Chapter 15 · 16 min read · 4 sections

South Africa: Where Two Oceans Shape the Vine

Burgundy ink illustration of a Cape vineyard beneath Table Mountain — vine rows running towards the sea, with the Benguela Current sweeping up the coast, the Cape Doctor wind blowing from the mountains, a bottle and glass of South African wine and a “Two Oceans” signpost in the foreground

The Idea

South Africa sits at a warm latitude, yet produces some of the world’s freshest and most vibrant wines. The key lies in the powerful cooling influences of the Atlantic Ocean and the remarkable diversity of the Western Cape, where ocean currents, mountain ranges and elevation combine to moderate an otherwise hot Mediterranean climate.

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