Paul Cluver Wines is one of South Africa’s family-owned and run wineries located in the Elgin appellation. In the mid-1980s, Dr. Paul Cluver cultivated the first grapevines in the region, establishing the Wine of Origin. Soon, owing to his critical eye for detail and the desire to improve the quality of his productions, Paul realised and recognised the worth of Elgin as a Pinot country. Today, the Cluver family runs and manages Paul Cluver Wines. All the members are a pioneering and visionary spirit.
Much like most other winemakers at that time, Paul Cluver Wines focused their attention and effort on Merlot, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon in their early years of operation. Gradually, other grapevine varieties that could grow in cold climates, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Chardonnay, also found a spot in the vineyards owned by the winery.
The Elgin terroir enjoys a suitable and desirable balance of slope, altitude, sunlight, and prevailing winds. Additionally, the region experiences a considerable temperature difference between the night and the day. It helps to slow down the process of sugar development in the grapes. It allows the planted grapevines to take an extended period to mature and provide juicy, flavourful, aromatic, and sweet fruits. For this reason, the produced wines can deliver and offer complex tastes and retain a higher acidic quality.
Paul Cluver Wines grows their Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay varieties in Bokkeveld Shale soils and the Riesling grapevines in Fericrete soils. The winery pursues and implements sustainable agricultural methods and practices. They have even achieved international recognition and praise for their excellent farming techniques. For example, they conserve water by irrigating at night and curb electricity consumption by utilising solar panels. The workers in the vineyards control the growth of insects by disrupting their mating instead of using pesticides.
