Wine Routes in South Africa
Tulbagh
Tulbagh boasts some of the most beautiful examples of early Cape
architecture. Church Street is the only street in South Africa where
every single building has been declared a National Monument.
Take time out to enjoy the hiking routes, mountain bike routes,
horse riding and fishing. Visit the Owl Rehabilitation Sanctuary
or go fruit picking or pop into Paddagang Restaurant and Wine House,
originally built as a wine cellar in 1809. It is open seven days
a week for breakfast, tea, lunch, wine tasting and wine sales. Alternatively,
you could take the Trans-Karoo Express which meanders through the
winelands to Tulbagh. You can also stop off en route at Boontjiesrivier
Pottery farm and the Bianco wine and olive estate. Lunch at a restaurant
in historic Church Street and return by bus via scenic Bainskloof
Pass to be dropped off back in the city.
The Hermanus circuit
Either go from Cape Town on the N2 over Sir Lowry's Pass to Hermanus
and return via Betty's Bay and Gordon's Bay, or the other way round.
You can stop for lunch in Hermanus or en route, or picnic. You can
easily stretch this trip to two days, particularly if you're in
whale season when the Southern Right whales return to the bay to
mate and calve. You can go beyond Hermanus to De Kelders or to other
land-based whale-watching spots which are by all accounts the world's
best. Every spring some 250 000 visitors descend upon Hermanus during
the 10-day Whale Festival.
In Hermanus you can also visit the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, walk
on the cliffs overlooking the sea, or visit Whalehaven Winery or
the estates of Hamilton-Russell and Bouchard-Finlayson. The Walker
Bay area produces some of South Africa's premier wines.
On route you can enjoy the Gordon's Bay to Rooi Els section of
the coast. In Betty's Bay you can visit the Harold Porter Nature
Reserve and even hope to spot a leopard. Some of the best fishing
in South Africa, both spear and line, is on this coast, but remember
that this can be a dangerous coast.
The West Coast
Head up to Langebaan and enjoy the lagoon or the nature reserve
where, especially in wildflower season, you may want to stay overnight.
Leave the city at 10h00, enjoy a picnic on the train, a show at
the Perron and return to the city by 18h00. The city of Darling
hosts the annual Wildflower Show in September.
Somerset West
Historians will enjoy scouting around the town's many historical
buildings and national monuments of which there are plenty.
For the eco-tourist there's the Helderberg Nature Reserve where
you'll find a variety of protea species and mountain fynbos , several
species of buck and nearly 170 species of birds including three
species of red-chested flufftail, found only in this area. You can
also take e a number of walking and hiking trails in the Helderberg
which range from a gentle amble to more challenging trails for serious
climbers. Your next stop will have to be the Helderberg Wine Route
where you'll find, amongst other things, the largest private port
producer in the world. You will find that most of the estates offer
wine tastings and all of them sell directly to the public.
Vergelegen, with the spectacular Hottentots Holland Mountains as
a backdrop, is a must for visitors to the area. You can take a stroll
through the Octagonal and Rose Gardens, take a look at the ancient
Camphor Trees which were declared national monuments in 1942, then
stop off at the Lady Phillips Tea Garden.
The Stellenbosch Wine Route
Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa
is known for its stately oaks and gracefully proportioned Cape Dutch
homesteads. Wear your comfortable shoes and prepare yourself for
a leisurely walk around the many museums and galleries. Take a break
for lunch at one of the many restaurants housed in historical buildings,
where traditional Cape fare is on the menu.
The Stellenbosch Wine Route was the first in South Africa and all
the estates along the route are within a 12km radius of the town.
All are open Monday to Saturday with only a few opening on Sundays.
They offer wine tastings and sell directly to the public and a number
of the estates offer light meals.
If you are feeling adventurous take on of the various nature walks
on the Helderberg Farm Hiking Trail. You can also join one of the
Horse Trails or explore the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. Make time
for some game viewing at Wiesenhof Game Reserve where you could
spot wildebeest, zebra, gemsbok, eland, ostrich and cheetah. The
best time to visit is around 11h00 which is feeding time for the
cheetahs.
Paarl Wine Route
30 minutes drive (56km) from Cape Town, you will find Paarl lying
in the Berg River Valley at the foot of the scenic Du Toitskloof
Mountains.
Attractions of Paarl are the Heen en Weer ostrich farm, a snake
park, a crocodile farm and the largest butterfly park in South Africa
where the butterflies fly freely in a covered garden. You can visit
the only Lion Park in the Western Cape which is just 20 minutes
outside Paarl. For birdwatchers there are over 140 species in the
Paarl area including Black Eagles and Peregrine Falcons. And at
the lkwezi Centre, you can buy ethnic rugs and tapestries of the
Bhabhathane Weavers.
The Paarl wine region is home to Paarl Vintners. Established in
1996 it has already founded a wine route with lots of well sign-posted
participants. Visit Fairview Estate where you can taste not only
their wines but also their wide variety of cheeses.
|
