Decoding South African Wine Labels 3 Sections5 Lessons1 Quiz1 Hour
The Wine of Origin System
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South Africa’s Wine of Origin (WO) scheme was introduced in 1973. If a label names a place of origin, all of the grapes must come from that place.
Geographical unit
The biggest areas, such as the Western Cape.
Region
For example the Coastal Region or the Cape South Coast.
District
Well-known names like Stellenbosch, Paarl, Swartland or Elgin.
Ward
The smallest, most specific areas, such as Simonsberg-Stellenbosch or Polkadraai Hills.
💡 Pro tip
The smaller the area named on the label, the more specific the wine’s sense of place usually is.
🇿🇦 Cape spotlight
Wines labelled simply WO Western Cape can blend grapes from many districts. That’s common for good-value everyday wines.
🧠 Quick check: tap to reveal
🤔 When did the Wine of Origin scheme start?
In 1973.
🤔 Which is smaller: a district or a ward?
A ward.
Next up: The seal on the neck: certification explained