The Cape Winelands lie inland from Cape Town around Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, with vineyards running up to steep mountains and old Cape Dutch estates.
We add two or three nights here between Cape Town and the bush for long lunches, a few tastings and walks through the vines.
Stellenbosch is about 50 kilometers east of Cape Town, with Franschhoek another half hour beyond it over the Helshoogte Pass. Paarl sits to the north. The first recorded South African wine was made by Jan van Riebeeck on 2 February 1659, and Governor Simon van der Stel established the Constantia estate in 1685. French Huguenots settled the Franschhoek valley more than 300 years ago, which is why so many farms there still carry French names.
Franschhoek alone has more than 30 wine farms within a short drive of the village, so you never need to spend long in a car.
Summer, from November to March, is warm and dry, and harvest usually falls in February and March, when the estates are at their busiest. April and May bring autumn color and cooler days. Winter, June to August, is wet and green, with fires lit in the tasting rooms and far fewer visitors.
Most Winelands hotels are 45 minutes to an hour from Cape Town International Airport, so the region works at either end of a trip. Two nights is the minimum to enjoy it; three lets you add a day of walking or a trip over to Walker Bay. You will want a driver on tasting days.
Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa sits on top of the Helshoogte Pass above Stellenbosch, with stand-alone lodges, its own winery, three restaurants and a strong spa. It suits couples who want big views and a polished stay.
La Residence is a small, colorful hotel on a 30-acre working farm on the edge of Franschhoek. The hotel suites suit couples, while the Vineyard Suites and Franschhoek House work well for families and groups.
From here, most guests head back to Cape Town or on to the bush in the Sabi Sand.
Mammals
Birdlife
This is wine country first. Expect fynbos birds in the gardens and on mountain walks rather than big game.
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