Beyer Truter’s original search for land was focused on one thing only: finding the best soils to produce a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine. Beyerskloof’s shallow, gravely soil is very similar to that of Bordeaux. The shallowness of the soil led Beyers to plant almost 5 000 vines per hectare to optimise the small pocket of land. The vines are planted with 20 000 Cabernet Sauvignon vines and 5 000 Merlot vines. They are planted north to south on a five wire trellis system.
This is traditionally the best way to plant Cabernet Sauvignon. It allows the maximum hours of sunshine which is important for the formation of the higher sugar levels that give the Beyerskloof wines their ripe, fruity quality. There is no supplementary irrigation, unless the weather preceding a particular harvest is such that ground water levels are insufficient for optimal fruit ripeness.
The constant search for superior quality grapes led to the acquisition of an additional farm situated 2km from the original property in 1997. This Stellenbosch farm located on the Bottelary Road is aptly called Beyerskloof Vineyards and is 77 ha big of which 50 ha are planted. The varietal spread is made up of 30ha Pinotage (20ha Trellised and 10ha Bush vine), 15ha Cabernet Sauvignon, 10ha Merlot and 5ha Cinsault.
Hutton, Clovelly and Kroonstad soils ensure a better-quality ripening environment for the red grape varieties. The average age of vineyards vary between 8 and 15 years and yields generated from these vines amount to roughly 8 – 10 tons per hectare.