Worcester is South Africa's largest wine district by area and volume. It is very dry, and the Breede River supplies most irrigation schemes. Chenin Blanc, Colombar, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are widely planted, alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinotage and Shiraz. Conditions change within the district. At cooler, high-altitude Stettyn, Sauvignon Blanc ripens slowly. Nuy has lime-rich clay associated with Chardonnay and Colombar. Scherpenheuvel is the driest ward, where grapes ripen earlier and producers make Chenin, Viognier, Shiraz and fortified Muscadel. Brandy remains part of Worcester as the district moves from wholesale and brandy-base production toward more estate-branded wines.
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Elsewhere in Breede River Valley
- Breedekloof1 producerBreedekloof's river valleys have alluvial soils over river stones, with changes in soil and local climate from one valley to the next. The area includes Goudini and Slanghoek, and local winemakers formed the Breedekloof Makers Initiative around Chenin Blanc in 2014.
- Robertson4 producersRobertson sits within Breede River Valley, where marked shifts between daytime and nighttime temperatures meet pockets of limestone. Chardonnay from those soils is described as minerally and unwooded. Calcrete is a specially selected Chardonnay category from the Bonnievale-Robertson area.