Page 195 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN C APE  193

THE CAPE WINELANDS

The Cape’s Winelands are a scenically enchanting region of lofty
mountains and fertile valleys and slopes planted with orchards
and vines. Nestled in the valleys are graceful Cape Dutch
manor houses, of which stately Nederburg in Paarl (which
hosts a famous wine auction), elegant Boschendal near
Franschhoek and the charming Lanzerac Hotel in
Stellenbosch are the best-known.
Stellenbosch was the first of the wineland traditions. The cool mountain and
towns to be established by Simon van der sea breezes create diverse conditions,
Stel, who had suc ceeded Jan van Riebeeck and variable soil types – from the acidic
as governor in 1679. After van der Stel and sandy alluvial soils of Stellenbosch to
visited the area in November of that year the lime-rich soils of Robertson – ensure
and proclaimed it to be well watered and a wide range of superb wines, both red
fertile, the first free burghers (early Dutch and white, making South Africa the
settlers who were granted tracts of land, world’s ninth-largest producer.
together with implements and oxen to Most of the historic wine estates
help them establish farms) were sent to have been lovingly restored, and almost
this valley to start a new life. Settlement all offer tastings – their wines may be
in the Franschhoek valley followed with enjoyed on the sunny lawns of a beautiful
the arrival of the French Huguenots Cape Dutch manor house or in the cool
(Protestant refugees from Europe), and cellars among the vats. Many estates also
later, Dutch as well as French pioneers offer gourmet restaurants, and others
who established themselves in the Paarl have accommodation that varies from
area. The temperate Mediterranean luxury hotels in sublime Winelands
climate of the Cape has ensured the settings to simple country cottages
survival of the early wine-making next to the vines.

Typical Cape Dutch gabling and thatched roof on a wine estate manor house
Vines flourishing in the shelter of the mountains at Stellenbosch, the heart of the Cape Winelands

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