Guest Blog for WinesWorld’s Blog By Sandy Salle
Immerse yourself in South Africa’s celebrated “Food & Wine” capital, Cape Winelands. Famous for its fascinating countryside, infinite vineyards, and unique local cultures, Cape Winelands is one of the world’s most highly-acclaimed wine countries.
As a wine lover’s paradise, Cape Winelands explodes with the scent of plump grapes and fertile earth—and when combined, these two elements produce some of the world’s greatest wines. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or simply love wine (without the tasting expertise), a tour through Cape Winelands will introduce you to spectacular wines, pairings, and wine making history.
Comprised of family owned vineyards that date back centuries ago, this region is rich with intriguing history and cultural heritage. Because there is so much more to visiting Cape Winelands than simply tasting wine, Cape Winelands has racked up quite the reputation with its well-rounded tours. From olive oil tastings, to brandy tastings, and village tours, to food and wine tasting tours, you’ll discover how food and wine have played a crucial role in shaping Cape Winelands existence since the early 1600s.
In the Cape Winelands, you have the opportunity to experience . . .
- Winemaking tours: Have you ever dreamt about making your own wine? If so, you can bring that dream to life on a winemaking tour. During this tour, you experience the entire winemaking process and, in the end, you’ll receive your very own bottled, delicious creations. From harvesting the grapes yourself, to crushing the grapes, to allowing your wine to ferment, you will have created a spectacular wine from start to finish. Once your wine has fermented and is properly bottled, the wine you have made will be shipped to your home (whether you live in Europe, the U.S., or elsewhere) for you to share with family and friends. In addition to actually making the wine, you’ll also learn about food and wine pairings and how to make cheese, and you will experience several wine and olive tastings throughout the region.
- Personal wine tasting tours: Whether you’re looking to enjoy an intimate wine tasting tour on your honeymoon, or want to experience a tour with close friends or family, you will be able to have a completely private and personal experience on one of Cape Winelands’ many multiday personal tours. Wine tasting tours go to some of Cape Winelands’ most prestigious wine and olive estates, allowing you to try delicious wines, brandies, olive oils, and olives.
Because personal wine tasting tours allow you to choose your activities, you can eliminate any vineyards or estates you don’t wish to see. For example, if you prefer white wine as opposed to red (or vice versa) you have the opportunity to hand select the vineyards that specialize primarily in whites (or reds). No matter the size of your group, you can experience a personal wine tasting tour that gives you the attention you deserve and a front-row wine tasting experience.
- VIP Wine Tasting: Many of the personal multiday wine tasting tours provide you with the option of making a highly tailored itinerary that will incorporate your every individual preference. Whether you want to enjoy private, delectable lunches and picnics at exclusive wine estates and talk with the masters of winemaking themselves, or visit some of the most prestigious Winelands estates, VIP wine tasting tours will satisfy your every desire. Because some of the estates are by-appointment only, an intimate wine tasting tour allows you to visit some of the most exclusive estates throughout the Winelands. One such estate, The De Toren estate, is open by appointment only and is a rare treat to anyone’s itinerary because the winemaker uses the traditional way of making wine—using basket presses instead of pumping the wine. Visitors on their personal Cape Winelands tour are able to meet De Toren’s winemaker and enjoy a private tour and tasting.
- One Day Tours: If you’re not staying in Cape Winelands for several nights, a one day tour through some of the local villages and Cape Dutch farms is one of the best ways to witness all the beauty and highlights Cape Winelands has to offer. Some of the local villages you can visit while on one day tours include Franschhoek’s historic French Huguenot Village, Paarl, and Stellenbosch. On these tours you will observe all-encompassing, classic Cape Dutch style architecture and spectacular sight-seeing, and learn about the rich cultural and historical heritage of the region from expert guides. You can also enjoy a variety of one day wine tasting and olive tasting tours.
