In 1652 the Dutch East India company establishment a refreshment station at
the Cape of Good Hope aiming to provide fresh food to the company's fleet on
voyages to India and surrounding areas. As a result of this trading station
South Africa now boasts a flourishing wine industry and colourful,
multi-cultural nation.
The fertile soil and Mediterranean climate of the Western Cape, makes the
Cape Winelands one of the most renowned wine producing areas in the world. The
Western Cape is also cooler than its position of 34º South of the equator might
suggest, making the area ideal for growing a wide range of noble vine varieties
such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Pinot Noir.
The traditional wine growing areas along the coastal regions are seldom more
than 50km from the ocean and are exposed to cool breezes blowing in from the
sea.
All the wine grape varietals cultivated in South Africa, belong to the Vitis
vinifera species, originally brought from Europe. Unfortunately these European
vines were susceptible to phylloxera and as a result many South African
viticulturists these days often have to graft their vines onto American
rootstock in order to resist the insect.
Although Cape Town and the nearby Boland basin is best-known for it's superb
Bordeaux-style red wines, the wine-producing regions of the province extends
further north- and eastwards and has established itself as producer of
world-class red, white, fortified and sparkling wines from a wide range of
varietals.
Constantia
The oldest and one of the most famous wine farms in the area is Groot
Constantia, which was granted to governor Simon van der Stel in 1685, by the
Dutch East India Company. The estate is located on the Southern Slopes of Table
Mountain and is still world-renowned for it's superb wines and breathtaking
location. It's beautiful Cape Dutch homestead also forms part of the Iziko
South African National Museums. The Constantia region also features such
formidable estates as Steenberg well know for it's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc and
Semmilon while the nearby Buitenverwachting produces outstanding Chardonnay.
Both estates feature award-winning restaurants.
Boland
From Cape Town, the Winelands spread north-east and eastwards to the beautiful
Boland basin with Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek and Wellington being the
most prominent producers. Some of the oldest wine farms in South Africa are
situated in and around this beautiful Cape Dutch village, which at over
300-years old, is the oldest town in the country. Although the area hosts an
endless amount of superior wine estates, well-known farms towards the east
include the Shiraz and Port producing Alto; the prolific Blaauwklippen estate
which produces one of the only Zinfandel's in the region; the red wine
producing Delheim; the famous Lanzerac estate and hotel; the prominent
Middelvlei; the international award-winning red wine producing Rust en Vrede
estate; Vriesenhof with it's outstanding white wines; the exclusive Engelbrecht
Els estate and the beautiful Tokara with it's adjoining restaurant managed by
famous local chef and saucier Etienne Bonthuys.
Towards the west of the town there's the well-known Beyerskloof, famous for
it's award-winning Pinotage; the superior sparkling wine producing House of JC
Le Roux, the scenic Meerlust estate with it's legendary Rubicon blend; the
family-run Overgaauw; the "Cap Classique" producing Villiera and
Zevenwacht estate.
The nearby Franschhoek, which translates as "French corner" also
boasts some of the country's oldest estates: The beautiful Boschendal with it's
typical Cape Dutch homestead; Cabriere Estate with it's flagship range of
Pierre Jourdan "Methode Cape Classique" sparkling wines; Graham Beck
with it's signature Brut Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine and Rhona Muscadel; and
the beautiful La Motte estate which produces outstanding Shiraz.
Overberg
On the otherside of the Franschhoek and Hottentots Holland mountain ranges, the
Overberg region includes quaint villages such as McGregor, Montagu and Robertson
- the latter boasts the De Wetshof estate, owned by the prolific Chardonnay
producer Danie de Wet, while the nearby Hemel-and-Aarde valley close to
Hermanus is home to such spectacular wineries as Hamilton Russel with it's
well-known Pinot Noir and the legendary Bouchard Finlayson.
Swartland
North of Cape Town, the predominantly wheat producing Swartland region includes
the fructuous Riebeek valley, well-known for it's Shiraz wines and olive farms.
This region hosts such prestigious estates as Kloovenburg, Allesverloren and
Twee Jonge Gezellen, as well as the larger co-operative wineries such as
Riebeek Cellars, Swartland Cellars and Darling Cellars, extending further east,
towards the Hexrivier Valley at De Doorns and north towards the Olifants River
valley close to Citrusdal and the fruitful Orange River Valley near Upington in
the Northern Cape.
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to plan a trip to South Africa and its beautiful winelands. With up to date
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