The product of the vine

As I get older, my appreciation for wine has just increased.

I fell in love with wine through my travels,

but knowing what the wine country is all about definitely makes it my own.
(Jeff Gordon)

As you travel around the Cape, you get to experience spectacular scenery, mountains, the ocean, nature, there's loads to see and do, but something that makes the Cape so unique from other areas in South Africa is its array of wine farms.

The Winelands cover an area exceeding 112 700 hectares.  The earliest recorded wine production dates back to 1659. The climate and soil conditions have made the Cape the ideal region for wine production. As you travel around the country side you will see the vines growing up and around the mountains waiting to produce a full bounty of grapes.

There are over 17 regions in the Cape producing top quality wine. For example there is the famous Constantia, Stellenbosch and Paarl wine routes, Darling, Durbanville and the West Coast just to mention a few.  South Africa is the 8^th largest wine producer in the world, with over 900 million litre's of wine. Whether you prefer red or white,you will be spoilt for choice. There are five main grape varieties Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Colombard, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc. Experienced wine makers work their magic in producing wines that appeal to almost any palette.

Visiting the Wine Farms is a treat and you can make a day of it.  Many have a rich cultural heritage, with interesting old Homesteads to view and wonderful restaurants offering food that showcases the best of South African cuisine and of course the opportunity to taste the fruit of the vine.

Do a cheese and wine tasting or walk around the Estates and soak up the beauty of the Cape setting.  As you swirl your glass of wine to get the best bouquet and enjoy the hospitality that is associated with this region, you will know that you are in one of the best places in the world.

"Babylonstoren" in the Franschhoek valley, is a Wine Farm with a difference.  You can join a guided cellar tour that starts daily at 12 noon.  Go through the whole winemaking process from the Vineyard to the end product.  Enjoy a cheese and wine tasting, or perhaps a lunch at "Babel" where you will be treated to freshly prepared food produced on the farm itself. It's a Farm that has won awards and its definitely a place where as one Guest put it, "you can fall in love with the world again"

Experience warm Cape hospitality and spoil yourself to a weekend away from it all.

To book email us at info@travelsatleisure.com or go to

http://www.travelsatleisure.com/ to see what other treasures South Africa has to offer.