Africa Travel Newsletters > South Africa Cape Winelands

1. South Africa Cape Winelands

Millions of tourists have traversed the globe over the years in search of the world's best vineyards. Unlike fans of pedestrian beverages, many wine lovers find it especially fitting to enjoy their drink right inside a fine winery. South Africa is a substantial wine producer, and was in 2006 ranked sixth amongst the worlds wine exporters. But for many of the thousands of visitors who have toured South Africa's Cape Winelands, the region has no doubt topped their list of wine tourism destinations.

The Cape Winelands offer more than just wine; visitors are delighted by the region's beautiful scenery, charming people, and the possibility of numerous exciting activities in the Western Cape region  of South Africa. And with scenic mountain ranges, verdant valleys and gentle slopes across rolling fields, it is a good place to step back from your daily grind. A sure way to enjoy the region is by taking an escorted Cape Winelands tour with a reputable tour operator; for the more experienced travelers, a self drive tour is an option.

Situated on the southern-most tip of the African continent, the Cape Winelands stretch from the western coast of South Africa to the plains of Little Karoo. The region rolls out to envelop famous wine districts such as Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Wellington, Robertson, Constantia, Somerset West and Simondium. Each wine district has an established wine route.

Rated as one of the world's finest grape-growing regions, many of the  wines originating here have received the highest awards at international wine events. The winelands produce outstanding varieties of grapes ranging from the classic robust reds to the sauvignon blancs (wild whites); Cape wines are blend to a superb balance.

Stellenbosch, a charming town in Cape province, is the capital of the winelands and is at the heart of South Africa's wine industry. About 45 km from Cape Town's central business district, Stellenbosch is an excellent base for exploring the entire Cape Winelands region. The town sits between the Stellenbosch Mountain range and Jonkershoek Valley.

Like a monumental museum Stellenbosch exhibits vintage Cape Dutch buildings, complemented with superbly aged Georgian & Victorian architecture, along oak lined streets. Also known as the “City of Oaks”, the town has a rich heritage that  is reflected in its ancient buildings as well as its excellent museums, galleries and theatres.

Stellenbosch University -one of South Africa's top research universities – is well regarded internationally and well worth a visit. The institution -which dates back to 1863, has one of the worlds most advanced experimental wineries and is an important viticultural research centre.

From Stellenbosch, visitors can explore the breathtaking Stellenbosch Wine Route, and bask in the town's vibrance and sample its diversity of southern cultures. Every August, Stellenbosch hosts the week long Stellenbosch Food and Wine Festival –a renowned feast for the palette. The event is a must for anyone who delights in good food and loves wine. A definite on the menu is endless wine tasting as the wine makers and visitors take the opportunity to have a one-on-one.

Founded in 1679, the Stellenbosch Wine Route is South Africa's oldest and most famous wine-route. The wine route boasts over 106 cellars most of which are aged about 300 years and over. Owing to its numerous wineries, the route has further been divided into five sub-routes. These include: Bottelary Hills, Greater Simonsberg, Helderberg, Stellenbosch Berg and Stellenbosch Hills routes. The wine route offers excellent activities : touring the wine cellars, wine tasting at the various wine estates, hiking the vineyards and the Jonkershoek Reserve trails, mountain biking and golfing.

A short drive from Stellenbosch - in the Dwars River Valley lies a lovely village called Pniel. The village is closely associated with Cecil Rhodes, who was at one time Prime Minister of the Cape Colony. Before venturing into politics, he had his attention on fruit farming in Pniel where he established the Rhodes Fruit Farms. This inspired many cotton farmers to follow suit.

Today, many farms in Pniel concentrate on producing fruits and vegetables with wine production taking centre stage. Farms in the area produce prodigious quantities of fruit as well as culinary and medicinal herbs. Its conference facilities, restaurants and diverse accommodation make the town a popular destination with business travellers.

A 40-minute drive north-west of Cape Town takes you to another wine wonderland -the scenic town of Paarl. The areas' natural splendour has for years attracted numerous visitors including Charles Darwin, who toured the Paarl Valley in 1836.

Paarl is the largest of the Capes' towns and the third-oldest European settlement in South Africa. Among its major attractions is the imposing Afrikaans Language Monument, the world's only monument dedicated to a language. The residents of the region are culturally diverse and are believed to be descendants of the Khoisan, Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, Dutch, Italian Prisoners of War, and Xhosa.

Paarl offers its visitors lots of attractions and activities. Its touristy appeals include: scenic drives, hiking trails and wine tasting. Other exciting must-do and must-see will lead to: a tour to F.S. Smit & Co –a conventional wine cast; Hot-Air balloon over the Berg River Valley; The Paarl –one of the worlds largest granite outcrops; Strooidak Church – one of South Africa’s historic churches; Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve; Paarl Bird Sanctuary; Die Vonds Snake Park.

