Stellenbosch is South Africa’s most well-known wine region. The town, in Western Cape’s Coastal Region, is steeped in history and is home to the country’s best-known wine estates. Cabernet Sauvignon is the region’s most widely planted grape variety, and is often combined with Merlot to create Bordeaux Blend wines. The region is hot and dry, but the climate is moderated by winds blowing in from False Bay to the south. Free-draining granite and sandstone soils are found throughout the region, but sufficient rainfall in winter allows growers to keep irrigation to a minimum. Much has been made of the suitability of the soils in Stellenbosch for the production of premium red-wine grapes in particular.