- Horseback riding tours: Take an intimate, multiday wine tasting tour through the prestigious wine vineyards of Franschhoek on horseback. Enjoy frequent stops at some of the region’s most exceptional vineyards and relax on the rolling countryside for a delectable picnic. Visiting only the vineyards you want to see, you can be certain you’ll experience the most personal, accommodating, and exceptional wine tasting tour you’ve ever had.
About Sandy
Sandy Salle is a native of Zimbabwe and was born and raised in Southern Africa. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Hills of Africa, a top provider of personalized, luxury safari vacations, and is passionate about using her first-hand knowledge of Africa to create the trip of a lifetime for her clients. Currently based state-side in North Carolina, she resides with her husband and two small children. Sandy travels home to Africa several times a year and believes that sharing Africa with others is the next best thing to living there.
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Tags: Cape Winelands, Soth Africa
Edmund
July 2nd, 2010 at 08:58
Hi Sandy,
First of all, great guest contribution. I’d never have thought South Africa has so much wine infrastructure.
Could you explain the wines a bit more, though? I’m not really all that knowledgeable about the South African wine market. I’d appreciate if you could tell me a bit more about the types of wines the region produces, the growing conditions there, or maybe even some examples of good wines out of South Africa that I can try for myself.
JamesT
July 2nd, 2010 at 14:03
I knew South Africa had great wines, I’m a big fan of New Wolrd Wines in general, what I didn’t know was how developed the wine industry is out there. My brotheres wife used to liove out there and she loved the place, I must visit and soon! For the tourism of course, not just for the wines!
J
Sandy Salle
July 2nd, 2010 at 14:46
Hi Edmund – thanks for your kind words.
Yes, South Africa has been producing wines since 1659, when the first wines were produced by Jan Van Riebeek. Two decades later, after the appointment of a governor in Cape Town, wine farming communities were formed in Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl regions. At this time a small group of French Huguenots settled in the Franschhoek area, and luckily for South Africa brought with them their skills and expertise.
Of course, then South Africa went through the Apartheid regime and were banned from international sales. Since the end of Apartheid in the early 1990′s, the wine industry has gone through a boom period and has led to lots of new wineries and a change from local to international focus – that’s why we are now hearing about South African wines.
South Africa is known for its Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Bordeaux, Pinotage (which is a blend), Merlots, and my favorite Sauvignon Blancs.
Avondale Wines makes a lovely Merlot which has a deep velvety texcure, hints of fruit favlors and long, subtle tannin finish – it’s called Les Perleus Merlot 2006.
The Raats family makes some delicious Chenin Blancs – the Raats Original Chenin Blanc 2008 and 2007 and their Cabernet Franc is wonderful with beef.
If you are a Bordeaux fan, then try a bottle of Morgenster. They also produce award winning olive oils. Meerlust Estates is one of the top producers of Bordeaux style reds.
De Toren’s Z and Fusion V are very good red blends.
Ken Forrester wines do some amazing Chenin Blancs.
Rust en Vrede do a delicious blended wine and this is called Rust en Vrede Estate and US Wine Spectator has rated it as one of the Top 100 Wines in the World in most years out of the last 10 years. So this is a good choice.
Waterford do some lovely Sauvignon Blancs and chardonnays. Fleur du Cap also has some good Sauvignon Blancs.
Sounds like we need to go wine tasting!!
Katie
July 2nd, 2010 at 16:51
I love this post! Thanks so much for such great information. I wish I knew more about wine, but I bet I can learn more here!
Thanks again,
Katie
http://www.katherinekouture.com/blog
Petra
July 3rd, 2010 at 13:25
The Horeseback Riding looks just like what I would love to do. It is the ultimate combination – horse riding and wine tasting. It can’t get better than that! I have to bookmark this for the time when I can afford it time wise and money wise. Thank you so much for some great ideas!
robbie
July 5th, 2010 at 05:54
An amazing part of the world, horse riding, and fine wine, a very enjoyable read Sandy, thank you for sharing this.
Rosalinda G
July 18th, 2010 at 04:46
Thanks for the great post, this image reminds me during a visit to southern Africa to watch the World Cup yesterday, great photos and fantastic wineries.