Cape Town’s wine routes offer scenery, wine tastings, and fabulous food
Constantia Valley Wine Route: A mere 20 minutes from the city center, this valley is said to be the birthplace of South Africa’s wine farming industry. It is home to some of the oldest wine estates in South Africa, dating back to development of the land in 1685 by Simon van der Stel, the first governor of Cape Town. Visitors can hit a cluster of award-winning wine farms here.
Franschhoek Wine Route: Perhaps the most beautiful of Cape Town’s wine routes, this area features many wine farms that were developed by the French Huguenots centuries ago. Visit this route for some 40 estates and more than 28 restaurants, as well as art galleries, antique shops and boutique hotels.
Durbanville Wine Valley: This fairly new wine destination offers 12 wineries in the Tygerberg Hills, just 30 minutes from Cape Town. The area is also home to fine dining and intimate country kitchens.
Stellenbosch American Express Wine Routes: Founded in 1971, this was the first wine region in South Africa to establish a formal network of wineries, with some 200 wine and grape producers making their homes here. The wine route is divided into five sub-regions: Greater Simonsberg, Stellenbosch Hills, Stellenbosch Berg, Bottelary Hills and Helderberg (Somerset West).
Helderberg Wine Route: Located slightly further away from Cape Town, this route is part of the Stellenbosch American Express Wine Routes and includes over 20 estates. The region is best known for its reds and port, though recent years have seen some impressive whites as well.
