South Africa's Amazing Cape Winelands

The area is known for its wonderful natural beauty,South Africa's only kosher wines are made, and
rich cultural heritage and world-renowned wines. Just aFairview farm, famous for its cheeses.
45-minute drive from Cape Town will put you in theWellington Wineland
Winelands with its marvellous mountains providing anThis historic route with its museums and old churches
inspiring backdrop to the plentiful vineyards and gabledis the centre of this "off-the-beaten-track" route,
Cape Dutch homesteads steeped in history.exemplified by the small, family-run wineries. At Bovlei
We recommend that you experience the hospitalityyou can even have your own wine label designed and
and beauty of Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington,made for you. North of Wellington is the lovely Brian's
Franschhoek and Robertson in the Breede RiverKloof Pass.
Valley. Stop and visit some of the many wine farms,Klein Karoo WinelandBelieve it or not this is the route
or perhaps stroll down one of the beautifully restoredto see ostriches and vines side by side. Viticulture has
streets in the historical town centres.boosted the economy of this hot, arid region between
The excellent wines produced in this area arethe Langeberg and Swartberg mountains, and is
transported worldwide and enjoy a world-renownedpractised at farms round Calitzdorp, Swellendam,
reputation. The Winelands is an ideal base from whichLadismith and Montagu. Don't miss the excellent quality
to explore Cape Town and its surrounding area. Theflagship ports of Boplaas Estate.
accommodation is this area caters for all tastes soFranschhoek Wineland
indulge yourself at one of the exclusive boutique hotels,This picture postcard village is known as the food and
or enjoy the hospitality of one of the many splendidwine capital of the world boasts 8 out the top 100
guest houses and bed and breakfast establishmentsrestaurants in South Africa. The farms of the
common throughout the area.Vignerons de Franschhoek, as the producers along this
Constantia WinelandFrench-influenced wine route are properly known, lie in
If you contact the Cape Town Tourism Office it isa beautiful valley and many have historic homesteads,
possible to book a horse-drawn carriage tour throughsuch as Boschendal, La Motte and L'Ormarins. If you
the Constantia winelands. En-route you can stop forare short on time then you can always taste the
refreshments, tours, or tastings at wineries such asFranschhoek Vineyards Cooperative wines at the
Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia orwine-tasting centre in Franschhoek.
Buitenverwachting. Remember to spend some time atWorcester WinelandThis triangular route stretches
the Old Cape Farm Stall where you can buy freshfrom Villiersdorp in the south to Woseley and
goods and gourmet foods.Worcester in the North. Along the way you will
Stellenbosch Winelanddiscover wineries such as the Brandvlei and Merwida
This wine route is the oldest and largest, having thecooperatives. Worcester itself offers many other
most estates, wineries and cooperatives as well asattractions such as museums and galleries, and the
wine and cultural museums. You will need to allowKaroo National Botanic Garden situated just four
plenty of time to explore this area - probably a wholekilometres outside the town.
week or several weekends. You can buy a map ofRobertson Wineland
the farms on the route from the Information Centre inThe lime-rich soils of the region play an important part
Stellenbosch.in producing the well-balanced wines of the Robertson
Paarl WinelandWineland including those of Van Loveren, Weltevrede,
This is South Africa's second-oldest wine route andZandvliet and the Rooiberg Cooperative. This
offers self-conducted tour of the historic Backsbergmountainous region is covered by hiking trails best
Estate's cellars and brandy pot stills but don't beenjoyed in the spring. It's also famous for being the
tempted as you are being watched on camera!birthplace of some of the country's greatest
Alternatively take a guided tour of the sprawling KWVracehorses and a nursery for roses.
cellars. Further along the route are Zandwijk, where