SOUTH AFRICA - Cape Winelands
The Cape Winelands are a wonderful blend of enchanting small towns, dramatic mountains, scenic drives and rolling vineyards – most less than an hour’s drive from the vibrant city of Cape Town.
Cape wine country extends over a substantial geographic area, from the northern West Coast region on the Atlantic Ocean to the near desert of the Klein Karoo. Over 250,000 acres of vineyards are cultivated by 4,500 primary producers and quality wine is made in more than 340 wine cellars and estates.
These different wine areas are among the most beautiful in the world. They range from historic Constantia on the slopes of Table Mountain to the centuries old villages of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl; from the fertile valley of the Breede River to the gentle hills of the Olifants River and dry riverbeds of Calitzdorp.
Today, Cape winemakers tap into the most modern viticultural skills and contemporary trends in the international world of wine. An enthusiastic new generation of winemakers is building on their heritage and taking full advantage of the unique terroir to produce wines that are winning international accolades.
These beautiful valleys and wine routes will leave you with memorable food and wine experiences, but many visitors are surprised and delighted by the tiny olive farms, handcrafted cheeses, farm stalls and farmers markets, arts and crafts and beautiful floral displays that these areas unfold as they are explored.
Today, Cape winemakers tap into the most modern viticultural skills and contemporary trends in the international world of wine. An enthusiastic new generation of winemakers is building on their heritage and taking full advantage of the unique terroir to produce wines that are winning international accolades.
Stellenbosch is a vibrant university town and the country’s oldest wine route. Bursting with street cafes, pubs, old churches, galleries and museums, the oak-lined streets invite the visitor to meander and linger.
Nearby Paarl is named after its granite outcrop and Afrikaans Language Monument – ironically, Nelson Mandela took his first walk to freedom not too far from here.
The gourmet capital of South Africa is the beautiful village of Franschhoek which celebrates its French Huguenot origins in a quintessential way. The charming main street is a riot of quaint shops, galleries, street cafes and restaurants which are written about in many international gourmet publications.
For those wine lovers who have more time - venture further out ….
The tiny villages of Kylemore and Pniel in the Dwarsriver Valley nestle at the foot of the Simonsberg mountains, surrounded by terraced vineyards and protea pockets.
Wellington is a wealth of historical buildings including the most southern relic of the Anglo Boer War. Unexpected shopping delights include leather and handwoven carpets, lavender fields, organic mushroom farms and fynbos-rich bike trails, mountain pools and picnic spots.
Tulbagh lies in a magical mountain setting with snow-capped vistas in winter. Almost devastated by an earthquake in 1969, the town has been lovingly restored and today is a charming Cape Dutch village bustling with eateries, galleries, ostrich leather craft stores and dried fruit stalls.
A new addition to the historic wine routes is the Hemel-en-Aarde valley near the charming whale watching town of Hermanus on the east coast of the Western Cape. Here the cool maritime climate and the right soil composition combine to make the Hemel-en-Aarde valley the ideal location for the fussy Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay vines. In this picturesque valley wine lovers can treat themselves to a unique wine tour among the southernmost vineyards in Africa.
