Cape Town winelands tours, stellenbosch,
constantia, wine route, south africa, tourism, estate, wines, luxury
accommodation, guesthouses, cottages.
Wine culture and the Cape are synonymous. Its history dates back
as far as 1655 when Jan van Riebeeck of the Dutch East India Company
planted the first vines alongside the vegetables in the Company's
Gardens, which were meant to supply merchant vessels with fresh
produce on their long voyages to and from the Indies. A true experience
of the Cape should therefore preferably include a visit to the winelands,
or at least savouring a good local wine with a meal to complement.
In fact, some would insist it essential to rounding off your visit
to the Cape.
For those pop-in visitors who do not have the time to wander out
into the Cape winelands, there are a few wineries in and around
the city that will be able to provide a good introduction to the
Cape's wine culture. The Constantia Wine Route, South Africa's first
wine centre, is situated on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.
This is where Simon van der Stel, van Riebeeck's successor and governor
of the new Dutch colony in 1679 started South Africa's proud wine
tradition.
If you want to indulge in the history and tasting of wine though,
take enough time out to explore the most important stops on the
Cape winelands route: Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl and Wellington.
At the same time you'll treat the senses to a rich heritage of culture
while exploring romantic hide-aways, unsurpassed scenery along Oak-lined
roads, quaint cafes, museums and historic buildings.
Stellenbosch is the historical heart of the winelands route and
second oldest town in South Africa. Named after Simon van der Stel,
the town was established as a farming settlement where the Dutch
settlers were taught and encouraged to make wine. Today there are
more than 100 cellars to choose from within a 25-kilometre radius,
each offering a unique attraction, varying from wine tasting to
picnics, horse riding to live performances, and art and culture
events to golf.
South Africa's fledgling wine industry received a boost with the
arrival of a handful of religious refugees, the French Huguenots,
between 1680 and 1690. Their legacy as excellent wine makers is
still tangible in South Africa's French corner, or Franschhoek,
which is also the self-appointed food and wine capital.
Paarl is the third oldest town in South Africa and boasts the
largest wine cellar under one roof, the world-famous and largest
exporter of wine and brandy in South Africa, KWV. It is also home
to Drakenstein Prison, formerly known as Victor Verster Jail, which
is famous for being the site of Nelson Mandela's release in 1990
after 27 years of imprisonment.
Should the crowds of tourists cramp your style, you always have
the option of going off the beaten track to explore Wellington and
surrounds
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