Winelands

When Jan van Riebeeck, governor of the Cape, planted his first vineyard in 1655, he set in motion events which put South Africa on the map for wine lovers across the world. A one-hour drive from Cape Town, the mountain ranges around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek provide ideal microclimates for the perfect vines. Couple this with the deep traditions of wine-making and you have the perfect pairing to explore the most prestigious wineries on the planet.

Leave your car and cycle between vines, or take the wine tram from Franschhoek for a defined route at your hop-on-hop-off leisure, ending your journey in some of the plushest hotels in the country and re-live a fine selection of your favourite tastes from the day.

Pair great wine with great food, where each estate enjoys is own unique restaurants, or take a guided food tour of Stellenbosch, which prides itself on its innovative young chefs and offers everything from biltong (dried meat) to koekstisters (sweet pastry).

Enjoy a seasonal farm-to-table lunch with your choice of Pinotage, a unique South African red wine made from a hybrid of Cinsaut and Pinot Noir.

Stop off at the traditional farm stall of Babylonstoren. Walk through the beautiful estate gardens and leave with an offering of local cheeses, wines and other freshly-made produce.

Relax in the calm sunset, sipping the wonderful ranges of Methode Cap Classique – a sparkling wine made according to the traditional champagne method.