Western Cape Article - South African Vacations

CAPE WINE ROUTESThe exceptionally fine wines of the Western Cape are enjoyed by casual drinkers andconnoisseurs from all over the world. The tradition of winemaking is intricately interwoven withthe history of the Cape and to a large extent has shaped the culture of the region. Today,visits to wine farms are among the most popular tourism activities of the Western Cape. Apartfrom affording an opportunity to taste and buy fine wines and learn more about winemaking,they are also a novel way of touring the lovely countryside and of viewing historical places,appreciating Cape Dutch architecture and sampling the excellent cuisine. Wine routes havebeen mapped out to allow visitors access to most of the vineyards in the province. Many ofthese vineyards have restaurants and also make cheese to complement the taste of theirexcellent wines.The valleys and hillsides of the winelands, known locally as the Boland, are awash withvineyards. Some of the best known wine routes are the Stellenbosch route, the oldest wineroute in the country, as well as the Constantia, Franschhoek, Wellington, Paarl andHelderberg wine routes.Constantia Wine RouteConstantia’s status as the birthplace of South African winemaking is undisputed. This route isrelatively small by comparison with the other wine routes, but the natural beauty of the area,its history, architectural elegance and the high quality of its wines make it well worth the trip.A visit to Constantia brings immediate intuitive understanding of why the Governor of theCape in 1685, Simon van der Stel, could not resist making this his private property, which he15