The vineyards near Cape Town are a tipsy dream.
There ’s a magic spot where the sun lingers long but is n’t too strong , the winters are mild , and the terroir is just good . It ’s here , in both hemisphere of the planet , between the 30th and 50th parallels , where you have a fortunate formula for a wine-coloured neighborhood . Think Tuscany , Mendoza , the South Island of New Zealand , and of track , South Africa ’s Western Cape Province — theeighth largestwine producing area in the world , and by all score , one of the upright . South Africa’sharvest is so dear , it beat out eventhe Napa ValleyonWine Spectator ’s 2017 vintage charts .
Even if you ’re not a wine aficionado who gives a tinker’s dam about region and soil composition , you might be interested in a sottish tour of vineyard . And in South Africa , you ’ll jazz the tipples will be top nick without having to pretend or make poke guesses at the secondary aromas . In the Cape Winelands , there are dozens of wine tours for any budget departing from Cape Town every twenty-four hours . Some people opt to rent a car and motor through the region , stay overnight tight to vineyard where they can featherbed . Or if you clock it the right way , you’re able to even take the commuter train .
The Cape Winelands are immense , and while there is n’t a defined “ route ” per se , there ’s an risky venture to be had for everyone — day tripper , weekenders , and Garden Route absolutists alike . Whether you ’re looking for can’t - girl smirch to guide your DIY wine-colored risky venture or you ’re a wanderlusting fancier seem for an itinerary , here ’s a guide to the dreamy Cape Winelands that ’ll have youpacking for South Africa .
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When to visit the winelands and how to get there
There ’s never a awry time to visit the winelands , but if you ’re hoping to avoid the rainwater , aim for October through February . Still , even in the wintertime , who could really say no to a flight of Pinotage and cheesemonger - curated accoutrements served in a three - hundred - year - sure-enough vino basement , right ?
Cape Town International Airport is your best bet for car rentals , particularly if you require to liken price and run into the route on - reaching . If you do n’t require to drive , Uber is a secure and versatile alternative to renting a railway car all throughout the Western Cape . Wine tours manoeuvre out of Cape Town always , but if you want to curate your own risky venture , stick around to Uber , a rental railroad car , or commuter train rail . wagon train service currently reaches Malmesbury , Paarl , Worcester , and Wellington , with repairs afoot for the Stellenbosch route .
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Like every great wine area , South Africa ’s has its greatest collision . Yes , you may find exceptional New World Chardonnays , Sauvignon Blancs , and Cabernet Sauvignons . Some even say that South African Sauvignon Blanc gives French Sancerre a run for its money . But if you ’re off to the winelands , you ’ll need to taste some of South Africa ’s bona - fide , “ when - in - Rome ” standouts .
Chenin Blanc is South Africa ’s most commonly set grapevine varietal . Historically known as steen(pronounced stay - in ) in Afrikaans , this crisp and acidic grape makes for a delicious white wine-colored that depart widely in sweetness but rarely fail to impress . For something bubbly , look to another South African white : Méthode Cap Classique . And then there ’s Pinotage , arguably the most South African wine of them all . Originally cultivated about 100 year ago , Pinotage is a crossing between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut that produces a smoky , deep carmine worth checking a bag for .
Some other tips before you hit the road : count for the “ Wine of Origin ” or “ W.O. ” credentials on bottles of wine when you go betray in South Africa . A “ W.O. Durbanville ” label insure that 100 % of the grape came from Durbanville , for example .
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Also , a little Afrikaans goes a long way . Afrikaans is the first - language of over 70 % of the winelands , so sweep up on die Afrikaans before you go . Hoe gaan dit?(pronounced who - khandit ) is “ How are you ? ” Dankie ( pronounced like donkey ) mean “ Thank you . ” And most importantly , cheers with gesondheit(pronounced huh - zon - tight ) .
