When I say ‘South Africa’, you say… Safari! Right?
South Africa has been a popular tourist destination for years. Renowned for its fantastic safari experiences, it is often top of everyone’s bucket list. We’re here to tell you that South Africa boasts a second star attraction. You may have seen South Africa, but have you tasted it?
Swap the safari park for vineyards and make the short drive from Cape Town to the Cape Winelands. Here the cultivation of grapes dates as far back as the 1600s! Today this is the largest wine-making region in South Africa. It offers plenty of delicious opportunities to sample some of the country’s finest wines and local delicacies. As the South African rand is weak at the moment, you can treat your taste buds to bottles for under £3. Restaurant prices are also superb value with main course dishes costing around £7- £10.
There are plenty of organised wine tours and even a hop-on, hop-off wine tram! If you’re planning a self-drive tour, the areas you simply can’t miss are Franschoek and Stellenbosch.
Franschoek
On a self-drive tour of the Cape Winelands, you can hand pick where you go. Make sure you check the latest car hire prices for South Africa.
In Franschoek, the vineyards we recommend visiting are Môreson, La Petite Ferme, and Haute Cabrière. Besides the classic Chennin Blanc and robust Pinotage, these vineyards also produce Bordeaux blends, Shiraz and what the locals would call seriously “quaffable” bubbly.
Where to eat?
The Holden Manz Winery is tucked away at the end of a country lane just outside Franschoek itself. Despite being a relatively new estate the winery is already winning prizes for its excellent blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and a fragrant rose called Franc.
Whilst it may be tempting to sip the afternoon and evening away, a trip to Holden Manz won’t be complete without a visit to their restaurant.
With idyllic views across the vineyards framed by a stunning backdrop of towering mountains, the restaurant enjoys a dream location. Don’t let the scenery distract you from the fantastic menu. Featuring bistro dishes modelled on local delicacies such as pumpkin gnocchi, visitors are in for a culinary treat!
For those that really can’t take their eyes off the scenery, the restaurant also prepares picnic hampers for guests. You can sit out beneath the shade of the vines or on the banks of a bubbling stream.
Where to Stay?
Basse Provence is by far the best B&B in town. After a tasting session with the Rickety Bridge winemaker and a glass or two of the estate’s crisp Semillon or Methode Cap Classique, South Africa’s very drinkable bubbly, a night in one of the four picture perfect cottages is the icing on the cake.
The cottages are thatched and offer a somewhat more homely accommodation than many wine estate hotels. However, the rooms are no less luxurious. Spacious, elegantly furnished and rustically decorated, with views looking out over the vineyards, we can’t think of a more ideal place to rest our (at this point, slightly fuzzy) heads.
Stellenbosch
In Stellenbosch the vineyards we suggest you make a beeline for are Tokara, Kanonkop and Delaire Graff Estate.
Where to eat?
The sprawling estate of Solms- Delta has been producing wine for nearly 320 years. Far from being stuck in time worn traditions, both the winery and the restaurant are unique places to visit.
The restaurants chefs reinvent classic Cape cooking by mixing ingredients and flavours from native Khoi nomads with Afrikaner and Cape Malay influences.
The restaurant offers the choice of a 4 course heritage menu or a wine pairing menu, where six glasses of the estate’s wines are accompanied by six delicious tapas dishes. Each menu won’t set you back more than £10 per person. Bargain!
Where to stay?
After a tour of the vineyards, a stay at Delaire Graff’s luxury lodge is not something you will soon forget.
Impeccable architectural design and flawless décor combine to create spaces that flow seamlessly between in and outdoors. Raid the fully stocked kitchen for all kinds or organic and home-made goodies or relax in the pool with a chilled glass of Delair Graff wine.
Our Hidden Gem!
Tulbagh itself is a sleepy picturesque town located well off the Cape’s usual wine route. However, it is home to some of the region’s most outstanding cellars.
We recommend a visit to the Readers Restaurant which is a favourite local hangout. With over 50 local vintages on the wine list, it is a great place to taste Tulbagh’s best wines.
Sample some mouth-watering South African dishes like bobotie, and feast on exotic home-made ice-cream flavoured with a range of unusual ingredients such as balsamic vinegar and olive oil!
So, for a true taste of South Africa hang up your hiking boots and embark on adventure of a different kind in the Cape Winelands.
For more ideas on what to do and where to go in South Africa check out our other blogs here. Or, if the thought of wine tasting has whet your appetite why not take a look at what Europe has to offer?
