In the Cape Winelands splendid mountains form a dramatic backdrop to lush vineyards and gabled Cape Dutch homesteads steeped in history.
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Hazlemere, UK
Fertile valleys are planted with vines stretching across rolling fields, where farmers enjoy perfect conditions and create some of the best wines in the world. The Winelands is a wonderful combination of quaint towns, beautiful scenery and wine estates producing delicious wines and brandies.
Visit some of the many wine farms or stroll down a beautifully restored street in one of the historic town centres and visit the museums and monuments that pay homage to the proud history of the original Dutch, French and German settlers.
Highlights of the Winelands
Award-winning wines
Taste award-winning wines at historic estates amid some of the prettiest countryside you can imagine.
South Africa’s finest restaurants
Sample the fare at some of South Africa’s finest restaurants including the Tasting Room, voted one of the world’s Top 40 restaurants.
Stellenbosch
Explore the oak-lined streets of Stellenbosch, a well-preserved university town renowned for its museums, art galleries and thatched, Cape Dutch-style houses.
Franschhoek
Tightly hemmed in by soaring peaks, the French Huguenot village of Franschhoek has many award-winning restaurants as well as arts-and-craft shops, galleries and antique stores.
Cheetah Outreach Project
The Cheetah Outreach Project at Spier Estate raises awareness and funds by allowing visitors to enjoy a personal encounter with one of these endangered big cats.
Accommodation in the Winelands
Le Quartier Français
In the picturesque Franschhoek Valley in the heart of the Western Cape’s wine country, Le Quartier Français is a colourful boutique hotel with a culinary reputation of note. Located right in the centre of the French Huguenot village of Franschhoek, this whitewashed auberge with its blue and white flower-filled gardens, gourmet delicacies, funky accommodation and friendly service is a haven of tranquillity.
The auberge has 15 en suite bedrooms, 2 suites – each with their own private pools – and a private library overlooking a central garden courtyard and swimming pool. In addition, the Four Quarters Suites feature 4 sumptuous, generously sized suites overlooking a central courtyard and private lap pool, perfect for groups or families. Fine dining here has been defined by the Tasting Room, a dinner-only restaurant offering a four, six or eight course dining experience of exquisitely presented culinary delights from a constantly evolving menu. Another attraction is The Screening Room, an intimate, cinematic theatre experience with the style and decadence of halcyon days gone by.
Mont Rochelle Hotel & Mountain Vineyards
Mont Rochelle invites you to relax in one of the luxurious bedrooms and suites, most of which offer spectacular views across the valleys and vines of Franschhoek. The hotel spans over three wings, giving you the privacy you would expect from a boutique hotel. Each of the 16 bedrooms and six suites is individually decorated, creating a unique ambience. En suite bathrooms, telephones, televisions, safes, under-floor heating, air-conditioning and in-room refreshments are amongst the facilities of each room.
The fine dining restaurant at the hotel offers spectacular views, while the Colonial Cigar Bar serves light snacks throughout the day. Guests can enjoy a private wine tasting or cellar tour with the estate wine maker or take an excursion through the vineyard with the farm manager.
River Manor Boutique Hotel & Spa
For a funky town stay in a supremely comfortable country-feel hotel, River Manor is your only option. Comprising two historic houses with National Monument status, River Manor is a mere two-minute stroll from Stellenbosch’s museums, street cafes, restaurants and galleries. Indulge yourself at the exclusive Health and Beauty Spa set within the verdant gardens.
The hotel’s 18 en suite rooms seek to make the most of the buildings’ historic intricacies while delivering modern facilities and warm service. Spacious bedrooms and bathrooms are designed with comfort and charm in mind. Furnished with antiques and decorated with colonial appeal, the interiors boast substantial character. Victorian claw-foot baths, complimentary port and sherry and cosy bathrobes hark back to another age while the in-room satellite television, bar fridge and air conditioning complete the twenty-first century service.
