Wine Tour in South Africa
Wine production is an important industry in South Africa. Some 10 million hectoliters of wine, which works out at 1 billion liters are produced here every year and growing.300,000 people found in the wine industry employment and income. About 3,000 different kinds of wines are vinified at the Cape today. The many wineries provide wines of excellent quality at very reasonable prices.
The beginnings of Viticulture at the Cape date back to the 17th Century. Dutch and French settlers brought the know-how from their home countries and were soon in the sunny valleys around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek, with its fertile soils success. Here today is still the core area of wine production. But good wines come today from the Breede River region, from the Overberg, the Swartland to the Cederberg.
DAY 1
Arrive Cape Town
Arrival in Cape Town and Welcome by your local, German-speaking tour guide.
On the way to the hotel already gives a detailed city tour with visits to major attractions like the Castle of Good Hope and a ride in a cable car up Table Mountain where you can enjoy in good weather, a uniquely beautiful look at a fantastic town with a picturesque setting (the cable car ride is weather dependent and therefore can also be installed on a different day). If the rooms already available (usually until around 14:00 clock), turn first to the hotel and have some time to rest and freshen up. The rest of the day is then at leisure.
The Garden Court de Waal is newly renovated and very well located in a garden with a swimming pool. You can use for Company Gardens and Gardens Go shopping mall on foot.
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast in the Garden Court de Waal
Website: www.southernsun.co.za
DAY 2
Cape Town
After breakfast drive to Constantia. Here were already in the 17 Century first wineries established. The dessert wines of Constantia obtained in the 19 Century big celebrity.There are some wineries continue that tradition. The vineyards are situated on the slopes of Constantia Mountain, which is an extension of the famous Table Mountain in Cape Town.
Visit Groot Constantia, the oldest winery in South Africa. Groot Constantia, one of the hallmarks of the South African wine, was founded in 1685th Convenient location on the foothills of the Constantia Mountains, the Mediterranean-like climate with long, warm, sunny days, the cool breeze from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, the shadow of the mountains and the relatively high rainfall - all these were and are almost perfect conditions for the viticulture. During a wine tasting you will learn interesting facts about wine cultivation in Constantia.
On the beautiful winery, enjoy a lunch.
In the afternoon, visit the botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch. The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden extends along the eastern slopes of Table Mountain was founded in 1913 by the botanist Henry Pearson. Due to the different altitude, the terrain habitat for numerous plants of southern Africa. On the 530-hectare site, you can admire more than 6000 plant species.
Bed and Breakfast in the Garden Court de Waal
Website: www.southernsun.co.za
DAY 3
Cape Town - Cape of Good Hope
After breakfast, we offer a day trip to the famous Cape of Good Hope. This is a first trip along the beautiful Atlantic coast with spectacular views (eg, Clifton, Llandudno, Hout Bay and Chapman's Peak Drive).
On the way visit the Cape Point Vineyard Estate. During a tour and wine tasting at the young and innovative Estate to learn more about the art of winemaking. This is around the 'maritime' and southwestern Winery South Africa: the vineyards are nestled idyllically on the slopes of Chapman's Peak with spectacular views of the nearby Atlantic Ocean, False Bay, but have only 15km away in the back.
Then, go around the Cape of Good Hope National Park before you reach Cape Point, where the Indian Ocean is to meet with the Atlantic Ocean. On the way back, keep close to the naval base on a protected colony of penguins living here. Enjoy a fish lunch on the road in a nice restaurant.
Bed and Breakfast in the Garden Court de Waal
Website: www.southernsun.co.za
DAY 4
Cape Town - Mossel Bay
Today the journey continues towards Mosselbay via Grabouw, Hermanus and Swellendam.
In Grabouw take part in a wine tasting at the Wine Estate Wilde crane. Wild crane was founded in the 70s as a farm with various business fields. They produced grain, fruit and wine bred, but also cattle and sheep. In 1989, the farm became the property of Dr. Bruce Elkin, who gave up his city life as a dentist and traded against the fresh country air on wild crane. After experimenting with several crops had been, he realized quickly that Wilde crane is the ideal place for growing grapes. The constant breeze from the southeast and the long dry summer kept the grapes dry and largely free of fungal diseases. The poor soils give very small grapes produced, for the full taste with the typical cool Wilder crane flavor profile. Wild crane, named by Decanter Magazine as one of the 21 hottest wineries of the New World, the Walker Bay region as one of the top wine regions set on the map of wine experts and won many awards for his wines.
