Schalkenbosch Wine Estate: Tulbagh

Schalkenbosch Estate is situated on the outskirts of Tulbagh, an easy 80 min drive from Cape Town. The estate is a working farm of approx 2500ha. It produces some 600ha of grain, mostly wheat, 20ha of apricots and plums, and 40ha of grapes for the production of wine.

It has the nucleus of a Bonsmara stud with some 300 beef cattle. It is also home to a race horse stud. There are 2ha allocated to lavender, for the production of essential oil for perfumes.

Altitude ranges from 160m above sea level to approx 2000m. The vineyards are situated between 370m and 500m above sea level.

Wine, mainly for the export market, is produced on Schalkenbosch in a modern functional cellar.
The Cape Dutch farm house dates back to 1792 and is a declared National Monument.

There are 22 dams on the property, several stocked with bass and some with trout.

Schalkenbosch enjoys a good relationship with the Witzenberg Municipality (Tulbagh) and currently supplies them with water. It has entered into a legal agreement to supply 600 000 cubic meters of potable water in exchange for effluent to be used for irrigation of the golf course fairways. This will require the building of a new dam at no cost to the Municipality or community.

In addition, Schalkenbosch has accepted a social responsibility to provide land and mentorship for 25 emerging farmers from the previously disadvantaged community.

“Schalkenbosch is committed to the conservation and preservation of indigenous fauna and flora and is a member of the biodiversity and wine initiative.”