Wine from Elim

Elim translates to, “Place of God,” and is a wine ward located in the Cape Agulhas region, and is the southernmost on the Western Cape. Elim is at the meeting point of the warmer Indian Ocean, and the cold Atlantic Ocean. Wine connoisseurs claim that it is the climate that makes the wine so good in Elim. Elim is located 20 kilometers from Agulhas.

German Moravian missionaries planted the first vines in 1842, as they needed wine for communion. The cool breezes from the south-west and southeast meet on the vineyards helping to prolong the growing season. Because of the gradual ripening process, the grapes are given plenty of fruity characters. Planting in the region ended over one hundred years ago, but resumed in 1997.

Elim has a variety of soils that include weathered shale, and laterite and sandstone that help contribute to the intensity and quality of the wines. The terroir in Elim is best suited for Sauvignon Blanc; however, the late and long ripening season is excellent for red grapes like Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. There are several fresh water springs in Elim that leads to speculation of a huge underground lake underneath the coastal shelf.