Cape Town's Winelands

South Africa’s award-winning wine industry is based just outside of the city of Cape Town, in a region of gentle, green hills, rugged mountains, fertile valleys and enchanting wine estates.

• Internationally acclaimed wines
• Beautiful pastoral scenery 
• Historic wine estates

Stretching back to the 17th century when the first Europeans arrived in the Cape, the history of South African wine is closely linked to that of Cape Town. Dutch settlers were the first to plant vineyards at Constantia on the outskirts of Cape Town, building a reputation overseas for quality and superb taste.

One of the Winelands’ premier destination is Stellenbosch. This is the second oldest town in the country and one of its most picturesque. Approximately half-an-hour’s drive from the city, old wine estates with gracious Cape Dutch architecture and rolling vineyards are dotted all about the region, today home to a popular university.

Nearby, the towns of Paarl and Franschhoek also feature impressive vineyars and wine estates. Franschhoek is particulary significant as this is where French Huguenots settled in 1688, bringing with them their rich culture and celebrated wine-making know-how. The town, which means “French Corner” in Duch, is still extremely French in character, with excellent restaurants, quaint shops and wine estates dotting the green valley between the famous Cape mountains.