Start your tasting in Cape Town
The Mother City is the better starting point for a trip to the winelands , and not just because you ’re likely to pilot in here . The Cape Peninsula itself is base to South Africa ’s old wine the three estates . set up in 1685,Groot Constantiashould be on every traveler’sCape Town travel guidebook . For just 115 ZAR ( about $ 6 or so ) , visitant can indulge in a five wine tasting flight complete with a souvenir glass . To really take in all of Groot Constantia ’s story and dish , spring for the full visitant experience ( it costs an extra 25 Ayn Rand ) , which includes a hitch of the acres , the manor firm , and the wine cellar . Since Groot Constantia opens at 10 am , it ’s an gentle jumping off level for a full day of vino adventures .
After Constantia , you ’ll want to have some lunch before head to Stellenbosch . You could go straight there ( the whole drive is under an hour ) , but you ca n’t go to South Africa and not stop for pies — think Cornish pasty , not granny apple . Any gas place will do , butBig Joe ’s Piesin Goodwood is an easy enough roundabout way as well .
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Get fancy in the wine capital of Stellenbosch
Soon enough , garden - variety suburban sprawl will give way to the classic Cape Dutch architecture that prevail Stellenbosch , the de facto wine-colored capital of South Africa .
Also known as the Oak City for the leafy canopy planted by Simon van der Stel , father of Groot Constantia and Stellenbosch , this town is first and foremost a spot to see and be seen . Feel gratuitous to dress the part as you dine alongside South African celebrities and aninfamous billionaire boys bludgeon .
Central to everything in the winelands , Stellenbosch is the perfect plaza to settle in and get a lay of the commonwealth . As for accommodation , Stellenbosch has everything frombackpacker hostelstoboutique hotel . The food panorama is a chip overblown , so it ’s good to just deplete sumptuously at one of the vineyard . you may find amazing savouring atThelema , L’Avenir , andSpier .
Pair your wine with history in Paarl
Now that you ’ve project the heart of the winelands , it ’s time to hazard further . Head toward Paarl for even more wines in a ethnic epicenter of Afrikanerdom .
The town is steeped in South African history . It ’s the third old European resolution in the res publica after Cape Town and Stellenbosch , and it ’s also where Nelson Mandela took his first stone’s throw as a free man in 1990 .
Paarl — literally “ pearl”—takes its name from a pearl - like ( but not pearly ! ) rock organization popular among gutsy climbers . Also command Paarl is amonument to the Afrikaans spoken language , whose complicated story is assailable to rendition . For some of the best tastings , head toJoostenbergorNoble Hill .
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Take the wine tram to Franschhoek
Franschhoek , in a nod to the Huguenots ( there ’s even amonument ) , literally translate to “ French quoin . ” It ’s the Sonoma to Stellenbosch ’s Napa . As for which one is the real deal ? Well , it bet on if you ’re concerned in a three 60 minutes debate with an opinionative vintner . Simply get on theFranschhoek Wine Tram — whose ten routes and multimodal connections are more sophisticated than the public transport networks of many mid - sized cities — and decide for yourself .
This is no theme ballpark tram that ’s actually just a kitsch - ed up van , it ’s a literal railway line repurposed to transport visitors to the region ’s wineries . just the ticket secure entree to all of them exceptBabylonstoren . For tastings , tryBoschendal , orAnthonij Rupertflaunts some somewhat price flights .
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Go surfing and whale watching in Hermanus
By this point , you ’ve likely had enough of the winelands . Head in the south from Franschhoek to Hermanus , a gorgeous , understated bookend to the classic Garden Route . just head east on Route 43 or link up back to the N2 to hazard toward Port Elizabeth ( now Gqeberha ) and the Eastern Cape .
Relish in thecertified naughty flag beaches , postcard - perfect rough outcroppings , and some of Africa ’s best whale watching . Hermanus is still within the wine producing part of the Western Cape , so if you ’re really feeling it , you could taste - test the influence of saltiness melodic phrase on a robust South African Pinot Noir atHamilton Russell Vineyards . Or if you ’re feeling wine’d out , swap out your wine journal for a wetsuit andsurfsome of the best waves in South Africa .
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Groot Constantia
Thelema Mountain Vineyards
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