Wine Route / Stellenbosch, Cape Town

Favorite thing: Climb Table Mountain - do not be stupid and go straight up the mountain. Ask where & when to climb. Visit the V&A and eat fish & chips. Mug & Bean for coffee - about R5.50 for a bottomless cup - if you are hungry SHARE a muffin - they are big.
Go up the coast to Strand through Gordons Bay then along the coastal road to Hermanus. Lots to see in Hermanus from Whales (May - November) to driving the scenic route above the town (Most people forget to do this). Just ouside Hermanus is a very good wine shop which sells even on a Sunday. On the way there or back stop off and see the African Jackass Penguin & cormerant colony at rocky bay (Around Betty's Bay) - this is not to be missed and entrance is a donation on the site. Dive at Hangklip and afterwards have a cold beer at the Hangklip Hotel. Have supper at Tallas in Gordon's Bay - better out of season. Visit Gordon's Bay waterfront - do not blame me if the barman get you plastered!!! A very good bunch of guys & girls there - lots of young overseas visitors end up staying with the crew for awhile.
Stellenbosch is another world and has things for young and old. Wine farms & wine farms some good some bad - try stay away from the big farms.

Fondest memory: Seeing Table Mountain the first time. The friendly people. Driving from Stellenbosch on the Hellshoogte Rd & on to Franshoek. Lunch in Franshoek and then back to Strand via Grabouw & Sir Louwry's pass. This was in the 'Hooligans Camper' singing 'On the road again' - in tune of course. Lamberts Bay crayfish festival (Even had one once) - a good full days party & song

Favorite thing: SOME HISTORY

The French Huguenots who arrived from 1688 onwards and who settled mainly in the Franschhoek Valley contributed their sophisticated skills by refining the production of wine and before long good quality wines were being made at the Cape. It is even said that Napoleon Bonaparte while languishing in a prison cell in St Helena was reported to be longing for the sweet wines of Constantia as these wines had been extremely well received in the French Court!

Favorite thing: The rich, fertile soils along the Breede River and especially the areas of Somerset West, Stellenbosch (the oldest wine route), Franschhoek and Paarl , have become world famous for their whites, reds, sherries, ports and brandies. They are only away from a 30 minutes drive from Cape Town.

For those who would like to venture further afield the Wellington, Worcester, Robertson, Tulbagh and Klein Karoo wine areas are just as enticing, each with their own special appeal.

There are also the Swartland and Olifantsriver wine routes to visit on the West Coast.

The Constantia and Durbanville Wine Routes are situated within the Cape Peninsula.

Walker Bay vineyards near Hermanus also offer two interesting wine estates.