CAPE WINELANDS

A short driving distance from Cape Town lies the historical wine growing region of the Cape Winelands, with an abundance of wine farms in and around the towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, the hub of the South African wine industry, as well as Paarl and Robertson, or the Cape Town suburbs of Constantia and Durbanville. All produce internationally acclaimed wines. Amongst the Franschhoek Mountains nestled in a beautiful valley you will discover the pretty village of Franschhoek, meaning ‘French Quarter’, settled over 300 years ago by the French Huguenots fleeing persecution from Europe. Described as the ‘food and wine capital’ of South Africa, there is much to do here, with art galleries, craft shops, museum, restaurants, cafes, wineries and craft breweries to enjoy, you will not want to rush your stay here. This beautiful destination deserves a few days at the very least. A unique Wine Tram travels through the vineyards with a choice of scheduled stops to hop off and sample the wines and fine cuisine on offer.

The Cape Dutch architecture of the university town of Stellenbosch nearby is also a ‘must see’, with many historical sites. This is the second oldest European settlement in South Africa. Step back in time walking through some grand homes of old and discover the rich Dutch history of this town.

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