The Cape Winelands Region, Western Cape
About 40 km to the east of Cape Town, lying in the shadow of a continuous belt of Cape fold mountains, lies a series of generous valleys known as the Cape Winelands – a collection of historic towns, little hamlets and Cape Dutch farmsteads that provide well-regarded South African wines to the world. These mountains create an incredible scenic backdrop for a myriad vines, but they are also one of the reasons wines do so well here. Their geological compositions provide unique soil conditions that directly effect the character of wine.
Did you know? Once you've booked your hotel or Cape Winelands accommodation, explore the destination pages below for info on attractions, activities and things to do when you visit the Winelands.
The topography of wineland soils vary substantially, ranging from shallow, rocky soils on steep slopes and plateaus, to reddish-brown soils along mountain foothills - the predominant soil type of the Cape Winelands, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Wellington particularly.
Like successful European wines these inland vineyards benefit from a typical Mediterranean climate. However, the influence of nearby oceans means that summers have the advantage of offshore winds far more than northern hemisphere counterparts, giving credence to the saying: 'a vineyard that can see the sea, is a good vineyard'.
Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Tulbagh, and Wellington form the backbone of the Cape Winelands* – their wine routes representing hundreds of wine and grape producers. These valleys are the largest winemaking region in the country with grape cultivation that dates back to the 1600s.
Did you know? Autumn turns the grape vines of Franschhoek, Paarl, Pniel, Stellenbosch, Klapmuts, Wellington and Tulbagh a vivid red, ochre and brown. Catch them at the right time and the winelands, rather than exhibiting overgrown green, leafy boughs hung low with grapes as they are in summer, are a hodgepodge of burnt amber, orange, yellow and brown.
The Cape Winelands district is a landlocked area in-between the West Coast and the Overberg coasts, including Drakenstein, Somerset West, Stellenbosch, Witzenberg and Breede River Valley, and Langeberg winelands. Collectively they are known as the 'pearls' of South Africa's rural and small towns.
Tours through the Cape Winelands not only include world-class wineries: There are food and wine pairings; some of the country's best restaurants have established themselves here (Franschhoek is known as the gourmet capital of the country); and there are outdoor activities like hiking and MTB routes.
You will need more than a day to visit the winelands...
* These are the traditional Cape Winelands. Today, the Cape's winelands extend well beyond this district, incorporating newer vineyards to the north (Durbanville valley) and south (Constantia, Cape Point) of Cape Town, into the Breede Valley, Rawsonville, Overberg (Walker Bay, Agulhas) and Elgin, up the west coast (Darling) along the Olifants River, into the Swartland, and Klein Karoo. There is little in the Western Cape that is not under vine.
View the Wine Routes of the Cape for a detailed overview of all of the wine routes which includes the Constantia Valley, Coastal Routes, Little Karoo and Olifants River Wine Routes and more.
Find accommodation in the Cape Winelands
South Africa Accommodation / Western Cape Accommodation / Cape Town Accommodation / Cape Winelands Accommodation
L'Amitie Manor House
L'Amitie Estate offers Franschhoek Self catering in a grand manor house. The Estate in all of its grandeur and glory, invites you in to its nouve...
Ludus Magnus Villa Charlotte
Villa Charlotte at Ludus Magnus is a luxury holiday home in Franschhoek sleeping six guests. The villa has three bedrooms each furnished with a K...
Ludus Magnus Villa Stanislas
Villa Stanislasis a luxury villa in Franschhoek on the Ludus Magnus estate. The villa offers three bedrooms each furnished with a King-size bed. ...
Ludus Magnus Villa Vittoria
Villa Vittoria is a holiday home in Franschhoek on the Ludus Magnus estate. The villa has three bedrooms each furnished with a King-size bed. Sli...
Mount Vernon Manor
Mount Vernon Manor has five bedrooms with four bathrooms. The large modern kitchen is fully equipped with high-end amenities and the dining room ...
Val du Charron Manor House
Val du Charron Manor House is a tranquil escape to luxury accommodation in Wellington, Cape Winelands. With a commanding view of Hawekwa Mountain...
Hiraeth House
Hiraeth House is saturated with colour and designer patterns, a flamboyance of furniture melds together in an exhibition of joie de vivre, overfl...
