Tulbagh Northeast of Swartland, in the bowl of a volcanic lake, is Tulbagh, an isolated valley surrounded by mountains on three sides. An earthquake destroyed much of the town of Tulbagh in 1969, and the restored main street is now a tourist attraction with many buildings of historical significance. Daytime temperatures are very high, but drop precipitously at night and stay cool for much of the morning while air remains trapped in the enclosed amphitheater. Night harvesting was pioneered in Tulbagh in the 1980s, in order to minimize damage to the fruit from excessive heat. Most of the district is covered with a thin layer of sandy soil, resting on sandstone and granite on the west side and shale in the east. The fertile alluvial riverbed soils had until recently been the only place to plant fruit trees and grapevines, with the shallower soils being used for grains and grazing. Modern farm machinery able to break up the mineral-rich impacted rock layers is now literally unearthing the potential for new plantings on less\ fertile sites. Primarily a producer of white and sparkling wines, warm climate notwithstanding, Tulbagh is now drawing attention for its rich red wines, particularly Shiraz and Rhone-style blends which are well-suited for rocky, low-vigor locations.

(Tulbagh, South Africa)

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