Whether you choose the Winelands as a place to bring up your family, a place to retire or a destination for regular indulgent weekends and holidays, it’s unique beauty will cast a spell on you.
There’s a heady recipe to the Cape Winelands lifestyle: take stunning mountain scenery, add picturesque vineyards, historic small towns, seriously good food and wine, and season it well with hiking trails in unspoilt nature reserves, outdoor activities and world-class golf courses.
Whether you choose the Winelands as a place to bring up your family, a place to retire or a destination for regular indulgent weekends and holidays, it’s unique beauty will cast a spell on you.
“Where else can you do a wine tasting tour on horseback?” says Natalie Scheepers of Baruch Guest House in Stellenbosch. “My personal favourite is wine tasting with the tuk-tuk.”
These private wine tours are a popular activity for visitors. “The Wine Tram is the best thing that happened to Franschhoek to put accessibility on the map,” says Colin Atkins of Le Petit Paris. Using the original railway tracks laid down in 1904 the tram links many of the Franschhoek Valley wine estates on a hop-on, hop-o¬ basis.
With fine-dining destinations such as Foliage, Ryan’s Kitchen, Reuben's, Grande Provence and The Kitchen at Maison, the village of Franschhoek is a gourmet food haven. There’s so much fantastic food on wine estates throughout the Winelands, and gourmet picnics in summer, that you could eat out in style at a di¬fferent establishment for months on end.
And the charming university town of Stellenbosch, its historic streets lined with oak trees, is unmatched in its mix of a¬ffordable cafes, artisan delis, farmers’ markets and fine restaurants.
The mountain backdrop that frames the Winelands landscape allows nature to be woven into everyday life for residents and visitors, with hiking to waterfalls, mountain bike trails and summer picnic concerts to delight in. “Our guests love the botanical gardens in the town centre, the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, and there’s a wonderful, small game reserve at the Villiera Estate.”
For a change of scenery, she suggests heading to the beaches close by or a coastal drive along the R44 with amazing views and penguins at Betty’s Bay. International visitors also come to the area to enjoy the world-class golf courses.
With rolling lawns, mountain streams and plenty of space to run and play, the wine estates are paradise for kids too. Animal lovers can visit Butterfly World, Gira¬ffe House or Eagle Encounters, classic car enthusiasts will enjoy the Wijnland Auto Museum, and the Root 44 market is perfect for the whole family.
Residents appreciate the excellent amenities of the Winelands, such as the renowned schools in Stellenbosch, Somerset West and Paarl; Stellenbosch University; and good hospitals. Each town has its own character and a strong community feel, which isn’t diluted by the number of visitors but rather shared with them.
“People here are naturally friendly; they have time not to only talk, but, more importantly, to listen to each other,” says Colin. “The mix of a quiet, simple countryside with competitive wine making, restaurants and hospitality is fascinating.”
Guests come to Franschhoek expecting a small village which they think they can absorb in a day, but end up wanting a week to even get a small taste of all that is on offer.
-Colin Atkins of Le Petit Paris Guest House
Dine out:
- Overture
- The Restaurant at Waterkloof
- The Kitchen at Maison
- Foliage
- Camphors at Vergelegen
- The Goatshed Restaurant at Fairview
A few eco-friendly wine estates:
- Avondale
- Reyneke Wines
- Laibach
- Villiera
- Waterkloof
- La Motte
Nature:
- Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
- Helderberg Nature Reserve
- Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve
- Limietberg Nature Reserve
- Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve
Our favourite tastings:
- Sparkling wine and nougat tasting at KWV Emporium
- Cape Brewing Company beer tasting at the Spice route
- Tastings of limited release wines from Esona boutique winery
Agent Insight: Hear more about the area from local experts
How would you spend a weekend day in the Winelands?
Waking up in the Winelands, among world-renowned wine estates and unsurpassed views already sounds heavenly, but over weekends it becomes even more special. Many wine estates house exquisite restaurants offering mouth-watering meals. The natural beauty is ideal for a weekend jog or cycle. The popularity of this tranquil setting has also seen various food and craft markets becoming an absolute must for the young and old.
Werner Scheffer: Multi Spectrum Property
What attracts buyers to the Winelands?
It’s the unique lifestyle the Winelands offers. Families are wanting to experience a bit of countryside, and the Winelands area is an ideal place to do this. Lifestyle estates within close proximity to work, offering country elements and good security will always draw buyers. This combined with the fact that more companies are allowing some level of flexibility will give more buyers the opportunity to live in the Winelands.
Claudius Combrinck: Sitari Property Sales
What makes a property in the Winelands a good investment?
The Winelands location is surrounded by natural beauty, the sea, mountains, manicured vineyards and has great summer weather; who wouldn’t want to invest? Add some old-world charm and you have an ideal setting for a lifestyle most can flourish in. Testament to the allure of the Winelands is the international demand for properties, which provides investors with a further layer of security of investment.
Gabriel Da Matta: Balwin
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
