Cape Winelands
Cheers to South African Wine!
When you think of wine you think Italy, France, California….but South Africa?!? Surprise! In as little as 20 minutes from Cape Town, you can find yourself in the regions of the renowned Cape Winelands! Offering 18 wine routes to explore throughout the pristine countryside, the perfectly lined vineyards set against unmatched scenery are unquestionably a must-see (and must-taste) experience. You could actually spend weeks here! It could be a vacation in itself! Many of the vineyards feature the distinctive whitewashed architecture of the Cape Dutch-style, and you’ll find them flanked by mountain sides with exquisite views.
The Cape Winelands has 4 predominant regions:
Constantia
(20 minutes from Cape Town)
The closest is Constantia, a 20 minute drive south of Cape Town, where wine farming in South Africa began. It is home to South Africa’s oldest vineyards, including the most senior, Groot Constantia. Zip on over for this region’s specialty of white and dessert wines. Sit back and enjoy the beautiful mountainous scenery this region has to offer as you sip the various wines and try to decide which ones to take home. Other activities in the Constantia include ziplining, hiking, biking, golfing and craft beer tours.
Stellenbosch
(45 min. from Cape Town)
East of Cape Town is Stellenbosch which is known for its cabernet sauvignon and Pinotage (a South African blend of pinot noir and cinsaut). The Stellenbosch wine route is composed of more than 150 wine farms for you to choose from. Stellenbosch is bursting with oak trees, and most buildings in town were built in the 19th century. Nothing says charming more than that! The town also offers a collection of entertaining things to do including museums, art galleries, bars, clubs and restaurants.
Franschhoek
(1 hour from Cape Town, 40 minutes from Stellenbosch)
An hour east of Cape Town you’ll find a real treasure, Franschhoek. Known for how well it pairs the food and wine experience, Franschhoek is a delectable village loaded with award winning restaurants that will have foodies going ga-ga. Step on to the vintage-styled wine tram for a hop-on-hop-off journey through the beautiful vineyards of Franschhoek where you can stop to enjoy wine tastings, cellar tours, lunch or a walk through the vineyards at your own pace. Curated wine tours are also available. Other ingredients in the tasteful mix of Franschhoek include a diverse collection of art galleries, boutiques and shops for you to “browse” – did you bring an extra suitcase? Roundtrip transfers can be arranged from Cape Town.
There is also hiking nearby in Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve or you can try your luck trout fishing on Wemmers River. A half hour from Fraschhoek, and on the way to Paarl, lies Pearl Valley, home to a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course if you want to work on your game. There’s truly no shortage of pleasures throughout this region to savor!
Paarl
(45 min. from Cape Town)
East of Cape Town is Stellenbosch which is known for its cabernet sauvignon and Pinotage (a South African blend of pinot noir and cinsaut). The Stellenbosch wine route is composed of more than 150 wine farms for you to choose from. Stellenbosch is bursting with oak trees, and most buildings in town were built in the 19th century. Nothing says charming more than that! The town also offers a collection of entertaining things to do including museums, art galleries, bars, clubs and restaurants.
