Wine Tours South Africa
Only real wine expert can understand that the South Africa wine itinerary is fine. Although the ascending hills and dropping valleys in Cape town’s inside cities provide the perfect landscape for growing grapes and produce some of the world’s best wines, newer vineyards and wineries have emerged in places never thought to be possible, and this is along South Africa’s coastal areas. With the occasional strong winds and calm temperatures, no one had ever imagined that these areas would ever be suitable for cultivating good grapes to produce the best wines.
The very hard working vintners in South Africa have showed every one that great wine can be produced Cape point- the Two Ocean, Walker Bay and Elim Valley in Cape Agulhas have been winning various international and local awards and are evading the viticulture world by surprise. These grapes grow under unfertile soils and very harsh weather. They produce exceptional first –class white wines, with light and a rich flavored texture.
The coastal regions begin from the tip of Africa at Elim Valley which is at Cape Agulhas. The existing vines in this region are somewhat old although they have just recently entered the global market. Originally, vineyards were grown to provide the missionaries with wine to be used for religious blessing and other functions. It was later discovered that these vines could produce wines that could be distributed so they started bottling and even labeled the wines.
On traveling further west, you will arrive at the Heaven and Earth Valley- Hemel en Aarde Valley and there you will learn that most of the Walker Bay vineyards are situated there. Most of the wines are crispy and flavored with unique aromas. There are a few fruity flavored and strongly spiced vanilla or earthy toned wines. This area not only produces interesting and mild red wines but also a great selection of white wine. The vineyards are moderately protected in a valley and they receive calm weather and cold breezes from the Atlantic Ocean.
When you go further west, you will reach the False Bay region, where its waters are much warmer and the beaches are packed with travelers on holiday. This area is close to Cape Point and it experiences both Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean breezes. The Two Oceans wines are produce from here and their unique interesting flavor has made them a favorite for many during meals. Other than being light, they have liked great flavor. Vintners at Cape Point recently started producing red wine and lately have seen the first red grapes harvest which they claim appears to shows potential.
When you go to the coastal area of South Africa, Endeavour not to miss these wine itineraries. You can also visit the Constantia region which manufactures award-winning wines from it estates. Groot Constantia is the oldest wine producing farm in the whole of South Africa and it is located in this region. It offers tasty meals, enjoyable wine tasting and luxurious accommodation. Anyone can mistake this to be lay in the coastal region but actually it is located immediately above the mountain from Noordhoek being only at 10-15 minutes from the western part and15-20 minutes from the Eastern area at Muizenberg.
There are quite a number of more wine itineraries that you should not miss, particularly Winelands comprised of Paarl and Franschhoek, Tulbagh, Stellenbosch, Boland comprised of Breede River Valley and Worcester, Swartland and Wellington, and many more inside regions. Also, there are many attractive vineyards and wine farms along River Orange’s banks in Mpumalanga Province, in Karoo where the semi arid conditions produce grand Muscadels and of late in KwaZulu-Natal and Free State.
It is wise to include most of the coastal wine areas in your tour itinerary so that you can get the privilege to explore to vineyards and wine industries. In the cool coastal climate, you are bound to enjoy this delicately flavored wine with your meals. Another reason why you should not miss this is the spectacular beauty of the place itself. From your tour you can enjoy a number of activities such as cycling, surfing, paint balling, hiking, shark diving, boating, whale watching, scuba diving abseiling, swimming, paragliding, mountain biking and climbing, hang gliding, snorkeling, and visiting of the numerous attractions along South Africa’s coast. Among these are the town of Hermanus, Hangklip, Boulders Beach with its numerous penguins, lighthouse and museums at Cape Agulhas, the spectacular Clarens Drive and Cape Point and its beautiful features.
Whichever destinations you may choose to visit during your wine tours in south Africa, you will discover the diverse variety of wines as you taste them. In conclusion, the more wine places you visit the more variety you will taste.
