The Winelands

Spend a few nights in picturesque Franschhoek with its stunning scenery and incredible array of world-class restaurants, and visit the local vineyards and those in Stellenbosch and Paarl. In fact, the winelands actually begin just the other side of Table Mountain, in Constantia, and this makes a great base from which to access both the wineries and Cape Town, as well as starting point for a garden route holiday.

Unlike most of the world’s wine growing regions, the Cape Winelands are not just about vines and wines, but also Cape Dutch architecture and stunning mountain scenery which are evident in the valleys of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek.

Stellenbosch, at the heart of the wine country, is South Africa’s second oldest town and has become famous for its Cape Dutch architecture and tree lined streets. It is a university town with quite a buzz to it. Plus many of the major vineyards are located around Stellenbosch.

For somewhere a little quieter, there is the small village of Franschhoek with its world renowned restaurants, excellent wine estates and more peaceful pace. It was in this town that a number of French Huguenots settled bringing a strong French influence to the Franschhoek valley, which still exists today in the names of the vineyards and the village itself.

Paarl is a small scenic town – the third oldest town in South Africa. Like Stellensbosch, Paarl is famed for its Cape Dutch architecture as well as being home to a number of the top wineries in the Western Cape.