South Africa's Western Cape Winelands Region

In recent years South Africa has been cited as home to the world’s ‘most beautiful wine country’ in Food & Wine, Conde Nast Traveler, and Occasions magazines, as well as by the American Institute for Foreign Study, among others. You can judge for yourself by touring one of 13 wine routes in the Western Cape region encompassing hundreds of estates that produce thousands of wines and offer tours and tastings of excellent wines in scenic settings. 

In 1655, Jan van Riebeeck, the first governor of the Cape, planned and planted a vineyard and on February 2nd, 1659, Oom Jan wrote in his diary, “Today - God be praised – wine pressed for the first time from Cape Grapes”.  All South African wine routes fall under the auspices of the Wine of Origin Scheme. Production is divided into official regions, districts, and wards. There are 5 principle demarcations – Coastal, Breede River Valley, Little Karoo, Olifants River, and Boberg, covering 21 districts and 61 wards. Stylistically, South African wines fit somewhere between Old World and New.

The Cape's mild climate and fertile soil are a pefect combination to produce the world-class wines vinophiles around the world are talking about. The country’s varietals include fruit-forward whites, such as sauvignon blanc, chenic blanc, and Riseling, and reds, including cabernet sauvignon and shiraz.  Unique to South Africa is pinotage, a cross between pinot noir and cinsault (also known as hermitage) first produced in Stellenbosch, and the relatively new Cape Blend, which mixes pintotage with other local varietals. 

South African wines are rightfully taking their place in international circles, winning competitions when blindly compared to the best-known wines of the world.  In the US, they have slowly become more available, but the vast majority of South African wines are consumed within their own country, so tastings on a trip are an eye-opening joy. 

Stellenbosch

Only a 35-minute drive from Cape Town, this quaint, charming oak tree-lined town founded by  former Cape governor Simon ven der Stel in 1679 is known as the wine capital of South Africa, boasting nearly 100 wine estates. Finding rich agricultural pickings, the early settlers soon established a bustling town. The earliest building in the Stellenbosch area dates back to 1689 and can still be viewed on the historic wine farm of Muratie. The buildings reflect over three centuries of occupation, including Dutch, Georgian and Victorian architecture. A myriad of museums and places of interest are found along the oak-lined streets. And the crests of the dramatically rising mountains that encircle the town – namely the Stellenbosch, Jonkershoek and Simonsberg mountains – are always visible.

Franschhoek

Nestled between towering mountains in the beautiful Cape winelands lies the magnificent Franschhoek Valley.  Franschhoek (French Corner) became the home of Protestant French Huguenots who fled France due to religious persecution in the 1660’s. In the village you will find wonderful crafts, art and antique shops and galleries and the main street is lined with coffee shops and restaurants. About an hour outside of Cape Town, scenic Franschhoek has some 20 wineries and with up to 8 of South Africa’s Top 100 restaurants is considered the gourmet capital of the Winelands.  Driving into Franschhoek you will notice that most of the farms still bear their original French names and are usually complete with a spectacular Cape Dutch homestead, towering oaks and luscious vineyards. There are a variety of cellars, from small boutique wineries that cater for those in search of something unique, and large cellars that offer organized tours and conducted tastings.

Paarl

Paarl is home to Nederburg, one of the Cape’s best known wineries and the host of a high profile international auction of Cape wines every summer.  Paarl also offers one of the most popular cellar tours in the winelands at KWV, whose 55-acre cellar is the largest in the world.  Old Afrikaans for ‘pearl’, Paarl is set under the enormous granite rocks of Paarl Mountain in the Berg River Valley.  Settled in 1687, it has a charming Main Street and several cultural institutions.