Whether you enjoy drinking wine or not, the Cape Winelands are a must for anyone traveling to Cape Town. The Winelandsare situated east of Cape Town among beautiful mountains creating some stunning vistas. The region is steeped in culture and history with some excellent examples of typical Dutch architecture dating back to the 17th century. The Winelands encompass several regions each with their own wine tasting tours. The most popular towns include Stellenbosch (which is closest to Cape Town), Franschhoek, Wellington, and Paarl.
If you're on a tour, you will likely visit the larger wineries like Spier near Stellenbosch and Groot Constantia, close to Cape Town. If you rent a car you can enjoy these gems; Fairview (also has excellent cheeses), Meerlust near Stellenbosch, and Seidelberg near Paarl. Stop for picnic lunch at Boschendal in Franschhoek and you have yourself a perfect day. You should also nip in at some of the organic markets that are cropping up in the area for some home-made jams, sandwiches, salads, chutneys, biltong and more.
For a true gourmet meal you can stop at any of the incredible restaurants that line the main street of Franschhoek. Closer to Cape Town try Jonkershuis in Groot Constantia. If you have children with you, the Spier Wine Estate near Stellenbosch will keep them happy while you do some tasting. If you really appreciate good wine, then visit the wineries that make the Cape's best wines.
More about the Cape Winelands and Cape Town's top 10 Restaurants...
