199 / 290
BRITISH EMPIRE WINES
SOUTH AFRICA
The wine industry in South Africa, or should we say
within the borders of the Union of South Africa, is on a
very hmited scale. There is far greater activity in the
Cape Province where the industry really takes on a great
and real importance and where the scale is of sufficient
importance to justify a growing export demand.
The most famous" South African \dneyards are those
nearest to Cape Town and also near Wjmberg, which
produced the famous wines of Constantia, which were so
popular during the early half of the 19th centurj^ Wine
is still made on a large scale at Wjmberg. At"Groot"
Constantia itself, which is South African Government
property, and adjoining vine3'ards.
The finest stretch of vineyards is further inland, from
French Floek to Wellington, along the Paarl Valley and
in the Stellenbusch district close by. Further inland still,
at Worcester, Robertson, Montague, Ladysmith and
Oudtschoom, larger quantities of wine are obtained from
grapes grown on richer soil, but the wine is of inferior
quality.
South Africa can and does produce a very large quantity
of different wines, some very sour, dry beverage wines,
both red and white, and some palatable sweet fortified
wines, as well as sparkhng wine and a good deal of brandy.
I ill!