CAPE WINES SET TO FLOW THIS EASTER
When Jan van Riebeek, first Governor of the Cape, planted the first vineyard in 1655, he could hardly have dreamed that the Cape would one day become one of the world’s leading New World wine regions. Today over 400 wine estates produce everything from sturdy Rhone-style red wines to aromatic Sauvignon Blancs thanks to the marvellously varied climate and soil conditions. Stretching from the Table Mountain range with it’s cool Atlantic breezes, to the semi-arid Klein Karoo viticulture hidden from the heat in green river valleys, the Cape wine region offers something for everyone.
The Constantia Wine Route, situated just 20 minutes drive from the centre of the City has three of the oldest wine estates in the country, namely Buitenverwachting, Groot (great) Constantia and Klein Constantia. Groot Constantia is an especially fine example of the iconic Cape-Dutch Colonial architecture and has been lovingly restored to house a fascinating range of exquisite antiques including stoneware from 500BC. The verdant gardens are ideal for picnics and hikers can enjoy walks in the valley that produced some of Napoleon and Frederick the Great’s favourite wine. Klein (small) Constantia Estate is set amid trees and lush greenery on the upper foothills of the Constantiaberg. With its historic Cape Dutch Homestead and superb views across the valley and False Bay, it has frequently been described as one of the world's most beautiful vineyard locations. Wine tasting and sales are available daily.
Log on to www.constantiavalley.com for information
Only 20 km north of Cape Town, the Durbanville Wine Route, like Constantia, is very close to the mother city but frequently overlooked, though this would be a mistake.The Tygerberg hills host a total of nine estates and a highly variable terroir and climate have produced a wide variety of fruit-driven and stylish wines. Some estates date from the 1600’s while others boast of ultra-modern facilities for wine tasting and sales. Durbanville Wine Valley will host the Feast of the Grape on the 28 & 29th of March 2009. This harvest festival is a complete package of wine, great food & fine music – from picking a bunch, making your own wine, in addition to the usual wine tastings and cellar tours. Try www.durbanvillewine.co.za for more information on the festival as well as links to the estates.
Centred around the quirky town of Darling, an hours drive from Cape Town, the Darling Wine Route includes five wine cellars, all of which benefit from the cool breezes off the Atlantic Ocean and the long, hot summers to produce some stunning wines with concentrated flavour, depth and intensity. The rugged West Coast has recently been recognised as a viticultural region to compliment it’s numerous other attractions such as the annual blooming of the spring flowers and Buffulsfontein Game Nature Reserve. As they say, see for yourself why it’s called Darling at, www.darlingtourism.co.za
The Stellenbosche Wine Route is the granddaddy of South African wine routes and represents over 140 wineries and estates, most of whom offer tours and wine tasting. The town of Stellenbosch itself, which lies at the heart of this winemaking area, is a gorgeous, historical university town with some of the best-preserved Victorian and Georgian buildings along oak-lined Dorp Street, itself a national monument. The name ‘Stellenbosch’ is almost synonymous with the wine industry. Not only does it have the oldest wine route in the country, and the most famous, but the town has one of the most modern experimental wineries in the world, and the only viticultural and oenological department in the country at the university.
Due to the vast size of the wine route it is sub-divided into smaller routes each with their own particular flavour and character. Bottelary Hills for example lies on the slopes of the lush Bottelary Mountain range with most of its vineyards facing north, thus producing excellent red wines. Simonsberg-Stellenbosch is known as ‘Cabernet country’ though some of the smaller wineries produce premium white and sparkling wines. Log on to www.wineroute.co.za to find out more.
The Olifants River Valley Wine Route starts about two hours drive from Cape Town in the historic farming town Trawal and stretches for a 120km along the Olifants River which supplies most of the water to the dry region. The area around Lutzville is regarded as one of the most ideal wine growing areas due to its mild climate, misty mornings, sunny days and south westerly sea breeze. The soil varies from sandy to red clay loams. While one of the smaller routes with only three major estates, the area has become known for it’s innovative and award winning boutique cellars building on a tradition of easy-drinking wines. Other attractions in the area such as nature trails, river rafting and 4X4 routes make the area worth lingering in for a day or two.
Try www.olifantsriverwineroute.com for information.
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