Lovers of gourmet dishes will feel at home in the town of Franschhoek –home to some of the country's best restaurants and bistros. The town guarantees visitors a wide range of lip smacking dishes to choose from. Franschhoek is surrounded by a numerous award-winning wine farms and the town thus offers excellent opportunities to sample some of South Africas best wines.

And after tasting all the wines- if you are still on your feet- you can enjoy some trail hiking, walking, cycling, horse-riding, fly fishing and golfing; activities that have become very popular among visitors to the Franschhoek Valley. The town, also known as South Africa’s “French Corner”, is preserved in a unique 17th century Huguenot culture and glories in superb works of art, numerous art stores and galleries.

Away from Franschhoek is Wellington, an enchanting historical town on the banks of the Kromme River adjacent to Hawequa Mountains. Located 75 km north-east of Cape Town and within easy access to the rest of the Cape Winelands, Wellington is renowned for its choice of red and white wines. The area, popularly known as the heart of the Boland region, has five dramatic and scenic mountain passes. The town itself sits at the foot of Bain's Kloof Pass, one of the country’s oldest mountain  passes.

The Wellington Wine Walk was honoured with a “Best of Wine Tourism” award in 2008 by the Great Wine Capitals Global Network. The Wellington Wine Route comprises 27 wine farms, and has a reputation for informality and friendliness. Besides wine, Wellington produces splendidly blend brandies, excellent varieties of table grapes, citrus fruits and vegetables.

Tulbugh town positioned on the northern end of the splendid Tulbagh Valley is also a wonderful wine tourism destination. The town is known for its 32 National Monuments of Cape Dutch architecture located on the historical Church Street. Tulbugh is home to some of the finest wine estates in the region, and is also popular for hiking, horse riding as well as camping.

In the recent times the Tulbagh Valley has become a preferred wedding location arising out its reputation for warm hospitality and facilities that make for memorable occasions. The region has its own wine route -Tulbagh Wine Route- that boasts 15 award-winning wine estates, and it marks the start of Route 62. The route runs through the Winelands from Cape Town to George and passes through Wellington.

Tulbagh Wine Route has many new wine cellars as well as old historical ones such as Theuniskraal and Twee Jonge Gezellen which are worth a visit. Tulbagh's history goes back to 1700, and it has numerous buildings depicting some of the best examples of Cape Dutch architecture.

Close by Tulbagh is Ceres in the Breede River Valley, a beautiful part of the Western Cape named after the Roman goddess of fertility. Ceres is indeed fertile; it is one of South Africa’s largest fruit-growing regions and is home to the Ceres Group that produces popular fruit juices of the same name. Apples, nectarines, peaches, apricots
and pears all grow very well in Ceres.

The district of Ceres extends into the Karoo and is a haven for bird watching. Between December and April, which is the fruit picking season, visitors are allowed to tour orchards and fruit-packing houses on the Ceres Fruit Route.

Situated 14 km from Tulbagh and 15 km from Ceres is Wolseley, Breede River Valley. The region is positioned in the Het Land van Waveren valley, surrounded by Waaihoek,  Witsen and Waterval Mountains. Although wine is the principal farm activity in the village, fruit, vegetables olives, wheat, dairy, sheep and cattle farming are also practised. Farm accommodation is available and so is hiking trails, fishing and mountain bike routes. Golf-courses of Ceres, Wellington, Paarl and Worcester are within easy reach from the village of Wolseley.

Robertson on Route 62 has the world's longest wine route. Robertson, located about 2 hours' drive from Cape Town, is a warm low-rainfall region with lime-rich soil excellent for the production of white wines. The small town boasts a rich architectural heritage - with Victorian buildings dating back to the 16th and 17th century. In the suburbs of the town lie several farms and wine cellars where award-winning wines are produced.

Robertson is not only famed for its wine but the variety of attractions and relaxed hospitality of its people. Robertson Winery is the oldest cooperative in the area and its 45 members deliver 25,000 tonnes of grapes used to produce 25 million litres of wine.

Just a few minutes from Robertson on Route 62 is the town of McGregor. Home to healers, artists and magicians, the town is considered to be sacred. The village of McGregor has retained its ancient look and has been described as "the best preserved and most complete example of mid-nineteenth century townscape in the Cape Province". McGregor is wrapped by splendid hills and imposing mountains, thus making it a haven for nature enthusiasts. The hills, on the other hand, provide a number of walking and hiking opportunities.

Still on Route 62 is the wine-producing town of Montagu. Surrounded by Langeberg mountain range, Montagu is renowned for its vineyards, orchards and medicinal hot springs placed on the edge of the village. The town has a wide variety of excellent conference facilities at its numerous hotels, resorts and natural reserves.

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