Within easy driving distance of Cape Town, the valleys of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek have become known as 'The Winelands'.
European settlement
The area was first opened up by European settlers in 1679 when Governor van der Stel founded Stellenbosch. As well as the pretty towns, the Winelands is also a stunningly beautiful region, where broad undulating valleys wind between towering mountains, dusted with snow in the winter months and blessed by endless sun in summer.
Cape Dutch architecture
As you drive over dramatic passes, isolated farmsteads, classic whitewashed examples of Cape Dutch architecture, can be glimpsed through manicured rows of green and russet vines that transform the slopes into an eye-catching patchwork.