Manicaland

Overview

Manicaland forms Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands, a mountainous province that rises from the Save Valley to Mount Nyangani, the country's highest peak. Together with East Mashonaland, it is recognized as one of the two principal areas of Zimbabwean wine production. The highlands receive the country's heaviest rainfall and enjoy cooler temperatures than the rest of the nation.

Altitude ranges from around 900 meters to more than 2,500 meters, creating a patchwork of warm valley floors and cool, cloud-capped slopes. Soils are deep, reddish-brown sandy loams with good moisture retention, derived from felsic and volcanic parent materials. While tea, coffee, and fruit dominate agriculture, the cooler sites are well suited to fresh whites and elegant reds.

Key Varietals

• Chenin BlancA high-acid white that performs well in cool, wet highland sites and makes crisp, aromatic wines.
• Sauvignon BlancA fragrant, grassy white that retains brightness in the misty, cooler pockets of the Eastern Highlands.
• PinotageA warm-season red that adds dark-fruit depth and spice to Manicaland's sunnier slopes.
• MerlotA soft, plummy red that ripens reliably in the moderate temperatures of the lower highlands.