Nefoedd House
Nefoedd is a holiday home in Franschhoek that takes you on a panoramic voyage of dream drenched wallpapers that collide with luxury brands. This ...
Villa de Luxe
Villa de Luxe is a luxurious villa located in the scenic town of Franschhoek. Surrounded by majestic mountains and vineyards, the villa makes you...
Destinations in the Cape Winelands Region
Du Toitskloof
Overnight? Du Toitskloof accommodation
The exquisite Du Toitskloof Pass winds its scenic way between Paarl and Worcester, in the Western Cape of South Africa. At its foot, it the little village of the same name, from where the awesome views of the mountain and pass can be savoured within an am...
Franschhoek
Overnight? Franschhoek accommodation
The French corner of the Cape, Franschhoek lies in one of the most beautiful wine valleys in the world, just 45 minutes' from Cape Town and within half an hour of the Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington and Somerset West wine routes.
This traditionally Fr...
Gouda
Overnight? Gouda accommodation
Gouda is a little village just 37 km south of Porterville, at the western entrance to the Nuwekloof Pass that links Tulbagh to Wellington.
The town does not produce or, in fact, have anything to do with cheese. The only Gouda you will find here, is in...
Groot Drakenstein
Overnight? Groot Drakenstein accommodation
The valley known as the Groot Drakenstein lies in the shadow of the mountains with the same name, on the back side of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, part way between Franschhoek and Paarl.
Some great historic Cape Dutch homesteads lie in this valle...
Klapmuts
Overnight? Klapmuts accommodation
Klapmuts, just off the R45 between Kraaifontein and Paarl, is a rather small village in the heart of the Cape Winelands Region.
Klapmuts is also not very well known amongst tourists - an added bonus as the area offers the chance to stay on large farms...
Paarl
Overnight? Paarl accommodation
A mere hour's drive from Cape Town brings one to a giant granite outcrop with three rounded domes, the prominent one of which was initially called Peerleberg or Pearl Mountain by Abraham Gabemma. Abraham stumbled on the rock in 1657 en route to find meat ...
Pniel
Overnight? Pniel accommodation
If you have ever driven the R310 from Stellenbosch along Helshoogte, a lovely alternative route through to Franschhoek, then you've passed through the little village of Pniel. Linking the two major wine towns in this way makes for a more than pleasant wee...
Simondium
Overnight? Simondium accommodation
The little hamlet of Simondium lies at the upper point of a triangle with Stellenbosch and Franschhoek on the R45 and, because it is the lesser known of the three, tends to be described in terms of the other two towns, with little to warrant a visit in it...
Stellenbosch
Overnight? Stellenbosch accommodation
The beautiful little town of Stellenbosch, roughly an hour from Cape Town, lies surrounded by the Stellenbosch Mountains in the Jonkershoek River Valley in one of the most picturesque settings in the Cape.
The second oldest town in South Africa has fo...
Tulbagh
Overnight? Tulbagh accommodation
Just 80 minutes' drive north of Cape Town, at the northern edge of one of the most beautiful fertile valleys in the country, lies the historical town of Tulbagh. The village nestles in amongst the Winterhoek, Witzenberg and Obiqua Mountains, which surroun...
Wellington
Overnight? Wellington accommodation
Wellington lies on the banks of the River Kromme at the foot of the Groenberg Mountain in a glorious valley just 45 minutes' drive from Cape Town.
To the east are the majestic Hawequa Mountains and together these quiet monoliths watch over a valley th...
Additional Reading
- Best Places to Stay in the Cape Winelands
- Best Places to Stay in Stellenbosch – the Winelands' Vibrant University Town
- The Best Value Luxury Cape Winelands Accommodation
- Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve
- Bottelary Hills Wine Estates
- Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve
- De Zalze Golf Club
- Devonvale Golf Course
- Franschhoek Pass
- Franschhoek Wine Estates
- Franschhoek Wine Route
- Greater Simonsberg Wine Estates
- Groot Drakenstein Prison
- Huguenot Monument
- Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
- Limietberg Nature Reserve
- Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve
- Paarl Rock
- Paarl Vintners
- Paarl Wine Estates
- Stellenbosch Wine Routes
- Stellenbosch Berg Wine Estates
- Stellenbosch Valley Wine Estates
- Theewaterskloof Dam
- Tulbagh Wine Estates
- Wellington Wine Routes
- Wellington Wine Estates