RoadTrips Through Cape Town’s Wine Tasting Routes

CapeTown and surrounds has a rich culture of wine tasting andviticulture, boasting many wine farms, vineyards and wine routeswhich make up a perfect trip from Cape Town where you have ample timeto drive and visit all the wine establishments and experience thetasting opportunities within its estates and farms.

When Jan van Riebeek arrived in what is now known as the Cape in 1652, hebrought with him Dutch settlers, European culture, and consequently - wine. Just under four hundred years later, the Cape has become one ofthe world’s favourite destinations for wine production.

Discoveringthe Cape Wine Routes

There are many wine routes in the Cape to explore. Stellenbosch has fourmain routes: the Bottlary Hills, Devon Valley, Helderberg andSimonsberg routes. It is also one of the most popular routes toexplore by car, not only because of the scenery, but because all thewine farms are in relatively close proximity, thus you are able tosqueeze in more travel in a day.

ATypical Trip

An example of a vineyards road trip could be started in Cape Town in thesuburb of Durbanville, home of the Durbanville Wine Valley andvineyards. Theaccommodation is always of a high standard at any point on the tripand Durbanville has hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfasts and muchmore to offer.

Explore the 9 wine farms, taste their produce, eat a wonderful lunch at oneof the farms delectable restaurants and relax in the evening at thetheatre, shopping mall or just having an early night as your nextday’s trip kicks off with exploring Wellington.

Wellington is a quiet mountain side town, a figure of history and is situated next to the Kromme River in the Bolandarea of the Western Cape. Begin the day with thehour drive from CapeTown to Wellington. After checking into a local bed and breakfast,hotel, guest house or back packers, the Wellington Wine routes areyours to explore! Wellington has over 20 wine farms to offer and abrandy route. Explore wine farms, restaurants, beautiful scenery andoutdoor activities for two days and two nights. On day 4, the journeymoves on to Worcester.

Worcesteris situated in the Breede River Valley, a picturesque town withhistoric buildings and sweeping parks with bright flora and fauna.After checking into one of thetown’s guest houses, bedand breakfasts or camp sites, the tour of the Worcester wine routebegins. Many famous wine farms are situated in Worcester, offering wine tasting, restaurants and shops. White water rafting is highlyrecommended as one of the best things to do in the town. After spending the night, the wine tour extends to the seaside whale spot,Hermanus, for two days of wineries and fun activities.

Hermanus has many hotels and accommodation options such as guest houses, bedand breakfasts and back packers. The town looks over the Indian Ocean whereWhales venture in spring to mate and calve and provide the jollyatmosphere for the Hermanus Whale Festival. The Hermanus wine farmsare situated in the Hermanus 'Wine Wander' known as 'Hemel enAarde' (heaven and earth in Afrikaans). Hermanus offers many other activities to wine farming so if you feel like whale spotting,visiting a spa or nature reserve or even paintball, you can find allof these activities in this lively seaside town. After taking days 5and 6 to explore Hermanus, it is time to relocate the tour toSomerset West for days 7 and 8.

Somerset West has many options in terms of accommodation: hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts. After checking into your accommodation,it is time to explore this lovely town. Somerset West is home to theHelderberg Wine Route: an exploration of over 30 wine farms andestates. The route boasts many famous cellars and farms: Vergelegen,Alto, Eikendal and Rust en Vrede to name a few. The town also has ashopping mall, Monkeytown, golf and a nature reserve. The trip staysin Somerset West for two days giving plenty of time to explore theactivities and wine farms on offer.

Onday 9 the trip departs for Cape Town to spend the last day and nightvisiting wine farms in Constantia, an area which boast the famous andoldest winery in South Africa: Groot Constantia. The area ofConstantia boasts 5 top class wine farms, includingBuitenverwachting, Constantia Uitsig and Klein Constantia. The areahas the usual options for accommodation set in a charming suburb of Cape Town.

Roadtrips through the Cape winelands really do offer a great getaway andtour opportunity for all ages and cultures. The wines are first classand international standard yet even if you are not a fan ofviticulture, the area has so much more to offer.

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