WINELANDS & BEYOND |
A region with more than just wine .... although that ’ s a pretty good reason to visit ! |
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Cape Town
Atlantic Ocean
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WINELANDS Paarl
Franschhoek
Stellenbosch Constantia
Hermanus
Bushmans Kloof
Cedarberg Mountains
WESTERN CAPE
Montagu
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Mossel Bay |
Stellenbosch |
A leisurely 45 minutes drive from Cape Town brings you to the scenic Winelands , a region of lush valleys , historic towns , tiny hamlets and Cape Dutch farmsteads . While it ’ s the wines that have brought the region international acclaim , it ’ s also a fabulous foodie hub with many outstanding eateries , including those within the wine estates . Hailed as the nation ’ s wine and gourmet capital , Stellenbosch has an easy elegance with oak-shaded streets lined with cafés , restaurants , boutiques and art galleries . In addition , some 150 wine estates decorate the vine-strewn landscape , many of them with achingly beautiful Cape Dutch manor houses , gardens , hotels and fine-dining restaurants . Originally settled in 1688 by French Huguenot refugees who introduced their age-old wine and food culture , today Franschhoek has some of the country ’ s best wineries and an impressive selection of world-class restaurants . A fun way to explore is to hop on the wine tram which shuttles you between a variety of boutique wineries , family-run farms and sprawling estates . Make time also to browse the shops and galleries that line this lovely town ’ s quaint streets . Surrounded by mountains , Paarl is steeped in history , culture and scenic splendour . Naturally , wine is the star of the show , and the Paarl Wine Route takes in dozens of award-winning vineyards . Foodies will find many tempting dining venues , from unpretentious family steakhouses to gourmet offerings and everything in between . Wine aside , the surrounding area offers scenic picnic spots , hiking and biking trails , golf and more . Other notable places to visit include Constantia where wines are grown on the slopes of Table Mountain and there are centuries-old homesteads and new stylish boutique wineries to seek out . See also Montagu , which along with wine cellars and orchards , is known for its healing hot mineral springs . Just outside the Winelands is Hermanus , an attractive fishing village rich in magnificent scenery and endless adventure options on both land and sea . From June to November , Hermanus also offers the best land-based whale watching in the world .
Getting there : All the Winelands region towns are around 45 minutes driving distance of Cape Town , while Hermanus is 1½ hours drive from Cape Town .
Best time to go : This region typically sees long , warm and dry summers ( October-April ). Winter ( May-September ) can be cooler but still has lots of sunshine .
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