Only real wine connoisseurs know the South Africa wine route is indeed a dandy. As the valleys and rolling hills of Cape Town's inner cities supply the ultimate terroir for grape growing and also have produced among the best wines on the planet, you will find newer wineries and vineyards which are being grown in areas never imagined possible. These are the basic coastal regions of South Africa. With sometimes gale force winds and mild temperatures, it had been once believed that these areas were not ideal for growing perfect grapes to make high quality wines.
The hard working South African vintners have proved everyone wrong because the wines emerging from Cape Point (Two Oceans), Elim Valley in Cape Agulhas, and Walker Bay have already won a range of awards both local and international and have taken the viticulture world by storm. These grapes are grown in very harsh conditions as well as in seemingly unfertile sea sand like soil. However, the white wines which have been produced are of exceptional quality. They are described as being light and fruity with good texture along with a unique flavour that lasts.
The coastal regions start from Elim Valley at Cape Agulhas the tip of Africa. Here the vines are fairly old despite only having entered the marketplace recently. Vineyards were originally grown to provide the missionaries here with wines for religious blessings. It was determined these could actually produce distributable wines and shortly after, bottling and labelling began.
Moving further west you will get to the Hemel enAarde Valley (Heaven and Earth Valley) where most of the Walker Bay vineyards can be found. A number of these wines are crisp and flavourful with unique textures. You will find not many fruity flavours, with stronger spicy, vanilla and earthy tones for them. This region is not only producing great white wines, but also features a good choice of red wines that are intriguing and mild. The vineyards are fairly properly protected within the valley and receive mild weather using the cold Atlantic Ocean breezes.
Moving westwards again you are will arrive at the False Bay area in which the waters are warmer as well as the beaches filled with holidaymakers. The 2 Oceans wines originate from this region near to Cape Point and are influenced by both Atlantic Ocean breezes along with the Indian Ocean breezes making for any uniquely flavoured wine that is excellent with many meals. They are light and also have great flavour. The Cape Point Vintners can also be starting to generate a red wine and also have recently seen the very first harvest of red grapes which they say looks to be really promising.
Whenever you are at the coastal region of South Africa, make sure to not lose out on these wine routes. You might also visit the section of Constantia which produces top rated wines using their 5 estates. The oldest wine farm in South Africa is situated here called Groot Constantia and you can enjoy exquisite accommodation, meals and fun wine tasting. Some might not think about this a coastal wine area, however it is actually located on the mountain from Noordhoek, fifteen to twenty minutes from the Eastern side coastline and just ten to fifteen minutes from the western side at Muizenberg.
You must also take advantage of the other wine routes when you are in Cape Town, South Africa, especially Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl making the Winelands, Robertson, Tulbagh, Swartland, Wellingto, Worcester and Breede River Valley, Boland and interior regions. Additionally, there are wine farms and lovely vineyards around the banks from the Orange River in Mpumalanga Province, within the Karoo in which the semi-arid conditions produce brilliantMuscadels and recently in the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
The coastal wine regions should absolutely be a part of your tours and will give you an entirely unique outlook and experience with wines as well as the wine industry. Using the subtle flavours and cooler climate you will almost certainly enjoy these wines with any meal you might have. The good thing about the region can also be a primary reason not to lose out on these regions, since you can get a lot more from your tour and engage in numerous alternative activities like hiking, cycling, paint balling, surfing, boating, shark diving, whale watching, swimming, abseiling, biking and climbing, paragliding, hang gliding, diving, snorkelling, and the hundreds of attractions across the South African coast. These include the penguins at Boulders Beach, Cape Point and all of its glorious features, the city of Hermanus, Cape Agulhas lighthouse along with its museums, Clarens Drive, and Hangklip.
Whatever areas you choose to visit on your own wine tour of South Africa, you will discover a great diversity in the wines you taste If you can, reach all the regions and experience all of the variety.
In the Constantia Valley in Cape Town, surrounded by wine farms, a long winding drive-way leads to a stunning secluded spot of indigenous gardens and beautifully renovated stable buildings. Welcome to Constantia Stables! Visit www.constantiastables.co.za