Story by: Qin Xie for Metro.co.uk | (Above) Image courtesy of: Getty Images
If you’re thinking about getting some winter sun and love wine and good food, it’s time you booked a holiday to South Africa’s Stellenbosch.
The stunning region is situated just outside of Cape Town in the Western Cape, and it produces some of the most famous wines in the country.
The stunning region is situated just outside of Cape Town in the Western Cape, and it produces some of the most famous wines in the country.
But more than that, it’s a destination that’s rich in history, full of culture and there are plenty of activities to help you work off all that delicious food.
And now is the perfect time to go.
As South Africa is in the southern hemisphere, it is currently coming into their summer so there are long warm days and balmy nights.
What’s more, the exchange rate is exceptionally good for Brits (around R18 to £1 right now) so your pound can stretch further – even with Brexit.
Here are a few things you need to do while in Stellenbosch.
Sit down for a wine tasting
Of course you weren’t going to miss a wine tasting while visiting a wine region. But with some 800 wine estates to choose from, where do you go first?
Well, there are a few famous names not to be missed.
The Lanzerac Wine Estate bottled the first Pinotage in South Africa. The grape variety is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, and is now synonymous with South African wine so if you only try one thing, that’s it. They also do a great chocolate and wine tasting for R120 per person, where you get to try a selection of wines with their bespoke chocolates.
South Africa has its own version of sparkling wine, known as Methode Cap Classique (MCC), which is made in the same way as champagne.
One of the biggest and most famous of the MCC producers is JC Le Roux, where you can take a tour of their bottling plant and taste a selection of MCCs for R90 per person.
And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can also buy a bottle and try your hand at sabrage. At Jordan, you will get some of the best views of the region – on a clear day, you will be able to see all the way to Cape Town and False and Table Bays beyond that.
To read the full article, visit Metro.co.uk.
