The Winelands

Most people are unaware of the fact that the Western Cape is divided into 6 regions; I will be profiling each of these regions through a series of posts.

The 6 regions are as follows:

The Winelands – well known, as it name states, for its wines

The Karoo – A vast arid region known for some of the best stargazing in the country

The Overberg – home to the Whale Coast, some of the best land based whale watching sites

The West Coast –Famous for its Spring flowers, fishing villages and San history

The Garden Route and Klein Karoo – a region of contrasting landscapes, one lush and green, the other a semi-desert. Well known for its beaches and adventure activities.

Cape Town - home to many of the icons of our country, where our modern history began.

The Winelands

The Winelands, stretches from Stellenbosch to Montagu, encompassing the heart of the South African wine industry and one of the biggest tourist attractions, outside of the Cape Town region, of the Western Cape. Rich in history and culture, it is evident all over that the Winelands is still close to its roots from  Dutch architecture in Stellenbosch to French Huguenot influences in Franschhoek and Wellington.

Cape Dutch Architecture

Many well-known towns belong to this region, such as; Stellenbosch – the 2^nd oldest town in South Africa, Franschhoek – renown as the gourmet capital of South Africa, Paarl – home to Drakenstein prison, where Nelson Mandela was finally freed after 27years of imprisonment, Wellington – famous for its brandy and fruits, to name but a few.

Beautiful Scenery

The Winelands has more than just wine (of which there are many world class wineries and estates to visit), there is brandy (from Wellington, Paarl, Worcester, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch) as well and if tipsy tart is not your thing, the region is celebrated for its cheeses (Stellenbosch, Bonnievale, Tulbagh), fresh fruits of the highest quality(basically the entire region) as well as olives (Worcester, Tulbagh).

Vineyards

For adventure lovers and outdoor enthusiasts there is much on offer; many mountain biking trails, hiking trails, the longest zip slide in Africa can be found in Ceres, golf courses, ancient rock art sites, quad biking and 4x4 trails as well as horse riding.

Ceres Zip Slide

For your mind, body and soul, McGregor is a hidden gem of a town, the perfect place to unwind and forget the hustle and bustle of city life. The hot springs resort in Montagu provides visitors relaxation in a natural hot water spring. The region has many top class spas for that TLC you know you need.

Abseiling

For more information contact Winelands Tourism on 0861 265 263 or 021 888 5100