South Africa’s Boland, Northern and East Coast Regions
Stellenbosch Wine Route
For wine and history lovers, the town of Stellenbosch presents you with an array of classic architecture, beautiful scenery, fun University life, great wines and food, interesting shops, galleries and antique stores and amazing people.
The oak lines streets of Stellenbosch are only 50km from Cape Town city center (30km from Cape Town International Airport) and if you travel along the coastal road it takes 1 hour from the far south peninsula regions like Muizenberg, St. James, Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek, and Simon’s Town. This area is the second oldest town in South Africa established by the early settlers and is the capital of the country’s wine industry. The streets are lined with Oak trees that the settler planted, some of which are now national monuments.
The wine route was established in 1971 and this made it the first in the country. This was fitting as Stellenbosch has the largest amount of wine producing vines in the country as well as winning the most awards for their wines per capita of wine than in any other region. The wine route offers more than 200 wine farms and estates within 5 sub routes and daily open tasting sessions are offered at most of them. Most wine estates and farms offer restaurants and cafes as well as cellar tours and sales. The five routes are marked with the Stellenbosch wine route logo and are called Greater Simonsberg, Stellenbosch Berg, Helderberg, Stellenbosch Hills and Bottelary Hills.
If you want to tour the wine route you can do so on your own and enjoy the other sights of the town, or you can join one of the many tours offered at all major hotels and holiday accommodation venues.
Aside from wine, this town is also well known for its cheese making and at farms like Zevenwacht you can enjoy cheese and wine tasting sessions. There are also horse drawn carriages rides offered at Blaauwklippen, bike tours through the vineyards, hiking trails in the various mountains that surround Stellenbosch, frozen yoghurt at Beyerskloof, horse riding and bird watching at Mount Rozier, game drives at Vredenheim, quad biking, tractor rides, golfing at fine courses, nougat and wine tasting at Lourensford, many olive and olive oil tasting estates, wine and biltong at Stellenbosch Hills, and a wine and chocolate experience at Bilton or Waterford, as well as many spas and luxury country guest lodges to stay at while you are here.
For those also interested in the unique Cape Dutch architecture, you will find that Stellenbosch also offers the Cape Dutch Architecture Route showcasing many of the oldest and best preserved 17th and 18th century homes with their simple layouts and intricate gables. Not only this, but with Stellenbosch University in the town, you are able to enjoy a diverse culture and nightlife whilst traveling here making it the perfect place to bring the entire family.
