Stellenbosch Cape Winelands - 50km

STELLENBOSCH

...with its oak-lined streets, water furrows and beautifully preserved historic buildings, is the centre of the country’s best-known wine-producing area and an important university town. South Africa’s second-oldest town, Stellenbosch was founded in 1679 and named after the Dutch governor, Simon van der Stel. In addition to its numerous splendid Cape Dutch buildings, the town also has fine examples of Cape Georgian and Victorian houses.

Siyabona Africa Travel recommends Stellenbosch Cape Winelands Hotels

The cultural heritage of Stellenbosch can only be truly appreciated by taking a stroll down Dorp Street, which has one of the longest rows of historic buildings in the country. Well worth a visit is the Stellenbosch Village Museum, comprising four buildings from different periods of the town’s history. Art-lovers should not miss Oom Samie se Winkel and the Rembrandt van Rijn Art Museum in the historic Libertas Parva homestead. The nearby cellar is now  known as the Stellenryk Wine Museum.

STELLENBOSCH WINE ROUTE

Founded in April 1971, the Stellenbosch Wine Route was the first of its kind in South Africa. It offers visitors an opportunity to sample the region’s famous wines, while enjoying the superb scenery. With Stellenbosch as the central point, the 41 cellars (estates, cellars and co-operative wineries) are linked by the four major roads leading into town. Stellenbosch and the surrounding winelands also boast numerous fine restaurants, where visitors can enjoy traditional Cape fare such as smoorsnoek, bredies and koeksisters.

BLAAUWKLIPPEN

...on the lower slopes of the Stellenbosch Mountains, dates back to 1690 when the farm was awarded to Gerrit Visser, a Dutch craftsman. Dominating the estate is the gracious H-shaped Cape Dutch manor house built in 1789 with florid gables. With some 16 grape varieties under cultivation, Blaauwklippen produces a wide range of white and red wines.

The estate’s museum has an interesting collection of antique Cape furniture, kitchen utensils and coaches. Blaauwklippen is well-known for its Coachman’s lunches which can be enjoyed on the estate between October and April, when coach rides are also offered.

RUST-EN-VREDE

...dates back to 1694 when the farm Bonterivier was granted to a stock farmer, Willem van der Wêreld. The complex of historic buildings – built, uniquely, in a straight line – comprises the Jonkershuis (1780), the wine cellar (1790) and the Cape Dutch manor house (1825). The farm was acquired by former Springbok rugby player Jannie Engelbrecht in 1978, and is one of the few Stellenbosch wineries specialising exclusively in red wines.

The estate was one of the first to mature its entire production in French Nevers oak barrels. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, shiraz and the flagship Rust-En-Vrede Estate Wine (the only blended wine) are bottled under the estate’s label. The original cellar is used for barrel ageing the red wines, while the modern underground cellar is used for bottle maturation.

SPIER

Dating back to 1692, Spier offers visitors a combination of wine tasting, historic buildings, restaurants 4, picnics, art and culture. Among the historic buildings are the old wine cellar (1776), the Jonkershuis (1778) and the slave quarters (1812), which accommodates a restaurant. The buildings on the estate have a total of 21 gables – a unique feature of Cape Dutch architecture – making Spier the largest collection of gables on a single site.

The outstanding collection of paintings, antiques and porcelain in the manor house provides a picture of life on a Stellenbosch wine farm in the 1700s. Between November and March, Spier’s open-air theatre is the setting for a music festival featuring classical music concerts and performances of opera, jazz and dance. Spier Wine Centre offers an impressive range of wines from various wineries and also holds tastings. Visitors can sample the estate’s own Four Spears wines in the cellar situated across the Eerste River.

NEETHLINGSHOF

After passing through the imposing entrance gates, visitors drive along a kilometre-long avenue of soaring pine trees to the estate’s historic H-shaped manor house, dating back to 1814. The farm was granted to Barend Lubbe in 1692, and was originally known as Wolwedans. It was renamed Neethlingshof after it came into the possession of Johannes Henoch Neethling in 1816. The estate has been planted under 17 varieties of grapes and produced its first wines under the Neethlingshof label in 1971.

Today, it produces a wide range of white and red wines, all bearing the distinctive label of the pine avenue. The Lord Neethling (the nickname of the flamboyant Johannes Neethling) restaurant offers traditional South African dishes and international cuisine, while light lunches can be enjoyed at the Palm Terrace.