Fertile Vineyards
LESS than an hour's drive from Cape Town is South Africa's premier wine growing region, an area surrounded by towering mountains and home to some of the finest wines in the world. The grandeur of the The Winelands region, which is centered around the lovely university town of Stellenbosch - with its oak-lined streets and historic buildings - is echoed in the area's distinctive Cape Dutch architecture, nowhere better represented than in the gracious homesteads of the wine estates.
Although The Cape has been synonymous with the art of wine-making since the Dutch pressed the first grapes in 1659, it was religious persecution that brought
the French Huguenots and their refined viticultural skills to South Africa in 1688. Thanks to their knowledge, the area has produced outstanding wines, so it is well worth whiling away a few hours savoring an oak-aged Cabernet or Pinotage or enjoying the delicate piquancy of a chilled Chardonnay or Riesling.
Although wine-making is not confined to these fertile valleys (there are 12 other distinct regions), it is in this Boland area where the oldest and most beautiful estates are to be found - an area where spring sees the countryside covered with the pink blossom of fruit trees, while in fall (autumn) a deep crimson stains the vine leaves after harvest. Winter sees the Hottentots-Holland mountains which encircle the Boland, capped with snow.
Here, one can also savor some of the finest cuisine in South Africa, from traditional Cape fare and Malay delicacies to Provencale and French cuisine, particularly in the picturesque village of Franschoek, established over three centuries ago by the French Huguenots.
At nearby Paarl, named "The Pearl" because it lies at the foot of the second largest granite rock in the world, the visitor has the opportunity to explore wine and fruit farms or to stay in one of the leading hotels of South Africa.
At certain times of the year, theatre as well as classical and opera music is performed in spectacular outdoor settings on estates around Stellenbosch.
Visiting this region is not only a visual and sensory delight, but a tantalizing feast for the taste buds. Don't forget to take home few bottles of wine, but don't be surprised if you find you want to hog them to yourself, rather than pass them on as presents! (So buy a few extra curios as back-up).
