Cape Winelands
Cape Winelands is a place where elegance meets untamed nature, where immaculate vineyards are pressed against unruly mountains and in which small-town charm is combined with well-traveled sensibilities.
Visitors to the Cape Winelands can easily spend anything from a single afternoon to a few days exploring the various wine estates and towns, the most famous of which are Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl.
Cape town area, Landscape of vineyards and homestead
Founded by the Dutch in 1679, Stellenbosch has a long, celebrated history and is the most famous of South Africa’s winelands regions. Meanwhile, with almost as many restaurants as there are wine cellars (around 30 at the most recent count), Franschhoek is considered the food and wine capital of South Africa. Originally settled by French Huguenot refugees, the town has maintained a strong French tradition.
Located in a secluded valley, Paarl is conveniently close to the other winelands’ towns and is well worth a visit. Located about 45 minutes’ drive from Cape Town, Elgin is quickly becoming known as a producer of some of South Africa’s best wines, the most famous of which come from the Paul Cluver and Beaumont estates.
