Cape Winelands Photographic Safaris
Cape Winelands Photographic Safaris
The Cape Winelands are regarded by many as the most beautiful region of South Africa. This tour is different as it is NOT about wildlife; it is in fact all about vineyards, glorious wine estates, wine, history, culture and some of the best cuisine that South Africa can offer.
Wine Estates
This is a vast region with an abundance of wine estates, producing some of the world’s finest wines, and our tours cover inter alia the districts of Constantia, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Worcester, Wellington, Wolseley, Tulbagh, Ceres, Montagu and Robertson. Visitors get the opportunity to visit some world famous wine estates and to experience the unique ambience of life amongst the vineyards. Visiting famous estates like Groot Constantia, Fairview, Muratie, Neethlingshof, Simonsig, Rustenberg, Theuniskraal, and Landskroon is simply an unforgettable experience.
Though the South African wine industry is young in comparison with that of Europe, the country is able to trace its viticultural history back to the very first vine imported and the very first grape pressed – with full documentation of the wine’s character, production methods and the resultant spread of vineyards throughout the Cape.
The wine growing conditions in the Western Cape are ideal and the South African wines are world renowned. The cultivars are not indigenous to South Africa but have all been imported from Europe in the 17th century under the leadership of Governor Jan van Riebeeck and his successor Simon van der Stel. Among the most popular Cape cultivars are Chenin Blanc, Palomino, Muscat d’Alexandrie, Riesling, Clairette Blanche, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsaut, Pinotage, Shiraz and Tinta das Baroccas.
Types of Wine in South Africa
Chenin Blanc was one of the first cultivars to be planted at the Cape, but was always known as ‘steen’. It is found throughout the region and has a taste and character of its own. The small, oval green grapes produce wines which vary from area to area. The Chenin Blanc of the coastal regions is a light, delicate wine; further inland it is more robust and fuller. It is also an excellent base for blended white table wines, sweet wines, sherries, white ports and brandies.
Palomino is one of the oldest cultivars found in the Cape and was originally known as French Grape or French White. Nowadays it is cultivated mainly in the Little Karoo for the production of white table wines, brandy and sherries. The wine made from the medium to large round and rough-skinned grapes is soft on the palate, but lacks in delicacy and bouquet which makes it ideal in blending.
Muscat d’Alexandrie (locally known as ‘Hanepoot’) thrives on the Cape climate, particularly exposure to the hot summer sun and is widely planted. The grapes are large and oval shaped with a thin skin, greenish yellow in colour, turning to pale amber when fully ripe. The wine is light and sweet with a beautiful pale golden colour. It is also used in blending, particularly with Late Harvest varietals.
Riesling is a cultivar of German origin and produces a high quality dry white wine which has a pleasant grapey aroma and a fresh green tint. The fruity taste is characteristically mellow on the palate. It is planted mainly in the Paarl, Stellenbosch and Tulbagh areas.