The Marais family has about 110 hectares under vine. Mainly Chardonnay
and Shiraz are grown here, but there are also Sauvignon Blanc,
Merlot, Colombar, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Cinsaut, Semillon and
Petite Verdot. The vineyards lie between the Langeberg Mountain
in the north and the Breede River in the south. There are two
main soil types - one rich in lime, the other a very fertile alluvial
oil found along the banks of the river.
The area surrounding Cloverfield is blessed with a healthy and
generous climate. It is cold during the winter and this ensures
even budding and ripening and good fruit. Though rainfall is not
high, the rains fall late during the winter and this helps the
grapes at the start of the growing season. Warmer conditions prevail
in November and December, but then the cooling south-east winds
from the Indian Ocean blow in across the valley.
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