6 Day South Africa Wine Sojourn

Table Mountain & Constantia Valley

Weather permitting, you’ll begin your visit with the most iconic landmark of South Africa, Table Mountain, rising up over 1000m above sea level, it is the icon that makes Cape Town instantly recognizable. We will reach the top of the flat-topped mountain via the scenic aerial cableway and enjoy a walk at the top overlooking the city. Enjoy this superb view of Cape Town and see places such as the Diamond Works and the Malay Quarter on Signal Hill.

Next you’ll make your way to the winelands of the Constantia Valley to learn more about its winemaking industry since 1685. The oldest wine region in South Africa, Constantia’s wine estates are famed for their award-winning wines.

Make a stop for an à la carte lunch at the boutique winery of one of Constantia's top-rated winery restaurants.

After lunch, you will be welcomed for a visit and tasting at a winery such as Groot Constantia and Klein Constantia.
The Groot Constantia Wine Estate Groot Constantia was the first wine estate in South Africa working as a wine farm since 1685. Its most famous product was a sweet wine that unusually didn't adopt a European name but was known throughout the world as Constantia. In its day it was the most expensive wine in the world, easily beating Château d’Yquem and Tokaji.

Described as one of the world’s most beautiful vineyards, Klein Constantia is set amidst ancient trees and lush greenery on the upper foothills of the Constantiaberg, with superb views across the Constantia Valley and False Bay. A modern New World feel is apparent when you pull up outside the winery. Step through the door to the tasting counter to stand on a high walkway overlooking fermentation tanks and maturation barrels. You are welcome to taste wines and here they sell the famous Vin de Constance, perhaps South Africa's only cult wine. Klein Constantia's recreated the historic Constantia wine by cloning the original vines and making this sweet unbotryised wine.

At the end of your charming day, you will be transferred to Franschhoek to check into your accommodations.

Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch, known for its bold Shiraz, is the most developed winelands in South Africa and home to the important wine university, University of Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch is to South African wine much like Napa is to Californian wine. The region is mostly hilly terrain and a Mediterranean climate with warm and dry growing seasons. The variety of soils in the region in combination with its location at the foot of the Cape Fold Mountain range gives Stellenbosch a favorable terroir for viticulture. Some of the best Shiraz and indigenous Pinotage are produced here along with Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlot, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Stellenbosch Discovery

This morning, meet your guide for a day of discovery in the Stellenbosch winelands and explore the renowned local wine route, boasting a high proportion of the country’s leading wine estates.

Begin your day at De Trafford, a family-owned and operated vineyard tucked away deep in a hidden valley. Hike up to the 393 Vineyard at where their flagship wine Elevation is grown, before returning to the cellar for a special tasting.

Next, continue on to the Polkadraai hills where you’ll be welcomed for a visit and tasting at De Toren. Here you will taste the iconic De Toren Délicate, De Toren Z, De Toren Fusion V and De Toren’s iconic flagship wines Book XVII and Black Lion.

The tastings can be interspersed with a historical walk in the centre of Stellenbosch, appreciating the classic Cape Dutch architecture or a visit to the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden. You’ll be treated to lunch at a nearby winery.

As you return back toward Franschhoek, you may want to stop in at Boschendal or Babylonstoren, two organic farms that are popular winelands destination stops. Arriving in Franschhoek, stop for a tasting at Mullineux and Leeu where you’ll taste through the Mullineux range, from young guns Chris and Andrea Mullineux (time permitting).

As the afternoon concludes you will be brought to your accommodation.

Swartland and Franschhoek Wine Discovery

This morning after breakfast, meet your private guide at your hotel and together you'll head into the interior to experience the wild Paarl and Swartland regions which now produce some of South Africa's most lauded wines.

Swartland, which means “Black Land” in Afrikaans, is covered by the dark grey endemic renostebos (rhinoceros bush) that turns black after the rains. The undulating landscape of golden wheat fields, vineyards, and mountains is anything but dark. Whether it’s the physical conditions or the commitment and passion from local winemakers, the culmination of elements has resulted in one of South Africa’s most remarkable, yet underrated, wine regions; a wine region dominated by small, family-run wineries, which value craft over consumerism.

Wine makers such as AA Badenhorst, Eben Sadie, David & Nadia, Marc Kent and Callie Louw (Porseleinberg) are revolutionizing wine making in this hot, dry region, making wines from old vine Chenin blanc and a wide range of Spanish and Portuguese varieties. Some of the producers that your guide will be considered for today will be Vondeling where an environmentally sensitive approach to farming and minimal intervention during the winemaking process ensure wine with a distinct fingerprint of origin, or Adi Badenhorst for a memorable experience.

You will be welcomed for a tour and tasting at some of the best wineries in the region such as Scali Wines where Wille and Tania e Waal create handcrafted, organic Scali wines on their family owned & managed farms, or Ayama wines state where the Italian roots, belief and passion strength to sucessful wines.

Continue on into Franschhoek, here you will notice that most of the farms still bear their original French names, some complete with a spectacular Cape Dutch homestead, towering oaks and rolling vineyards. You will find an array of cellars, ranging from quaint boutique wineries that cater for those in search of something unique, to the large cellars that offer visitors organized tours and tastings. The fertile Franschhoek Wine Valley is home to some of South Africa’s noble cultivars and classic styles. These range from superb whites such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon and Chenin Blanc, to the full-bodied reds of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Merlot. The area also produces some of the country’s extraordinary Méthode Cap Classiques, which can all be enjoyed during a trip along the Franschhoek MCC Route. You will have the opportunity to enjoy a tasting in some of the wineries along your way such as La Motte, recognized internationally for their exceptional quality wines.

After your day concludes, your driver will be transfer you back to your accommodations.

Dinner at leisure and overnight at your accomodations.

Walker Bay Coastal Region

This morning you’ll be met by your private driver guide and together you’ll journey through mountains and along the coast to enjoy the cool climate wines of the Walker Bay coastal region.

Today you’ll visit the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near the charming coastal town of Hermanus, home of the South African pinot noir and other Burgundy varieties. Hemel-en-Aarde means “Heaven and Earth”, and you’ll soon understand why! These rugged fynbos-clad hills, overlooked by a series of towering Cape-fold mountains and swept by offshore winds from the Atlantic Ocean, are home to some fifteen wineries, each growing relatively small volumes of grapes to produce unique and excellent wine.

Names such as Crystallum, Bouchard-Finlayson, Hamilton-Russell, Iona, and Creation are all well known in this area. However, several up-and-coming wineries offer spectacular wines, and we will explore some of these during our visit.

Every June through December, hundreds of Southern Right Whales congregate in the shallow sheltered waters of Walker Bay to mate and calve their young. Enjoy whale watching from the cliffs above Hermanus, looking out over Walker Bay. Sea excursions for whale watching can be arranged for an additional supplement.

You will enjoy a fabulous food and wine pairing at one of the wineries in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley before heading back to Franschhoek.

After checking out of your accommodation, meet your private driver who will transfer you to the airport for your departing flight.