South Africa has the longest wine route in the world and one of the oldest. We have a wide variety - from mountainous to coastal routes - so beautiful they will take your breath away.

The Western Cape has no fewer than 18 official wine routes and two brandy routes - tourist magnets and a lure for the laziest locals to get out of their dialing codes and into the valleys and vineyards in their picturesque province.

 

Plettenberg Bay Wine Region

Plettenberg Bay has been an official Wine of Origin district since 2006, and has the most easterly vineyards in the Cape. The first vines were planted on the hillside area just outside Plettenberg Bay in 2000 and consisted mainly of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. New wineries on the Garden Route are tapping into the viticultural craze for cool-climate vineyards.

 

Franschhoek Wine Valley

The Franschhoek Valley has proudly become the food and wine capital of the country.

Beautiful vineyards cover the mountain slopes settled more than 300 years ago by the French Huguenots, who brought with them their age-old wine and food culture. This is a valley rich in history and centered on a picturesque village that has lost little of its old-world charm.

Driving into Franschhoek - which translates to "French Corner" - you will notice that most of the farms still bear their original French names and retain much of the original Cape Dutch architecture. There are a variety of cellars, from small boutique to large offering organised tours and tastings.

Over the years, the 48 Vignerons de Franschhoek members have become known as some of the most innovative and progressive wine producers in South Africa and have firmly established Franschhoek as one of the best wine-producing areas in the Cape Winelands.

 

The Kwa-Zulu Natal Wine Route

The Kwa-Zulu Natal wine area is young and exploratory, and the planting of vines in this province only began in the early 1990s. 

Winemaking is currently limited to the Midlands between Howick and Mooi River. However, there are continuous experimental developments of vineyards across several areas. Visit The Stables Winery, a cellar that has been voted the top winery by the public in this route, for a taste of this province's developing style.

 

The West Coast Wine Route

A stone's throw from the icy Atlantic Ocean, on the Western Cape's ruggedly beautiful West Coast, lies one of South Africa's richest and most diverse wine regions. The mountain peaks of Gifberg, Maskam and Koebee as well as the Olifants River Valley form an integral part of the West Coast Wine Route. It's a beautiful, scenic route which will take you through obscure dorps such as Koekenaap and Vanrhynsdorp to charming fishing villages.

 

Constantia Valley

Steeped in history, the Constantia Valley wine route is situated in the oldest wine-making region in the southern hemisphere. The route consists of nine wine farms, each with their own distinctive heritage and premium wines. 

Given its proximity to the city and easy accessibility, Constantia Valley is an intimate route and is considered Cape Town's own. 

While sweet whites gave the area its legendary appeal, Constantia is also renowned for dry whites and reds, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay Semillon and Viognier plus Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Pinotage and Cabernet Franc as well as their legendary Bordeaux style red and white blends. This spread of cultivars allows for a range of crafted wines that capture the complexity and elegance characteristic of the Valley's terroir and gentle maritime climate.

With acknowledgement to SPAR Savour Magazine