Paarl, The Heart of the Winelands

The Western Cape of South Africa is known for producing some of best wines in the world. However, with a history dating back to 1659 it is still fairly modern in comparison to other wine producing countries like France who have been practising the art since the 6th Century BC. But South African wine has really come into its own within the past century and a Southern Africa holiday gives you the perfect excuse to sample some of the best wines that the country has to offer.

Located just 45 minutes drive away from Cape Town the winelands offer stunning scenery alongside mountain views and traditional homesteads. Boutique hotels and quaint guest-houses provide the ideal base in which to explore the region whilst the Mediterranean climate helps create some of the incredible wines of the region.

The scenic town of Paarl may be known for its brilliant wines, with Nederburg, Seidelberg and Laborie to name but a couple, however, it is also an incredible holiday destination with many activities to suit young and old alike. The town is the third oldest in South Africa and therefore boasts its fair share of historic moments from visits by Charles Darwin to Drakenstein Prison where Nelson Mandela started his walk to freedom. On your travels in South Africa be sure to visit the Afrikaans Language Monument which proudly stands at the top of Paarl Mountain, as it was here that the foundations for the Afrikaans language were laid.

If you've taken the children with you on your Southern Africa holidays then there is plenty for them to do in Paarl, especially the more adventurous! Paarl is home to a snake and crocodile farm, but if both of those options are a bit scary for your little ones then you'll be pleased to note that there is also a butterfly farm located nearby. The town boasts an impressive 23 wine estates and whilst Shiraz is the main vinter a number of other wines including Malbec have recently started to perform well and should be sampled on your luxury African holidays.

Many of the wine estates also have other attractions including adjoining restaurants serving dishes and tapas to compliment their beverages. One of the key highlights of your southern Africa holiday is bound to be enjoying a glass of Shiraz fresh from the keg whilst nibbling on charcuterie items and looking out at the lines and lines of freshly manicured vineyards.

Paarl is also known for its beautiful walking and trekking routes and these are a great way to burn of all those extra calories gained from eating the rich meats and cheeses of the Wine Estate Kitchens. The Limietberg is probably one of the most famous trails, but by far the most enjoyable is the Wine Hiking Trail offered by the Laborie Estate. This trail combines a spot of bird-watching with talks of horticulture and viticulture and like all good wine tours there is bound to be loads of opportunities to sample the produce.

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Winelands Hiking - Our Jonkershoek Hike

It was the perfect day to be in nature, clear skies and mild temperatures. Ray and I were on our way to a winelands hiking trip in the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, situated just outside of Stellenbosch.

The Reserve

The drive to Jonkershoek is beautiful. You drive on this narrow road through the vineyards and mountain ranges until you eventually arrive at the entrance of the Nature Reserve. I've been here once before when I came to cheer on a friend of mine, Anel, when she did a biathlon. Afterwards she told me that it was one of the most difficult but fun biathlons she's ever participated in. Personally I'm not one for such adventures, but I do enjoy the occasional hike.

After parking the car, Ray and I set off on our trip through the park. There are quite a few trails from which to choose. After an hour or two we reached the first waterfall. With fresh water descending like mist around us, the cool air was a welcome to a very tranquil spot. We stopped for a few minutes to refresh, enjoy the view and have a chat about things we had been thinking about during our hike. I find that when you walk there isn't much conversation, which gives you the time to think about things you don't really have time to during a working week.

Spotting the wildlife

We continued our walk further up the mountain and saw a few Dassies along the way. They're such cute little animals. About the size of a small cat, these animals have a squirrel like appearance to them, except for the lack of a bushy tail, and their size. They are at least three times the size of your average squirrel. You only see Dassies in rocky areas. They're quite shy and are prey to birds like eagles and hawks.

We continued our hike until we reached the top of the path. We stood there in silence looking over the wine land countryside. It was close to lunch time, so after a few minutes of ogling over the view, we decided to lay out our picnic. A smorgasbord of cheese and crackers, with sandwiches and ice tea I made the previous night.

While sitting there Ray told me that he wanted to move to Stellenbosch; a decision that not only shocked me but also made me happy. For a while now I've been toying with the thought of moving to Stellenbosch, but was not sure what he's reaction would be. When I confirmed that I had also been consedering the same, he sighed in relief. "So it's definite then?" he asked, to which I excitedly agreed.

Stellenbosch and its surrounding areas have such an air to it. It's difficult to explain, but I do know this: both Ray and I seem much more relaxed and happier whenever we come to Stellenbosch. Although quite a big town, the pace just seems so much different to any other town or Cape Town city.

The road back down

After our picnic we continued the road back down. We made sure our pace was not too fast so that we didn't tire ourselves out. And it was a good thing because the walk back felt a bit more challenging. I almost slipped twice but Ray pulled me up in time just before my backside greeted the earth. We eventually got back to gravel road and were safely on our way back to the car. It was a day spent with someone I cared for, admiring stunning views, enjoying fresh air and of course reflecting on where the road would lead us to next.

