soil and thundering roar of the Augrabies Falls,
the huge variety of succulents give the barren area its natural beauty.
Centuries ago Barthlomias Dias spent five days at the mouth of the St Antonio river. In 1779 this river was renamed
after the Prince of Orange. But in popular parlance it was known as the Great River.
In 1883 a missionary named Schröder began to build the Upington canal to assure the livelihood of his community.
In those days the water wheel was driven by the canal water and used to irrigate higher lying grounds. In 1966
the Orange River Scheme was put into operation and to this day this irrigation canal is the nutritive source of
a flourishing wine region.
The five wineries comprising Orange River Wine Cellars are situated in the northern parts of the Northern Cape
Province of South Africa.
This region is also known as the Kalahari, a countryside which is renowned for its breathtaking sunsets, open spaces,
and unequalled starscape nights.
The vineyards are all located in close proximity to the Orange (Gariep) River, and stretch over a distance of more
than 350 kilometres, from Groblershoop Wine Cellars in the north-east to Grootdrink, Upington, Keimoes and, finally
to Kakamas in the west.
The average rainfall of this fascinating region varies between 120 and 160 mm per annum, and is restricted to spring
and summer, which extend from September to April. The average temperatures vary between extremes, from 3°C
and even below that at night time, to 18-21°C for the days during the winter period.
In summer time the average night temperatures vary between 18-22°C, wilst the average day temperature is about
37°C.
Cellar Tours at
Groblershoop
Monday - Friday: 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 15:00
Sales and Wine Tasting at Groblershoop and Grootdrink
Monday - Friday: Sales 08:00 - 17:00
Monday - Friday: Tasting 08:00 - 16:30
Saturday: Sales 08:30 - 12:00
Saturday: Tasting 09:00 - 11:30
Contact our cellars at the numbers below:
Groblershoop: +27(0)54 833 0108
Grootdrink: +27(0)54 741 0001
Upington: +27(0)54 337 8800
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