Cheers! Get a taste of the Cape Winelands of South Africa

The Western Cape of South Africa is a popular traveller destination for many reasons. First, there is the magnificent city of Cape Town, with its many beaches. On top of this, the Garden Route is a worthy journey, with many iconic stopovers along the way. However, the Western Cape is also renowned for its wines. These can be experiences at the wineries and vineyards of the beautiful Cape Winelands.

One of the best pastimes in Cape Town and its surrounds is wine tasting, but combine this with some of the most beautiful landscapes, iconic Cape Dutch architecture and delicious food for the best experience ever. Here, we briefly introduce some of the best places to enjoy South African wines and many other treats along the way.

Stellenbosch Wine Route

The university town of Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands was the first to establish an official route between its wineries. The Stellenbosch Wine Route has become one of South Africa’s six most popular tourist destinations. Surrounding the beautiful town are 148 wine farms, all with beautiful vineyards (pictured above) and many with historical farms featuring Cape Dutch manor houses, hotels and fine dining restaurants.

Franschhoek Wine Route

Franschhoek has a French Huguenot heritage and is surrounded by stunningly beautiful landscapes. Many of the wine farms feature a strong French influence here, after the Huguenots introduced their talents to South Africa. One of the most famous wines is the sparkling Cap Classique, a champagne-inspired delight. Meanwhile, the quaint village of Franschhoek features antique shops, art galleries, boutique hotels and excellent restaurants. Even better, visitors can enjoy a trip on the Wine Tram to learn more about the town’s history.

Constantia Wine Route

A little closer to Cape Town, the Constantia Wine Route is around a 20-minute drive away. This gorgeous landscape is filled with many of South Africa’s oldest and most prestigious wine farms, dating back to the 1650s. Meanwhile, the wines produced in its vineyards are mostly cool climate offerings, including delightful reds, world-class sauvignon blancs and the renowned Constantia dessert wine.

Helderberg Wine Route

Located in the Somerset West area, a 30-minute drive from the centre of Cape Town, are the excellent wineries of the Helderberg Wine Route. Here, visitors can see historic estates, along with cutting edge modern wine cellars, producing an amazingly diverse array of wines. Recently, this area has attracted a reputation for its impressive white wines, especially chardonnay and sauvignon blanc.

Durbanville Wine Route

Durbanville is a 20-minute drive north from Cape Town and offers a wide range of wining and dining experiences at its estates. The region also features spectacular scenery, including panoramic views across the ocean to the iconic Table Mountain. This wine route offers intense, fruit-driven and refined wines, crafted by master wine makers, which are as unique as the slopes the vines grew on.

Take a tour of the various spectacular wine routes of the Western Cape in South Africa for a taste of the best.