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Winelands

Winelands, South Africa

The Cape Winelands, only an hour’s drive from Cape Town, are an enchanting region of fertile hills and valleys planted with orchards and vines. The history of wine-making here dates back more than 300 years, evidence of which can be found in the old Cape-Dutch ‘gabled’ architecture. The towns of Stellenbosch and Paarl represent the gateway to the region, whilst the pretty village of Franschhoek, (settled by French Huguenot protestant refugees) is a profusion of quaint Auberges and award-winning restaurants.

Winelands

Wine-tasting is obviously a central attraction to the region and informative maps are available locally, providing details of which vineyards are open for tasting and when. Generally there is a small fee and sometimes there are also tours of the wine-making process and cellars.

If you are concerned about the enjoyment and patience of the younger members of your party, you could choose a wine-tasting tour by horse drawn carriage! We also recommend a visit to Fairview, which is also famous for its cheeses. Residents of the Goat Tower, when not being milked, are on hand to entertain the children whilst you sample the latest vintage of ‘Goats do roam’! The area also hosts a wide range of ‘animal’ attractions including a Cheetah Outreach project in Somerset West and Eagle Encounters, a bird of prey rehabilitation centre, at Spier Village. Other non-wine related attractions in the area include a Belgian chocolate factory, the Toy and Miniature Museum, and the Drakenstein Lion Park.

  • The Winelands in Winter
  • The Winelands, courtesy of Franschhoek Tourist Board
  • The Winelands, KWV Cellars
  • The Winelands, Franschhoek at Night

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