The legendary Wine Route is situated less than 100 km outside Cape Town and passes through the town of Stellenbosch. It is home to some of the best wines in the world. Tourists flock to this region of South Africa to taste the world-class wines and to get a glimpse of the breathtaking scenery.
This quiet landscape features fields of vineyards nestled between endless mountain ranges. Top attractions include the unique art of viticulture where locals study and create some of the world’s most famous wines. The region is dotted with original Cape farmhouses, fully restored and each with its own distinct European influence.
Venturing into the Stellenbosch Winelands
Touring the Stellenbosch Wine Route is like teleporting back to 14th century Italy – with the added bonus of experiencing superb South African hospitality. Founded in 1971, today the Stellenbosch Wine Route brand is home to over 200 wine and grape producers in the region.
Plan your travel route according to the area that you would like to explore, or the wine you would like to sample. There is nothing more satisfying than mapping out the best wine farms, or the ones that hold a distinctive kind of merlot, your wine of choice. The route itself can be travelled many times according to whatever preferences or experiences you would like to take home with you.
The Wine Route is divided into five sub routes, each one occupying a separate area in the Stellenbosch Winelands. Explore the Greater Simonsberg, Stellenbosch Berg, Helderberg, Stellenbosch Hills, and Bottelary Hills Wine Routes at your leisure.
These five routes feature a multitude of cellars that offer daily wine tasting, cellar tours and on-premises wine sales. Many of these wine farms have restaurant and picnic facilities that are ideal for families looking for a memorable outdoor day-trip. Remember that selected cellars offer tasting by appointment only.
Be sure to visit local gems like the Boschendal Wine Estate that holds one of the Wine Routes most established restaurants – with a wine list to match. Indulge in the vibrant local history of Spier Wine Estate that serves authentic African dishes at their internationally acclaimed restaurant. Don’t miss the award winning Van Loveren Vineyards where you can wine taste, hike and spend the day or hold a special function for a loved one. Wherever you choose to go, if you stop at one of these top estates you can’t go wrong.
Surpassing International Standards
In many ways the South African wine industry has surpassed its European competitors. Today the finest wines can be enjoyed in comfort on the humble farmsteads of the locals who created them.
This is what makes the Wine Route so desirable – the personal experience of sharing wine on location – where it was made, chatting to the farm owners and enjoying the day with friends in flawless surroundings. As South African farmers continue to grow and produce their own wines the route will continue to offer that unique definitive experience for any wine enthusiast to enjoy.
Take Some Time Out
The Wine Route offers its visitors wine on an intimate level, straight from the local connoisseurs who produced it for our personal pleasure. That is why anyone can visit the Stellenbosch Winelands – there are no expectations, no pretences – just a satisfying day of tasting, learning and soaking up the best that South Africa has to offer. Best wine tours willamette valley
