This was published 5 years ago
Things to see and do in South Africa's Winelands: Three-minute guide
By Brian Johnston
The town of Stellenbosch in South Africa's Western Cape is surrounded by vineyards.Credit: Alamy
WHY
South Africa's celebrated winelands are only a 50-kilometre drive east of Cape Town, but a daytrip just isn't enough to take in the region's dozens of cellar doors, historic houses, gourmet restaurants and superb gardens. Regional centre Stellenbosch has oodles of history, good theatres and dining and, since it's a university town, lively cafes and pubs. Above all, though, the winelands provide gobsmacking scenery in which Dutch-era manor houses crouch amid vineyards backed by jagged mountains.
VISIT
A dish of crumbed goats chevre, fig preserve, rocket and walnuts at La Petite Ferme's restaurant.Credit: Alamy
Stellenbosch features lovely buildings from the Dutch, Georgian and Victorian eras, snug under thatched roofs and shaded by massive oaks. Village Museum (stelmus.co.za) recreates period houses and explains household management in various eras. Surrounding cellar doors line the R44 route to Paarl and R310 to Franschhoek, which swings over the gorgeous Helshoogte Pass. Stop for the brilliant views at Simonsig Wine Estate (simonsig.co.za) and at Boschendal (boschendal.com) for its historic Cape Dutch manor house and lovely grounds.
EAT
Don't miss La Petite Ferme (lapetiteferme.co.za) in Franschhoek, which has scrumptious food – smoked trout, Mediterranean lamb – and a fabulous outlook over vineyards and mountains. Tokara (tokara.com) on Helshoogte Pass is a winery notable for cabernet sauvignon blends and a superlative restaurant showcasing contemporary South African cuisine. 96 Winery Road (96wineryroad.co.za) in Somerset West has a top wine list and a great seasonal menu offering the likes of smoked chicken, short ribs and dry-aged steaks.
Octagonal garden of Vergelegen historic wine estate in Somerset West, Western Cape province of South Africa.Credit: Alamy
LOOK
Stellenbosch is renowned for reds, but white wines take over in Franschhoek or "French Corner", named for its 18th-century Huguenot refugees. The upmarket tourist village has a beautiful setting ringed by mountains, and a reputation as South Africa's gourmet capital, known for cheese, chocolate and rainbow trout as well as wine. Haute Cabriere (cabriere.co.za) on the hillside above town specialises in sparkling wine and pinot noir. The tasting room has stunning outlooks and a cellar tour.
MUST
Vergelegen (vergelegen.co.za) near Somerset West, a 30-minute drive south of Stellenbosch, is an historic winery offering good merlots and chardonnays, but is especially worth visiting for its estate gardens, which erupt in a profusion of flowerbeds and great banks of purple hydrangeas. A beautiful thatched manor house, built in 1700, is surrounded by verdant lawns dotted with ancient camphor trees with odd, bulbous trunks. Afternoon tea among the perfumed roses is a delight.
SLEEP
There's no lack of generally excellent accommodations in the winelands. Among them in Stellenbosch, River Manor Boutique Hotel (rivermanor.co.za) features two historic houses set in leafy gardens, while Edwardian-era villa Summerwood (summerwood.co.za) has large rooms and a swimming pool. In Franschhoek Le Quartier Francais (leeucollection.com) features whitewashed cottages in flower-filled gardens, and packs a flavour punch in its restaurant, where ever-changing degustation and wine-tasting menus have a flair for innovation.
TIP
The Stellenbosch Wine Route (wineroute.co.za) is a well-established tourist route linking some 200 cellar doors and is signposted with brown, grape-featuring road signs. You can explore the wider wine region with other routes in Constantia, Helderberg and Durbanville.
Brian Johnston travelled courtesy South African Tourism.
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