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Cape Town City
Guide
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Winelands ·
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| Winelands Tour -
full itinerary |
A tour of the Cape Winelands
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The Cape Winelands are world renowned for superb
wines and great beauty. The mountains enclose fine Dutch-style towns developed
by the Dutch and Huguenot settlers in the late seventeenth century. They took
on the wild landscape and left a fine wine industry, pretty towns and a great
heritage.
Depart Cape Town and take the N2 highway. You will pass the airport but keep
going until you see the turn off to Stellenbsoch (R310). Take this turn
off, turn left and after a few miles you will see the Spier Estate on
the right. Spier is a winelands entertainment complex. Wander among the old
buildings and visit the Cheetah project. As you wish, have a wine tasting here
and visit the extensive wine shop. Rejoin the R310 and continue toward
Stellenbosch.
If you are interested in brandy take the next right and make your way to the
Van Ryn Brandy cellar for a fascinating tour of the Distillery. Resume
your journey along the R310. When you reach the T junction turn right and
follow the road into Stellenbosch.
Option turn left at this point and you will soon see a turning to
the right for Uiterwyk, Overgaauw and Jordan. Follow the road all the way up
this pretty valley to the small and excellent Jordan estate. Then retrace your
route and drive into Stellenbosch.
As you approach Stellenbosch turn right into Dorp Street. The variety of
architecture and the great oaks and canals of Dorp street are magnificent - but
keep your eyes open for signs pointing left to the tourist information. Go
there and ask for a map detailing a walking tour of the town and for free maps
of the winelands. The Village Museum is also worth a visit.
Once you have relished the lovely streets of Stellenbosch leave the town,
rejoining the R310 and heading over the Helshoogte Pass toward Pniel and
Franschhoek. Just before the top of the pass turn right into the Delaire
Estate. The views are magnificent. Then resume the journey down the hill,
through Pniel, turning left at the bottom of the valley into the Boschendal
Estate. See the manor house. In summer Boschendal produce a fine picnic. You
may also wish to visit their wine tasting centre.
Resume the journey, turning right at the end of the road toward
Franschhoek. Follow the R45 the length of the beautiful valley until you
enter the town. There are many excellent places for lunch in the town and on
the pass at its far end. You may wish to walk around the Huguenot Memorial at
the end of the Main Road.
Driving from the Memorial, back down Main Road, take the first left and follow
the signs to the Cabriere Estate (you will follow a farm track) - here
you can sample excellent champagne-style wines. Leave Franschhoek on the R45,
retracing your steps, and stay on this road toward Paarl.
Option You may wish to stop for extra wine tasting at Plaisir de
Merle or by following the signs to Backsberg.
At the junction at the end of the R45 turn left and then right into the Agter
Paarl road toward the Fairview Estate. The estate will soon be seen on
the right. This award winning estate produces fine wine and goat's cheese. See
the goat house in the parking area.
Continue along the Agter Paarl road - stop at any of the estates if you are
still in the mood for tasting - and at the junction at the end of the road turn
left onto the R44. You will come to turnings onto the N1 freeway - turn right
toward Cape Town. The journey back to the city takes about 50 minutes. |
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