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Cape Winelands - Franschhoek Wine Valley
Posted by Ayanda Khuzwayo on 10 October 2018 7:55 AM CAT
Further away from Cape Town’s Central Business District further out into the Western Cape Province are the Cape Winelands. The Winelands boast some of the most majestic scenery in the world with its beautiful wine valleys which include Franschhoek Wine Valley.
The 18 official wine routes and two brandy routes feature many historic wine estates that date back centuries and are a premier Western Cape visitor attraction.
Wine tasting, winemaking tours, excellent cuisine and magnificent scenery collectively create an irresistible attraction for international and local travellers alike.
Most Cape wine estates are characterised by classic Cape Dutch-style buildings and massive vineyards with picturesque mountains as a backdrop. There is also a distinct European influence in a number of regions, thanks to the arrival of French, Dutch and German settlers during the 18th century.
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are two famous towns in the Winelands. Despite visiting Stellenbosch on an earlier trip, I still wasn’t ready for the jaw-dropping natural beauty of Franschhoek.
The Franschhoek Wine Valley is also famous for its food and is acknowledged as the ‘gourmet capital of South Africa’.
Franschhoek is Dutch for ‘French Corner’ and is a town nestled between the mountains. Even though most people don’t speak French, many of the street names, restaurant names and wine farms in the ‘French Quarter’ have French names.
Franschhoek makes a serious attempt at being the food and wine capital of South Africa and there are many fine restaurants, like the Grande Provence Villa where we had a sumptuous three-course meal in a spectacular natural setting beautified by giant sculptures.
The Franschhoek Wine Tram hop-on-hop-off tour is one of the best ways to discover the Franschhoek Valley. Passengers aboard the tour journey through rolling vineyards in an open-sided tram and open-air tram-bus stopping by at some of South Africa’s oldest wine estates. Grande Provence for example, was established in 1694.
The tour includes a narration focusing on the history of Franschhoek and wine cultivation in the valley, complimentary wine tastings and unparalleled views of the valley and vineyards. Our tour also passed through the Rickety Bridge winery for – you guessed right – some more wine tasting.
Original Article can be accessed at This Day Live
