The expression West Coast is frequently used in the vernacular and the impression was created that it is a smaller specific area within the current Coastal Region. This motivation and description is an attempt to define the area on the basis of prominent natural characteristics,namely geology and climate.
Geology: West Coast is associated with sandy soils (except the Darling tops) and is one of the factors taken into account with the demarcation (Fig. 1).
Climate: West Coastis seen as a cool area where temperatures are buffered by the cold Benguela current in the Atlantic Ocean. The effect is at its strongest on the coastline and decreases as it moves inland from the coastline. The growing season (15 September to 15 March) accumulated degree days, were used to depict the effect and was used as the main guideline to delineate the Cape West Coast's eastern boundary (Fig. 2).
Districts and wards included: The districts Darling, Lutzville Valley and Swartland (partially) and the wards Groenekloof, St Helena Bay, Lamberts Bay, Bamboes Bay and Koekenaap.
Description of boundaries (Figs.1 and 2): The southern boundary starts at the coastline just above Melkbos and runs eastward on the Swartland district's southern boundary to the N7 above Philadelphia.
The eastern boundary runs along the N7 for 10 km in a north-easterly direction towards the boundary of the Malmesbury Ward and follows the boundary northwards, roughly on the geological separation between the shales and the sands and rather follows farm boundaries and rivers for practical purposes.
The boundary runs north from the Berg River at Zanddrif along with the Boesmans River to the boundary of St Helena Bay Ward and then runs northwards to Elands Bay, where the boundary proceeds to a 10 km coastal buffer that includes Wards Lamberts Bay and Bamboes Bay.
The border continues along the Cape Coast border to Hoekbaai where the Western Cape ends.
Greater Cape as a production area (Overarching Geographical Unit) to produce Wine of Origin.
Greater Cape includes the production areas (Geographical Units) Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Western Cape.
Define Groblershoop, Grootdrink, Kakamas, Keimoes and Upington as production areas (Wards) to produce Wine of Origin.
Central Orange River District, consists of a 5km buffer strip, on both sides of the Orange River and extends from Boegoeberg Dam to the Augrabies waterfalls (a distance of about 275 kilometers), has been changed from a Ward to a District to accommodate new wards.
The proposal is to divide the District into five Wards, namely:
• Groblershoop Ward: The Ward extends from the Boegoeberg Dam embankment,
downstream to Kalkwerf. Topography was used to distinguish it from the Grootdrink Ward.
• Grootdrink Ward: The Ward extends from Kalkwerf to Leerhoek, just before the
Rooikoppe.
• Upington Ward: From Leerhoek, the Ward extends and includes the town Upington just before Kanoneiland.
• Keimoes Ward: The upper boundary runs perpendicular to the river just above
Kanoneiland and ends on the Neusbergrif at the weir of the Neus.
• Kakamas Ward: The Ward starts at the top of Neusberg and extends just before the
Augrabies waterfalls on the boundary of the Central Orange River District.
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