Citrusdal Wines

Citrusdal* is a sleepy country town nestled in a sun-kissed valley with the Cederberg Mountains to the east and the Olifants* River Mountains to the west. The river that gives the valley its name is a rich source of life to the surrounding areas. The fertile alluvial soils on its banks produce the crops for which the valley is famous: vineyards, citrus orchards, olive groves, rooibos tea plantations and pungent patches of medicinal buchu.

During the cold winter months of May to July, the valley is rich with the perfume of orange blossom and freshly picked oranges, while the sweet smell of fermenting grape juice fills the air during the sweltering months of January and February.

“Not only was this valley home to herds of elephants more than 300 years ago, history says that San and Khoisan families set up temporary homes here too.”

The small Afrikaans-speaking community has deep roots in the area and its members have adapted to the seasonal rhythms of farming life. Their valley, with its amphitheatre of rugged mountains flanked by lush vines and evergreen citrus orchards, is nature at its very best.

*Citrusdal means citrus valley. *Olifants is an Afrikaans word for elephants.

Charles Back (well-known internationally in the wine industry as a farm owner and wine producer of premium wines) and Mike Paul (a British wine marketer who is deeply attached to South Africa) entered into a collaborative partnership in 2007 with several local Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade farmers to form Citrusdal Wines.

Jaco Brand, an accomplished winemaker and friend of the community, has a deep understanding of the local climate and expert knowledge of cellaring and blending. The red apples, dried peaches, apricots, strawberries, vanilla, spices, soft oak, wood and white pepper.