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Cape Winelands Guest House - Roggeland Country House

A Skip and a Hop to Visit the Cape Winelands

Last weekend, Doreen a friend of mine, and I whisked ourselves off to the winelands to experience some cape hospitality, enjoy some fine wines and take in the breathtaking mountainous views of the area, oh and of course to inspect some accommodation establishments. Our main aim was to keep abreast of what is offered to our clients when they visit the winelands.

We started off in Paarl. Paarl is one of the oldest towns in South Africa and particularly known for its mountain, "Paarl Rock". The huge granite rock is formed by three rounded outcrops that make up Paarl Mountain and is the second largest granite outcrop in the world. Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve offers some awesome hiking trails and great views.

Paarl boasts a unique attraction in the fact that the foundations of a new language, Afrikaans, combined heritage of Africa and the European mother countries, were laid here. The Monument to the Afrikaans language on the slopes of Paarl Mountain, the Language Museum and the Afrikaans Language Route through Dal Josaphat are living memorials to this achievement. A very interesting aspect to include in an itinerary if history interests you!

Add to this the rich heritage of well preserved historic buildings scattered through the town and the large number of top-quality restaurants offering traditional Cape cuisine.

We then whisked ourselves off to Franschhoek, a quaint little village not to be missed! More than three centuries ago about 200 French Huguenots, having escaped religious persecution, settled in the Berg River Valley and founded the community of Franschhoek (the French Corner). With its fine balmy summers and the majority of its rainfall in winter, the French Huguenots recognised the potential of the region for wine production and fruit growing.

Franschhoek alone offers over 30 wine estates where you can taste wine. It would be very difficult to get to even 10% of the wine estates in the Cape Winelands area during your stay in the Cape. The best thing to do is to acquire a good map of the winelands area and choose some of the well-known estates to visit. You can stop at the tourism offices in each little town and get a map of the wine estates in the areas.

Franschhoek is often referred to as "the gourmet capital of the Cape" and this title is justly deserved as it has some of the finest restaurants in the country. With meals ranging from French cuisine, to typical Cape cooking, to simple country fare, there is a menu for every taste and for every pocket. Some of the restaurants having won various awards are Le Quartier Francais, Ruebens and Haute Cabriere.

Some of my favourite accommodation establishments here offering value for money are Franschhoek Country House and Klein Genot.

We left Franschhoek and travelled over the Hell's Hoogte Pass into Stellenbosch, a beautiful pass linking the two towns. The second oldest town in South Africa, founded by Simon van der Stel in 1679 and renowned for its Cape Dutch buildings, university and wines, Stellenbosch lies in a fertile valley surrounded by vineyards, orchards and mountains. It is an academic and farming community and one of the most well preserved towns in South Africa.

Two of my favourite properties here are River Manor and Summerwood Guest House, both within walking distance of the bustling little town. Being a university town, Stellenbosch offers a lively nightlife with array of different options such as theatre shows, live music bars and nightclubs and also a number of good restaurants.

Various festivals are held annually throughout the Cape Winelands, including a host of food festivals and a wonderful variety of wine shows. From arts/culture fairs to open-air shows and harvest festivals, the Winelands is an all-year-round beehive of activity, attracting visitors from far and wide to come and enjoy the warm hospitality and energy it exudes

Breathe the fresh champagne air of the Cape Winelands, a haven for those wanting to escape the stresses and strains of everyday city living. Celebrate your health by relaxing in our natural hot water springs or enjoy a welcome break at our world-class health spa´s with a variety of treatments ranging from aromatherapy, balneotherapy and acupuncture to reflexology and message therapy.

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Cape Winelands

Although there are a number of wine growing areas in South Africa, the bulk of our wine comes from the area we classically call 'the Winelands' that includes Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. The production of wine has shaped the development of this area for over 300 years, and it has been proposed for consideration as a World Heritage Cultural Landscape.
The bright green corduroy-patterned vineyards stretching out to the bases of purple mountains, thatched, whitewashed, gabled houses dreaming in the shade of ancient oaks and even the red and white roses planted at the ends of the vines define this beautiful area.

Pretty as it is, though, the proof of the Winelands in the tasting - and the wine is pretty darn good. And, on the subject of tasting - there are loads of great restaurants, coffee shops and attractive guest houses with wonderful menus and extensive wine lists. Once just a collection of independent wineries, each doing their own thing, the Winelands has become a tad more user-friendly, with the formation of wine routes.

It makes good marketing sense for the wine producers and it's also easier for you because the various cellars are well sign-posted and they feature on specially drawn maps so you can chart your course between them with naval precision. Many of the wineries also make cheese, or grow olives and press oil, so there's a lot more than wine to be had.
There's more than just food and wine, though. The scenery - both built and natural - is spectacular and there is so much to do. You could go for a gentle day walk in a nature reserve or even do an extended hike not far off. Quad biking trips, horse rides, wagon rides and many other attractions await your pleasure, and there is a host of cultural attractions, ranging from township tours and home stays to cultural festivals and theatres.

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Cape Winelands Guest House