Stellenbosch Wine Route

The Stellenbosch Wine Route was the first wine route in the Cape and was established in 1971. It is synonymous with a variety of high quality, award winning red and white wines.

Stellenbosch was founded in 1679 by Dutch settlers. The region's cool climate and fertile soil combined with the planting of suitable varieties of grapes laid the foundation for great wine making. 

The Wine Route comprises 44 cellars which are situated along the four main roads leading to Stellenbosch. Each cellar entrance is clearly sign posted with the official Wine Route logo.

Most of the cellars offer cellar tours, wine tasting as well as lunches in their shaded gardens and restaurants. Of course there will be plenty of wine to choose from.

This is a picturesque route with views of Cape Dutch style homesteads, vineyards covering rolling hills and valleys with a gorgeous mountain backdrop.

If you're after the spectacular views the Cape has to offer you could explore the Fruit Route. From Stellenbosch, start with the Helshoogte Pass to the Berg River Valley, over the Franshhoek Pass to the upper Riviersonderend Valley, then over the Viljoen's Pass to Elgin and finally back to Stellenbosch down the Sir Lowry's Pass.

For the wine lovers on that drive you'd be hard pressed to pass Franschhoek!!! 

http://www.stellenboschtourism.co.za/

Pictures courtesy of cometocapetown.com and vinehopper.co.za

The Cape Wine Routes.

If there's one very good reason to visit the Cape it has to be the wide range of wine routes available to explore!!! Traditionally the Cape Winelands refers to the Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek and Wellington cellars.


There are however a good few newer wine routes within easy driving distance from Cape Town. These include Constantia, Durbanville, Darling and Walker Bay wine routes.


What I will look to do in the next few weeks is explore some of the Cape Wine Routes to entice you to come and visit to do some tasting!!!

http://www.aboutcapetown.com/wineroutes.htm
http://www.wine.co.za/

On the Stellenbosch Wine Route

Stellenbosch Winelands

Photo courtesy of Virtual Tourist and africaholidaysandsafaris.com

Cape Point, the Cape of Storms.

Cape Point is found at the very tip of the Cape Peninsula, 60km South West of Cape Town. It is in the southern part of the Table Mountain National Park, a Natural World Heritage Site.

The extent of the park is 7750 hectares and contains various flora and fauna and includes buck, baboons and even Cape Mountain Zebra as well as 250 species of birds.

The natural vegetation of the area, fynbos, comprises the smallest but richest of the world's six floral kingdoms.

Also at Cape Point is a lighthouse built in 1859 and is accessed either by walking or the Flying Dutchman Funicular. The Two Oceans Restaurant will cater for your dining needs.

http://www.capepoint.co.za/index.htm

Kirstenbosch Gardens

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is acclaimed as one of the great botanic gardens of the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is set on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and was established in 1913 to promote, conserve and display the extraordinarily diverse flora of Southern Africa.

Kirstenbosch displays a wide variety of unique Cape Flora as well as plant life from other diverse regions of Southern Africa. There are over 7000 species in a garden that spans 36 hectares in a 528 hectare estate.

Apart from visiting the garden there are concerts and art exhibitions held at the garden too. There are facilities where visitors can dine as well gift shops and plant sale areas.

Kirstenbosch is definitely well worth a visit and you would well be advised to plan to stay a while. The gardens are open Monday to Sunday from 08h00 to 18h00/19h00 depending on the season. 

http://www.sanbi.org/gardens/kirstenbosch/art-garden-kirstenbosch-nbg

Photos courtesy of local tourism and gardening websites.