Situated in the shadow of the Olifants River Mountains, Porterville has a thriving business community despite its harsh climate characterised by sizzling hot summers and ice-cold winters. The weekly Porterville Farmers’ Market is a lively event where locals and visitors mix to buy, sell and enjoy the local produce which includes organic wines produced from vineyards in the region.

Wine is a major industry of the town, and indeed of the Western Cape, with the Porterville Cellar known as one of the largest cellars in the country. The cellar is rated among the top 27 of 388 wine farms, producing almost 12 million litres of wine annually. Olive oil, however, is the town’s pride and joy, the best-known export being Andante Extra Virgin Olive Oil made from olives grown on the Wêreldsgeluk Olive Estate near the town.

A family-owned and -run business, Willie Duminy and manager Jan-Hendrik Basson planted their first trees in 2006, and now have 3 189 hectares under cultivation in an intensive system, with 34 000 trees of seven cultivars. Andante has earned national and international accolades which include first positions with the SA Olive Awards and amongst others, the New York International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition.