WINELANDS
ABOUT THE WINELANDS
Just inland of Cape Town lies home to some of South Africa’s oldest and most vivid towns (most notably Stellenbosch and Franschhoek), and forms the hub of the Cape’s burgeoning wine industry. Characterised by lush vine-planted valleys set below spectacular mountain ranges, these beautiful areas are collectively referred to as the Cape Winelands. Stellenbosch and some of the older wine estates also house some handsome examples of Cape Dutch architecture, a uniquely South African style typified by whitewashed thatched buildings with a rounded and ornately bordered gable set above the main door, and two flanking perpendicular wings.
As the name suggests the district is primarily known for its wine production, a tradition that has existed there since the very first settlers came to the Cape more than 300 years ago. The region’s suited Mediterranean climate make it the largest wine producing region in South Africa and each year more than a million liters of wine is made there.
THINGS TO DO
The hop-on hop-off tour is one of the best ways to discover the Franschhoek Valley. A tram transports passengers around a loop of stops through the vineyards allowing them to hop-off at each stop and experience the activities on offer, be it wine tasting, a cellar tour, lunch or simply a stroll through the vineyards and when they are ready, hop-on to continue the tour. The tickets for the tour are approx. $20 per person and tastings at each estate range from $2 - $10. Franschhoek Wine Tram offers an exclusive and direct door-to-door transfer service from Cape Town and surrounds (including the airport) out to Franschhoek. Transfers start at $37 per person which includes return transfer (based on two people booking) and can be added during the booking process to any of experiences.
Boschendal Wine Farm is one of the oldest producers of wine in the world, having been established in 1685 by French Huguenots. The farm stretches over 6 kilometres along the slopes of the Groot Drakenstein Mountains. The Manor House was built in 1812 and is a great example of Cape Dutch architecture and has been converted into a museum allowing guests to gain insight into the world of Huguenot wine farming.
Found just outside Franschhoek, the spectacular gardens at Babylonstoren offer a totally unique experience. This Cape Dutch farm with vineyards and orchards is surrounded by the dramatic mountains of the Drakenstein Valley and its eight acres of fruit and vegetable garden are home to over 300 varieties of plants – all of which are edible.
The spectacular Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve in Franschhoek offers a number of day hikes varying in difficulty. The Reserve is part of the UNESCO declared Boland Biosphere reserve and is home to a great diversity of fynbos, as well as many bird species and some other small wildlife. Entrance to the reserve is at the top of the Franschhoek pass.
With a history dating back to the arrival of Dutch immigrant Jan van Ryn to the Cape in 1845, Van Ryn’s Brandy Distillery in Stellenbosch is well worth a visit - brandy enthusiast or not. The Stellenbosch distillery was built in 1905, and the original building remains.
golf
For those to wish to make golf a part of their winelands escape, there are three world-class, 18-hole golf courses in Stellenbosch and a further six courses within a 30 minute drive.