Cape Winelands

A mere 40 minute drive out of Cape Town marks the beginning of the internationally recognized wine area of South Africa - the Cape Winelands. 

The Cape Winelands is a sprawling area in the Western Cape province stretching from Stellenbosch and Franshhoek to Paarl, Wellington, Robertson and even the "Hemel -en–Aarde"  Valley near Hermanus.

Day trips from Cape Town can be easily arranged.  Spend the morning visiting a few vineyards, tasting the different grape varieties then, once your taste buds have been tantalized, have a long lazy lunch or gourmet picnic at one of the regions top restaurants.

The region is breathtakingly beautiful with vineyard vistas, dramatic mountains in the distance and photogenic sunsets so if time allows we recommend a few nights in the area allowing you to wind down and absorb the romanticism of wine farm living.

For folk that are more serious about their wine some vineyards offer ‘wine safaris’ where you are given a tour of the vines and different grape varieties.  This is a much more hands on approach and allows you to interact directly with the wine maker and learn the technical side of the wine making process.

Franshhoek is the gourmet capital of South Africa with restaurants and menus to suit all palates, and budgets.  The hub of the town is the main street (and only street worth seeing) that is filled with specialist stores and craft galleries.  Take some time to window shop and soak up the atmosphere of this picturesque town.  For the more energetic there is hiking, cycling, walking, fly fishing and horse riding, you can even ride from farm to farm on horseback!

The beauty of the area makes Franshhoek a popular destination for weddings, both for locals and for international travelers.  Looking to make a wedding proposal on your vacation?  This is just the place!

The nearby town of Stellenbosch has less tourists and more of a local flavor.  Walk around the town and see how many sculptures by the internationally acclaimed Dylan Lewis you can see – he has turned the streets of Stellenbosch into a world class exhibition.

The areas of Robertson, Wellington, Montague and Paarl are a bit further from Cape Town but if you are serious about your wine it is well worth the trip.  Alternatively you could take the scenic route to the Garden Route and incorporate a few wine tastings en route.