Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl: Full Day Wine Tour

On the start of this tour you will be picked up from your hotel and head towards the town of Stellenbosch, the second oldest town European settlement after Cape Town. A pre-dominantly Afrikaans speaking town boasting a number of significant Dutch architectural designs. In Stellenbosch you will be visiting a vineyard for some wine tasting and a cellar with a self-walk through the streets of Stellenbosch The tour proceeds with a scenic drive to Franschoek. This beautiful town is of historical importance to the French Huguenots, tour will include a journey through the history of Franschoek with a cheese bite and a good glass of wine. You will then depart to Paarl, which is also famous for its “Pearl of Paarl” a big granite mountain which is an iconic site for the town. You will have the opportunity to taste and pair your favorite premier tiered wines with a variety of cheese in a delightfully relaxed ambiance before heading back to Cape Town.

Paarl wines are now world renowned, primarily for the quality of their Shiraz while Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinotage, Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon are also increasingly well regarded, and the region is home to some of the Western Cape’s most influential wineries. Less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, the region north of Stellenbosch has earned international acclaim not only for its Paarl wines but also the breathtaking beauty of its natural surroundings. The name Paarl means ‘pearl’ and reflects the way the ancient granite mountains, which early Dutch settlers called ‘den Diamont ende Peerlbergh’ (‘the diamond and pearl mountain’), glisten in the distance.

As you make your way into Franschhoek 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 organised 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.

The beautiful little town of Stellenbosch, roughly an hour from Cape Town, lies surrounded by the Stellenbosch Mountains in the Jonkershoek River Valley in one of the most picturesque settings in the Cape. The second oldest town in South Africa has fondly been called ‘Eikestad’ or city of oaks and its streets are lined with some of the most beautiful surviving examples of Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian architecture in the Cape. Dorp Street is a national monument and taking the time to walk around this cosy old part of Stellenbosch, with its secluded lanes, water furrows, cosmopolitan restaurants and coffee bistros, with superb views of mountain, vineyards and orchards, is an idyllic morning venture.