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The Western Cape has a long and rich winemaking heritage that was first
founded by Simon van der Stel, the Governor of the Cape, in 1685. Wine
lover or not, the winelands are well worth a visit if not for wine tasting
then for the spectacular beauty of the many vineyards and estates.
Rolling vineyards and quaint Cape Dutch homesteads await you, along with
plenty of award winning wines.
There are various wine producing areas within the Cape, the most well
known are those of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, Paarl, the Breede River
Valley and the Constantia Valley. Each of these areas has a
well-developed wine-route where estates offer wine tasting and cellar
tours and where wine can be purchased directly from the farm.
In addition, many of the estates offer restaurants or picnics that
can be enjoyed in beautiful surroundings.
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The Constantia winelands are the closest to Cape Town city and can
easily be visited in one day. The oldest vineyards in the country,
the estates of Constantia include Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia,
Buitenverwachting, Uitsig and Steenberg. At Groot Constantia, the original
Manor House and Cloete Cellar both display interesting items from the early
years on the farm and the buildings themselves are beautiful examples of early
Cape Dutch architecture. Award winning restaurants at both Uitsig and
Buitenverwachting are well worth a visit, but need to be booked well in advance,
and there are also relaxed outdoor dining options to choose from. There are many
beautiful guesthouses, hotels and B&B's in the Constantia area; alternatively it
is a mere 20-minute drive from the city bowl or Atlantic Seaboard.
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The Stellenbosch and Franschhoek regions are within an hours' drive of
Cape Town and can be visited as a day-trip. However these beautiful
valleys, surrounded by magnificent mountains, are deserving of a longer
stay. From quaint guest cottages set amongst vineyards to luxury boutique
hotels, both Stellenbosch and Franschhoek have a wide choice of accommodation
to offer as well as being home to a selection of excellent restaurants. Franschhoek,
with its delightful French flair and influence, is fast becoming the gastronomic
capital of the country - and award winning restaurants headed by internationally-acclaimed
chefs are a must to visit. The oak-lined streets of Stellenbosch are rich in culture
and history and beautiful Cape Dutch buildings can be seen throughout the town.
Stellenbosch is also a university town as is home to the oldest university in South
Africa with roots going back to 1866.
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The winelands regions of both Paarl and Wellington are set against stunning mountainous backdrops,
fertile farmland and rolling vineyards. Similarly to the regions of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek,
they can be visited as day trips - but are well worth lingering for a day or two. Paarl is set at
the foot of the remarkable Paarl Rock, a cluster of unusual granite domes, and is home to a number
of cultural and historical attractions, award winning wine estates and a variety of accommodation
options. Also surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges, Wellington offers a host of outdoor
activities including hiking and mountain biking as well as beautiful historic buildings and wine
estates to visit and enjoy.
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Slightly further a field, and also slightly less developed, are the
winelands of the Breede River Valley. Excellent vineyards can be found
in Robertson, Ashton, McGregor, Bonnievale and Montagu and fertile
vineyards and orchards are surrounded by the backdrop of majestic
mountains. The various towns are within close proximity of one another
making it possible to choose accommodation in one place while visiting
the surrounding areas. Refreshed by the waters of the Breede River, the
valley offers all manner of outdoor activities from fishing and river
cruising to hiking and mountain biking. Robertson is also the gateway to
Route 62 - the scenic route that meanders through vineyards, farmlands
and quaint country towns en-route to Oudtshoorn and the Garden Route.
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