Continue to Hermanus, the "whale capital of the world." Every year from July to November draw dozens of Southern Right Whales to breed in the quiet waters of Walker Bay, sometimes there are up to 100 whale cows and their calves. Here you have time for a stroll along the promenade.
Continue in to Swellendam. On the way visit the Hamilton Russell wine farm, where you will learn during a wine tasting and cellar tour to know about the wine. On this wine farm, the total area under cultivation in 16 different soil types was subdivided, suitable to the respective grape varieties. After that was planted as the Sauvignon Blanc vines at the Table Mountain sandstone lighter soils.
From Swellendam from it then goes on to your hotel in Mossel Bay.
Dinner, bed and breakfast at the Protea Hotel Wilderness
Website: www.proteahotels.co.za
DAY 5
Mossel Bay - Knysna - Mossel Bay
Today take a day trip to Knysna. Knysna is known as the tourist center of the Garden Route. Following the example of Cape Town, was built in a small waterfront with a marina, restaurants, boutiques and much more. The opportunities for recreation are endless. Knysna is situated on a vast lagoon that is ideal for all possibilities of water sports. The bay is flanked by two impressive sandstone cliffs, the Knysna Heads.
In the morning you take a trip to the Featherbed Nature Reserve. Take a ferry to the island before Knysna, where you take a walk and then eat lunch under the trees.
The rest of the day is at leisure.
Bed and breakfast at the Protea Hotel Wilderness
Website: www.proteahotels.co.za
DAY 6
Mossel Bay - Oudtshoorn
This morning visit the Bartholomeus Diaz Museum, where you can also visit a replica of the sailing ship that Diaz used on his trip in 1488. The caravel was built in Portugal and sailed 1988 500th birthday of the navigator to Mossel Bay.
Then drive to Oudtshoorn. Oudtshoorn is the main city of the Little Karoo and still the world center for ostrich breeding. See the biggest bird in the world during a show demonstration. You have the opportunity in direct contact with the elegant animals connect and learn the way on a guided tour of the flat area to know everything to know about the ostriches. Following you will find a bouquet lunch on the farm.
In the afternoon you visit the cave system in the Cango Caves. The caves are one of the largest caves in the world. In the extensive underground facilities can take long walks. The limestone formations are partially lit up brightly.
Bed and breakfast at the Protea Hotel Riempie
Website: www.proteahotels.co.za
DAY 7
Oudtshoorn - Stellenbosch
After a leisurely breakfast we leave towards the Stellenbosch. Through the "Little Karoo, a semi-desert, drive along Route 62 through places like Calitzdorp, Montagu, Robertson and Worcester.
The Klein Karoo stretches east-west direction from Montagu to Oudtshoorn and produces some of South Africa's most prestigious wines.
In Calitzdorp, which is also known as port wine capital of Africa, visit the Boplaas Estate for a port tasting. The Estate is South Africa's specialist sprayed wines (fortified wines) and vintage-style port, the Port wines have won many awards. For 150 years, is operating here and Viticulture, 1860 Brandy will be exported to London.Since 1998, however be the reds, which turn out not as lush and soft rich as one might fear, given the hot temperatures.
Visit Robertson, an emerging wine region in the hinterland. Because of the hot climate, the vineyards are dependent on artificial irrigation. On the estate of Graham Beck, which is famous for its wide range of Cap Classique sparkling wines known to enjoy another wine tasting and cellar tour.
Then proceed to Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch is the center of wine production, with its many built in Cape Dutch style buildings. Stellenbosch is the center of the prosperous wine-growing region in the Cape.
Dinner in Stellenbosch.
The Kleine Zalze Lodge is situated beside the Kleine Zalze Golf Course in Stellenbosch, the heart of wine country in the Cape Province and is part of the Kleine Zalze wine estate. The Lodge is a wonderful panoramic view of the surrounding mountains of Stellenbosch. The site is adjacent to the Stellenbosch Country Club and is opposite Stellenbosch Square, where you will find restaurants, boutiques and shops. The historic city center is about 4 km.
The estate is since 1695 Kleine Zalze wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon ago, Shiraz, Pinotage and Chenin Blanc.
Bed and breakfast in the Little Zalze
Website: www.kleinezalze.co.za
DAY 8
Stellenbosch
Today morning we visit Stellenbosch, the second oldest city in the country. It was founded in 1680th Stroll through the village, which is surrounded by historical buildings from the Cape Dutch Colony. Also visit the Village Museum.
