Viticulture in Namibia

Viticulture in Namibia around 1910

The Namibian Wine differs by two historical phases. In 1894 the first Catholic priests began to grow wine in parts of Klein Windhoek Am Weinberg . In 1978 this extension was discontinued. Commercial viticulture began in 1990. It currently (as of June 2016) plays a subordinate but growing economic role.

Due to the extreme climatic conditions, Namibia is one of the smallest wine-growing regions on earth.

Three of the wineries (Kristall, Neuras, Thonningii) are bundled in the Namibian Wine Growers Association, founded in 2013, and jointly market themselves as Namibia's Wine Route - Between 2 Deserts .

Climate and geography

The wine-growing regions of Namibia lie between the 21st and 28th southern latitude. They are considered to be the driest wine-growing regions on earth. The climate here is arid, with large annual and daily fluctuations. In the summer months more than 40 ° C are often reached, while in the winter months ground frost must be expected. Due to the general lack of water, the cultivation areas are laid out along rivers or springs . The grape harvest takes place between January and March.

Areas of origin and wineries

In Namibia, the few wine-growing regions are not officially divided into regions of origin. Nevertheless, three areas can be defined. The entire viticulture in Namibia extends over a commercial vineyard area of only about 12 hectares . It is one of the smallest independent wine-growing areas in the world (for comparison, the wine-growing area in Germany is around 105,000 hectares and in South Africa 136,000 hectares).

Omaruru

The Omaruru wine region is the oldest wine-growing region in Namibia and home to the country's first winery . The entire vineyard area of around 2.8 hectares is part of the Kristall winery . The cultivation of the vines began in 1990 and the first grapes were harvested five years later. Among other things, the grape varieties Tinta Barroca and Colombard are grown. Past production is between 1700 liters (2011) and 5000 liters (2010), depending on the amount of rain, other sources speak of up to 10,000 bottles per year. According to his own statement, around 4500 bottles are currently (as of February 2014) being filled. A doubling of the vineyard area was planned by 2015. As of 2019, there is talk of a cultivated area of 12.5 hectares.

In addition, nappa (table grapes), matisa ( prickly pear), lumela (orange) garnets ( pomegranate ) are distilled .

In 2015, the Erongo Mountain Winery, a new winery on the Omaruru Rivier near Omaruru, opened its doors. In addition to a schnapps distillery, there is also a growing area for Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, among others .

Neuras

On the Neuras farm on the edge of the Naukluft Mountains near Maltahöhe , Namibia's second winery with its own growing area was opened in 1997 with the Neuras Winery of the same name . The Shiraz and Merlot grape varieties are grown on an area currently (as of December 2014) around six hectares, and since 2010 also Petit Verdot .

Around 3000 bottles are pressed every year . By 2016, the output is to be increased to 15,000 bottles per year. ^[obsolete] The new grape varieties Mourvèdre and Grenache were planted for this purpose .

The wines have already achieved international fame.

Otavi

Bertus Boshoff began experimentally growing numerous grapes (including Shiraz , Viognier , Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage ) in the Otavibergen in 1998 . Its cultivation area was - until the doubling of the cultivation area on Neuras at the end of 2013 - with four hectares the largest in the country, with an expansion of a further 1.3 hectares planned. The wine is sold under the name "Thonningii" ( Thonningii Wynkelder ). Currently, 2500 to 3000 bottles of Shiraz are bottled each year.

In 2004 the Schulz and Evrad families started growing Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier, Mourvèdre , Tempranillo and Chardonnay in the immediate vicinity of Thonningii . The grapes are processed in Montavi's own winery .