Rolling vineyards, majestic mountains, quaint Cape Dutch homesteads on award-winning wine farms and trying some of the world’s best wines. This half day Cape Winelands Tour is a window into this beautiful world.
Your friendly and helpful guide will take you to the heart of the Cape, the Winelands. A short 45-minute drive from Cape Town and you arrive at the historic town of Stellenbosch. This is a quaint town with many examples of the unique Cape Dutch architecture and surrounded by exquisitely manicured wine fields on large farms. Many of these farms have huge farmhouses with wine cellars for wine tasting. Stellenbosch itself has the charm and grace of an old-world town. It is also home to the University of Stellenbosch with over 27000 students. It is the only university in South Africa that offers a degree in viticulture and enology, and it has many of the country's most successful winemakers as alumni. A walk down the historic Dorp Street is fascinating and interesting with historical Cape Dutch and Victorian architecture lining the streets and ancient Oak Trees shading the pavements. Dorp Street is a perfect blend of historical buildings, artsy boutiques, museums, galleries, delis, coffee shops, and restaurants. It is one of the longest rows of surviving old buildings of any major town in southern Africa, the second oldest road in the country, and its length is a national monument.
Then on to beautiful wine farms to enjoy some of the world's best wines and clear your pallet with some great cheeses before you try the next heavenly vintage. South African wines are recognized internationally and we make some exceptional wines, both red and white. You will learn a little about the making and storing of wine from the resident oenologist, visit a wine cellar where huge barrels are stored and tapped. Tasting is more like giving a wine its final exam. You will learn how to assess the wine's balance, structure, palate feel, level of sweetness, acidity, complexity, and length of the finish. How to observe the 'legs' [how the wine clings to the side of the glass] of the wine on your glass and to get information from the colour and smell of the different vintages. All this in a most picturesque setting with mountains and vinelands.
This is wine country. Stellenbosch has the spectacular Jonkershoek Mountains as a backdrop and is surrounded by wine farms with fields and acres of vines. As early as 1689 was identified as a good place to settle with a great potential for agriculture. A variety of soils and locations ideally suited to the flourishing of a wide variety of grape cultivars has seen Stellenbosch continue to dominate the South African wine scene in terms of quality. With the growing acceptance of South African wines globally, Stellenbosch remains at the forefront of growth in the wine industry. The wine was long important to the Cape Colony. The ships rounding the Cape would stop to get supplies, and wine, apart from being a great drink, was held to prevent scurvy.
Then enjoy your scenic drive back to Cape Town.
Wear comfortable shoes
Collection from your city Hotel/Lodge or the Victoria and Albert Waterfront.
Time: Morning: 8h30 to 9h00
Or Afternoon: 13h30 to 14h30
Your friendly and informed guide will collect you from you place of choice and 30 to 45 minutes later you will arrive in the heart of the Cape Winelands, Stellenbosch.
Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch, also known as the Eikestad (City of Oaks in Afrikaans) is not only the second oldest town in South Africa but also boasts the largest variety and concentration of vineyards, with more than 140 wine farms. This university town has well preserved examples of Cape Dutch style and Victorian architecture. Step back in time on a walk down Dorp Street under the shade of its ancient oak trees, past antique shops and quaint shops like Oom Samie se Winkel and Gypsy Trading Post with the smell of fresh roasted coffee catching your nose as you pass the many cafe's. Many of the houses are national monuments and this delightful street is a perfect blend of historical buildings, artsy boutiques, museums, galleries, delis, coffee shops and restaurants.
You visit a cosy wine cellar and enjoy some excellent wines and some tasty cheese.
End your Cape Winelands day tour with a scenic drive back to Cape Town.
Morning
Depart – 8:30 to 9:00am
Return – 12:30pm
Afternoon
Depart – 13:30-14:00pm
Return – 17:30pm
All tours depart from your Hotel/V&A Waterfront
Price excludes lunch
Wear comfortable shoes
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