Much of the vineyard is being replanted to better cope with climate change, which is projected to bring rarer but more violent rainfall to this wine-loving corner of the world.
Like other wine farms surrounding the city of Stellenbosch, the Reyneke estate's vineyards were ill-equipped to withstand climatic shocks, she said. The replanting is done in phases, with old vines, notably Chenin, the emblematic grape variety of France's Loire region, keeping up production while the new ones grow."We designed the vineyards according to the natural lay of the land," said Kruger.
Rudiger Gretschel, Reyneke's chief winemaker and director, said they wanted to design a farm that would still be relevant in up to 100 years. Drains to collect rainwater run between each plot, converging into a reservoir that is to provide water during dry spells.