A tour in South Africa, discovering over three centuries of wine history and over 2000 quality all to enjoy.
There are 18 Wine Roads in the Republic of South Africa, which are among the top 10 of the world’s best producers. Thanks to the wise techniques of grape harvesting and fermentation, in the presence of a favorable habitat and fertile soil suitable for growing vines, South African wine is known and exported all over the world. The Winelands tell a story over three centuries old, with the first production dated 1659 in the Western Cape, where today we find most of the wine production, particularly in the southwestern range near the coastal region.
Numerous wineries offer the opportunity to visit the cellars and taste the various varieties produced including, for the whites, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Hanepoot (Moscat d’Alexandrie), Rhine, Riesling and Semillon; while the red wines are particularly valuable Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsaut, Pinotage (an exclusive variety of South Africa), Merlot, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Ruby Baroque and Pontat.
Just 35 minutes drive from Cape Town, there are 60 wine estates in Stellenbosch, the capital of excellence of South African wine. Its first Wine Road was inaugurated in 1971 and winds its way into a beautiful valley that is particularly suited to the cultivation of vine.
The Paarl Wine Route includes more than 40 wineries, many of which are also used to produce local food such as cheeses and olive oil.
The oldest Wine Route in the country is instead Constantia Wine Route, which houses some of the most famous seas in the area such as Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia and Buitenverwachting.
The famous Route 62 is the longest Wine Road in the world. It stretches from Western Cape to the East Cape, passing through urban features such as Oudtshoorn, Langkloof, Barrydale, Montagu, Ashton, Robertson, Ceres, offering a wide range of experiences: from visits to wineries and nature reserves to cultural tours, museums and outdoor activities.
Lovers of unspoiled natural places can not miss the Kokerboom Food & Wine Route, located in the Northern Cape where the Kalahari and Nama-Karoo deserts join, and where the Great Gariep River – better known as the Orange River – flows through lush the neighboring lands, transforming the surrounding area into a true green oasis. The route is immersed in an arid area, characterized by hot summers where temperatures of 45° C are also reached and cold winter nights. The Orange River, formerly called “God’s Gift for South Africa’s Thirst”, and the green earthy strip growing along its shore, creates a natural landscape in sharp contrast to the rocky peaks rising around it. The irrigation systems adopted have allowed the extension of the green belt to the desert, making it possible to develop large areas for the cultivation of vineyards and other plants.
Ten percent of South Africa’s vineyards are located in the Orange River and Southern Kalahari valley, on a route that leads to one of the most fascinating and interesting areas of the Northern Cape Province and embraces the cities of Keimoes, Kanoneiland, Kenhardt, Augrabies, Upington and Marchand.
Finally, the Kokerboom Food and Wine Route is open to everyone and here you can sip the best wines and liqueurs in the country.
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