Africa Tours - Touring South Africa's Wine Country

Wine is only the beginning

Few wine regions make it easier for wine and food enthusiasts to experience civilized hospitality than those in South Africa.

The first vineyards were established near Cape Town in 1655 and a long wine history is architecturally evident in whitewashed Cape Dutch buildings on wine estates, reminiscent of the days when the Dutch East India Company marketed South African wines in Europe.

South Africa’s wine production is the world’s seventh largest, and optimistically expanding. About 35 new wineries open each year and an emerging generation of well-trained, globally savvy young winemakers and growers are reinventing the wine industry.

Breathtaking views are an added bonus of wine touring and South African wine regions boast some of the finest: vineyards back-dropped by craggy mountains, fabulous cloudbanks, rolling hills and aquamarine waters.

Wine is a driving force in South African tourism and it’s easy to understand why. Relatively short distances between wine estates allow energetic enthusiasts to explore well-signed routes by bike or car throughout gorgeous countryside. Currently, a dozen wine routes offer easy navigation of tasting rooms, restaurants and bistros where the diversity of wine styles - from sweet to dry, nervy whites to dense reds - cater to every occasion and taste.

World class golf resorts also boast bargain-priced green fees when you need to walk off the results of too much scrumptious food and drink. A wide spectrum of accommodation — from hotels to wine-estate bed and breakfasts — gives visitors an opportunity to stay close to vineyards. A weak South African rand currency is a bonus in affordability.

How to decide where to go in South Africa?

Visitors can tour the world’s most modern or most historic wine estates but any of the routes can create an excursion that illustrates how influential the wine industry has been in this country’s history. Wine continues to be as instrumental in guiding South Africa’s cultural and economic growth as is tourism. Each wine region has its own contact office to offer assistance so the only difficult part is deciding how long you can stay.

Cape Town is the closest gateway to South Africa wine regions, including Constantia and the historic villages of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. Closest and most historic, Constantia is twenty minutes from Cape Town, while fifteen minutes from Cape Town’s airport is the newest wine route, Helderberg. Franschhoek (literally, French corner) was first settled by French Huguenots over three hundred years ago and fittingly is known as the restaurant capital of wine country. Stellenbosch and the picturesque university town that gives its name to the region, is one of the most visited tourist spots in the Cape, with many distinguished wine producers.

Paarl is also long established with some of the oldest vineyards. Exciting new focus is on areas east of Capetown, such as Hermanus on Walker Bay, which capitalizes on the cooling effects of ocean breezes to grow wonderful pinot noir and chardonnay. Best times to visit wine country in South Africa

Harvest season is always a thrilling time to visit wine country, and in South Africa, this is from mid-January to April. Most tasting rooms are open year round (oddly, many close on weekends).

Styles of wines

Cabernet sauvignon is still king in number of red plantings but syrah (aka, shiraz) is going into the ground as fast as growers can dig. Pinotage is a grape unique to South Africa, its answer to zinfandel. White wines made from chardonnay, chenin blanc or riesling compete with the best, but sauvignon blanc may prove the best ambassador.

The food

The diversity of wine styles matches a well-developed culinary tradition influenced by the East, West, and African cultures, but dominated by Malay’s regional ingredients, with an oriental lift. Meat is important in a wide range of dishes, from sweet and savory beef and mutton stews (“bobotie”), spicy lamb curries, game (venison) and Indian samosas. Local fish such as snoek, yellowtail and kingklip reflect the close proximity of sea and vineyards. Grainy brown breads are a regular feature.

Many wine estates are set up with excellent kitchens including these examples (winery and region): Buitenverwachting in Constantia, Durbanville Hills in Durbanville or Hazendal in Stellenbosch.

General

Visitors can choose from the most modern to the most traditional wineries in the world. It’s always recommended to call ahead for a visit, tour and tasting.

For information on a particular wine estate or wine area, see: www.wine.co.za ; Wines of South Africa or WOSA, see: www.wosa.co.za

To get started, here are regional offices, e-mail addresses, and recommended wineries:

• Stellenbosch: E-mail: info@wineroute.co.za
• Vergelegan: Neethlingshof, Klein Zalze, Meerlust, Simonsig, Nederburg, Paarl: E-mail: paarl@wine.co.za.
• KWV Wine Cellars Franschhoek E-mail: franschhoek@wine.co.za
• Boekenhoutskloof Constantia wine@icon.co.za
• Buitenverwachting Durbanville nitida@cp.lia.net
• Durbanville Hills Helderberg hwr@mweb.co.za
• Vergelegen Overberg infoburo@hermanus.co.za

Author : Memory Walsh