Within easy driving distance of Cape Town, the valleys of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek have become known as the 'Winelands' thanks to their superb growing conditions for European vines. Find out why a visit here is a great idea.
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South Africa
Groot Constantina wine farm, Constantina
Find answers to some of the more common questions asked by those considering a trip to South Africa's Winelands.
The Winelands are only one hour drive away from Cape Town and a stay in this area makes an excellent addition to a self-drive itinerary.
One of our favourite South Africa itineraries is a self-drive trip incorporating Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route and this makes an ideal two week getaway.
The roads in South Africa are excellent and easy to navigate and self-drive offers flexibility and great value for money. The Winelands can also be accessed by those without a car on a day trip from Cape Town.
The Winelands can be visited throughout the year however from June to August the weather is cold and wintery, often with grey clouds and rain. That’s not to say you can’t visit at this time as many of the hotels have cosy log fires and you can still enjoy the wine tasting!
The peak season is from October to February when you can expect fine weather but also higher prices, especially over Christmas.
The Winelands centres on the three pretty towns of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl, each with it own character and attractions.
Franschhoek is a beautiful little place surrounded by towering mountains and superb wine estates, Stellenbosch is a lively university town with tree lined avenues while Paarl, is a peaceful settlement nestling in a valley between dramatic mountains. We would recommend choosing one of these areas to base yourself in for two or three days and then to explore from there.
While you can explore the Winelands under your own steam, an organised tour is a great way to sample some of the best wines with expert guidance along the way.
We can organise a day or two with wine expert Pietman Retief who has 35 years of experience in the wine industry and is a fantastic guide and host, see Winelands Tour for more information. All Audley clients travelling to South Africa also receive a complimentary Audley Winelands Guide Booklet written by Pietman.
Our Audley specialists have all been lucky enough to spent time in this stunning area and here we recommend some of our favourite wine estates as well as our top tips for getting the most from your visit.
We would be delighted to chat with you about where to stay in the Winelands, to recommend some of our favourite properties and put together your perfect South Africa itinerary. Please call the South Africa team on 01993 838 550 for more information.