Then visit the Hillcrest Estate. First you will have a small cellar tour and you will participate in the "Food and Wine Experience". For a delicious lunch with wine tasting while you receive personal attention from the winemaker. They are used in every course the right wine can be served and the winemaker ask questions whenever you want. The Hill Crest Farm is a small but very professional farm, where people work with passion. Each wine is produced, has its own character and is in the olive oil production from A to Z everything is done on the farm itself.
Bed and breakfast in the Little Zalze
Website: www.kleinezalze.co.za
DAY 9
Stellenbosch - Tulbagh / Darling
Today you drive towards Tulbagh and Darling to visit more wineries and to learn during a wine tasting of interesting information about the cultivation in this region.
Visit the winery in Darling Tukulu. "Tukulu" is the local name for the deep red soil, the vines grow on the Darling. All the grapes come from the vineyard Papkuilsfontein.Tukulu is a joint venture between Distell, the founders and a community of interest, are members of the regional wine farmers and workers and the community of Darling.The joint venture was established in order Tukulu comes complete in the possession and under the leadership of former members of underprivileged groups. Everything about Tukulu has its own character and achievements in international tastings show that this is a project started with a great future. The Pinotage is already in the Top Ten in South Africa and rightly so. After a wine tasting we continue to Tulbagh.
In Tulbagh visit the Rijk's Private Wine Cellar. It is surrounded on three sides by mountains: the Obiqua Mountains in the west, Winterhoek Mountains in the north and wit mountain in the east. In 1996, Neville Dorrington decided to move away from Cape Town to live in the country. He bought a large 136ha piece of land that was cultivated than ever before, and laid against the advice of the experts on 31ha of vineyards. Since the winery is quite small, it has an annual production of only 180,000 bottles, 2000, the maiden vintage came on the market.
The 2000 Pinotage caused a great sensation, as with 38.5 g / l extract he had the highest value ever achieved for a Pinotage. He immediately won numerous awards such as the Pinotage Wine Competition, Gold at South African Airways Young Wine Show, Gold and "Best Wine" at the Michelangelo Competition and gold on the Veritas Awards. He was also voted among the top 10 of the Pinotage Association.
Lunch together on the road.
Bed and breakfast in the Little Zalze
Website: www.kleinezalze.co.za
DAY 10
Stellenbosch
In the morning talking to the wine-growing faculty of the University of Stellenbosch.This takes a professor like all of your questions and is intended to give you some additional ideas to give.
Then the journey continues to Paarl. Paarl is one of the three oldest established settlements by Europeans in South Africa. Visit the futuristic "Afrikaanse Taalmonument. It will document the development of Afrikaans as a language.
The region of Paarl is one of the core elements of South African wine production in terms of quality and reputation of the local wine producers. The climate is about the Mediterranean with 650 mm of rainfall per year. Irrigation is necessary only in exceptional cases. The majority of the grapes are grown in Paarl Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc.
Visit the winery in Paarl Nelson's Creek. Owner of Nelson's Creek is Alan Nelson.Alan has been a lawyer, and the wine only in a roundabout way. Late 80s, when the end was drawing near, apartheid and the time of new power relationships at the Cape was to be expected, since drummed Alan the black workers on the run-down farm that he had just bought together, and made them their outrageous plan: If theywould use their experience to produce at Nelson's Creek, an award-winning wine, he would leave them in return a portion of the estate, there to work on their own. The rest is almost kitsch: 1996 Chardonnay Nelson's is the best of its sort in South Africa selected. Alan keeps his word: One year later, nine hectares of land become the property of 16 of its workers. Accompanying the offer goes to the young producers, its machinery, production equipment and use the wine cellar. That same year, Alan Nelson brings the former elementary school principal in the project Victor Titus: Titus is now responsible for the success of the color cross-joint ventures. A name is easily found: "New Beginnings" - "A New Beginning. Victor Titus will tell you during the wine tour and wine tasting more about the New Beginnings project.
In the afternoon visit Franschhoek. The name means "French corner", the city was founded in 1688 by Huguenots who were persecuted in France because of their Protestant-Calvinist beliefs. Visit the Hugenot Memorial Museum and Monument, which commemorates the immigrants, who gave many places and families in the region its name.
Enjoy at the Terroir Restaurant, which belongs to the Little Zalze the farewell dinner.The restaurant enjoy of an excellent reputation.
Bed and breakfast in the Little Zalze
Website: www.kleinezalze.co.za
DAY 11
Departure
Even the most beautiful holiday comes to an end and with the amazing, exciting memories in the luggage you will be driven to the airport in Cape Town, where you fly back to Germany.
Special Interest Tours pictures
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