Wine Tasting in South Africa
When you first think of South Africa you might think of animals, safaris in Kruger National Park, nature, or even the big cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg. But what is often overlooked is the rich wine culture that the country has. Most vineyards are located in the Western Cape and Northern Cape of South Africa. Although the region is stretched along the Orange River and Breed Valley.
Wine History
Actually South Africa has been producing wine for much longer than any other “new world” country. It wasn’t until the French and English came to the region in the 1600 hundreds that they discovered wine. Today South Africa is the 8th largest wine producer in the world. The most common grapes that are used in SA to produce wine are the Pinotage and the Cabernet Sauvignon. These grapes are classics to the region and a must try for every visitor.
Wine Regions
As mentioned before the Western Cape has the highest concentration of vineyards. Within this region there are 3 areas which are most known for their wines. Stellenbosch, Constantia, and Paarl. Each region grows different types of wines and also host many wine tasting events and excursions.
Stellenbosch produces: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Pinotage…
Constantia: Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat de Frontignan, …
Paarl: Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, …
On the map below from winefolly.com you can see just how far the wine region stretches in South Africa.
Wine Tasting in South Africa
If you plan on visiting South Africa, a wine tasting is a MUST DO activity. I have to confess that prior to the wine tasting I did in South Africa (which yes was my first wine tasting ever) I wasn’t the biggest fan of wine. I was going to skip out on this optional activity on my G Adventures tour. Then I saw how many people were participating… Given that it was only 120 ZAR to do the wine tasting, I decided to participate and go ahead with the activity.
Not only was I happily surprised with how fun it was. The wines we got to taste were AMAZING! My taste pallet was so pleased I even decided to order a bottle for dinner that night. Going on a wine tasting tour in South Africa is a must even if you did not like wine (because yes, you will afterwards).
Unique Wine Tasting Tours & Excursions
If you are traveling the country independently and not with a tour you should try and book a more unique experience for your South Africa Wine tasting. There are some very nice and unique wine tasting tours and excursions in the country which should be on your South Africa Bucket List.
Franschhoek Wine Tram - Hop-on Hof-off
This unique hop-on hop-off tram will take you around all the hotspots in the Franschhoek wine region. Take your time to explore each vineyard at your own pace and hop back on when you are ready for the next stop.
Private Jeep Constantia Wine Tour with Tastings
Visit the oldest wine region in South Africa by JEEP. This private experience will take you along some of the prettiest farms in South Africa, sharing the history and culture of wine in South Africa. Oh and did I say you get a Gourmet Cheese platter for lunch?! Say no more…
E-BIKE AROUND THE WINE REGION
Grab your e-bike and start discovering the wine region in Stellenbosch! You will be surrounded with beautiful landscapes, make pittoresque pictures and enjoy the best wine in the area.
