A friend of mine calls to say he's flying to South Africa, where he's going to go wine tasting. We get many questions like this throughout the year, so we thought it would be useful to write up a few recommendations of this type in our newsletter. So close your eyes and imagine that you have just landed at Cape Town Airport and have an irresistible craving for delicious wine. Where will your first steps take you?
The scale of the wine industry in South Africa is staggering – Platters wine guide dedicated to South Africa contains 700 densely described pages. So the intention to take a chance and visit one of them may seem like shooting in the dark. Fortunately, the first wine region – and the most famous one – is only 50 km from Cape Town Airport and can be reached in just under an hour. You don't have to worry about accommodation – some wine farms offer accommodation on their premises, or you can find plenty of options in the surrounding area.
Stellenbosch: a historical gem with great potential
Stellenbosch is probably the most famous wine region in South Africa, often referred to as the country's wine mecca. Located east of Cape Town, it is renowned for its historic center with colonial architecture and vineyards stretching across the slopes of the southern foothills of the Hottentots Holland Mountains. This area is considered the heart of South African wine and produces a wide range of varieties, with an emphasis on quality and tradition.
Stellenbosch is also home to several leading wine institutes, such as Stellenbosch University, where the famous Pinotage variety was created. If you ask the locals which two wineries to visit (you won't be able to manage more than that in one day), they will usually refer you to Spier Wine Farm and Meerlust Wine Estate with its iconic Rubicon.
Franschhoek: a culinary and wine gem
This area is a little further away, located about 75 km from Cape Town, and is synonymous with luxury wineries, galleries, and traditional French architecture. Franschhoek (Czech for "French Corner"), often referred to as "Little France," is a picturesque area surrounded by mountains, known not only for its excellent wines but also for its culinary specialties and rich European history.
Varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, and Merlot predominate in the Franschhoek area. Above all, there is a strong emphasis on varieties that correspond well with the local climatic conditions and terroir, which produces wines with an elegant profile and rich aromatics. A distinctive feature of the local wines is the emphasis on quality and uniqueness, often with an emphasis on minimal intervention in production. That is why you can taste such different wines here as those from La Bri, Lynx Wine Estate, or Boekenhoutskloof Winery Pty Ltd, which is known for producing the famous wine The Chocolate Block.
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Paarl: a traditional and diverse region
Paarl, the third largest wine region in the Cape Town area, located 60 km northeast, completes the golden triangle of Western Cape winemaking. This region is known not only for its rich vineyards, but also for its historical monuments and rock formations, such as Du Toitskloof.
The dominant varieties in Paarl, as in other regions, are Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Merlot, but the area is particularly renowned for producing dry and intense wines. White varieties such as Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc are also widely grown. Thanks to its diverse soils and microclimate, Paarl offers unique opportunities for producing varietal wines with deep structure and distinctive aromatics. Definitely worth a visit is Fairview Farm, which produces cheese and wine that we import under the Cape Wine Company brand, or the South African winery with Italian cellar masters, Ayama Wines.
Robertson: a region with a specific microclimate
The Robertson region lies about 120 km northeast of Cape Town and is best known for its specific microclimate and favorable terroir, which supports the growth of varieties suitable for both young, fresh wines and mature, full-bodied drinks. This region is often referred to as a "paradise for rosé wines" due to the wide range of varieties grown here.
The main wine varieties in Robertson are Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, which often win awards at domestic and international competitions. White varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc are also widespread, with producers here emphasizing fresh, mineral wines with delicate aromas. Probably the best known is the family-owned Springfield Estate, with its beautiful, mineral wines grown on stony soils and produced using traditional methods.
2028: From the airport to the cellar even faster!
And finally, some great news: Cape Winelands Airport will open in 2028, further shortening the distance to the main wine regions. Cape Winelands Airport, which is being built northeast of Cape Town, caters to the growing number of foreign and domestic tourists traveling to see the beauty of the city and its surroundings and, of course, for great wine experiences!
The area around Cape Town is one of the most important and most recognized wine regions in the world. This area is renowned not only for its unique terroirs and diverse varieties, but also for its rich history and traditional approach to winemaking. Each of the main wine regions has its own specific characteristics, varieties, and traditions, which contribute to the rich mosaic of South African winemaking.