The Cape winegrowing areas, situated in the narrow viticultural zone of the southern hemisphere, mainly have a Mediterranean climate and the mountain slopes and valleys form the ideal habitat for the wine grape Vitis vinifera, the products of which have given pleasure to man for many centuries. Long, sun-drenched summers and mild, wet winters contribute to the ideal conditions for viticulture at the Cape.

Liberated by the advent of democracy, the South African wine industry has gone from strength to strength, with exports growing by 335% between 1995 and 2007. Currently, more than 3 999 farmers cultivate some 101 957 hectares of land under vines. Some 256 908 people are employed both directly and indirectly in the wine industry. The annual harvest in 2008 amounted to 1 425 612 tons (1 089,0 million litres), of which 70% was used for wine. The estimated annual harvest in 2009 amounted to 1 330 357 tons (1 015,4 million litres), of which 77% was used for wine.

The South African wine industry is backed by a state body, the Nietvoorbij Institute for Viticulture and Oenology, a leader in research with one of the most modern experimental wineries in the world and several experimental farms; the departments of viniculture and viticulture at the University of Stellenbosch; and the Elsenburg Agricultural College, which offers cellar technology.

All wines for export must be granted an export licence. Samples of each batch of wine destined for foreign countries are sent to the Wine & Spirit Board at Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch where they undergo detailed tasting tests and chemical analysis in the laboratories before licences are granted. An official seal is given to each bottle by the Wine & Spirit Board, which verifies that the claims made on the label regarding origin, vintage and grape variety are true.

As far as international wine production is concerned, Italy leads with 19,1% f the total, France is second with 18.5%, Spain third with 12.8% and South Africa ninth with 3,0% (2005 figures).