stellenbosch area
Jan 3rd, 2007, 08:46 AM
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Stephan,
You ended your posting with a
and how right you are in doing so as here is so much to do in the winelands that one day just is not enough.
I am going to make an assumption that you are not staying in the winelands and will only be doing a day trip to the area. If that is the case then I would suggest you do some of the following.
Obviously visit a winefarm. The question is which one? There will be many opinions about this choice and my personal choices would be:
a. <b>Ernie Els</b> - Incredible setting and views: Great wine but expensive by local standards http://www.ernieels.com/default.aspx?i_CategoryID=28
b. <b>Muratie</b> Wonderfully rustic winefarm where history has been respected. You will see what I mean by this when you visit this farm. Good selection of red and white wines and the cherry on the top is that the farm also has fantastic Port http://www.muratie.co.za/
c. <b>Middlevlei</b> A trip to the Cape Winelands without tasting Pinotage is an incomplete experience and Middlevlei are one of the top exponents when making this cultivar. Wonderful farm type setting and excellent wines. http://www.wine.co.za/directory/wine...RODUCERID=3216
You should not spend your whole day just visiting wine farms as there is so much else to do on the Winelands.
If you have an interest in history I would suggest that you:
1. Visit the Stellenbosch Museum where you will walk trough a set of old historic houses showing off the development of the area since the late 16090’s
2. Simply walk the streets of Stellenbosch and the history will ooze out as there is so much to se or learn about. If you elect to do this then go to the Stellenbosch information bureau and make sure that you obtain some guidance form them before you start out on this walking adventure.
3. Visit the Afrikaans language monument outside of Paarl. This is the only monument in the world which honors a language and is a very interesting architectural structure
4. Visit Solms Delta winefarm on the way to Franschhoek. http://www.solms-delta.co.za/main/overview.html This is a rell little hidden gem when it comes to geology, archeology and history buffs with some very interesting wine thrown in to the experience. If you do have an interest in this farm budget for at least an hour to thoroughly enjoy the experience
Other experiences that are worth pursuing while in Stellenbosch would be:
a. Visit Van Rhyns Brandy Company and learn how brandy is made as well as see a fantastic cooperage (wine barrel making) exhibition.
b. If you are into animal petting visit Spier and stop in at the Cheetah Foundation where you can pat a live cheetah. My personal feeling about this experience is that it is a bit zoo-ish
c. Walk the Stellenbosch University campus. Besides obtaining a feel for student life on a South African university campus this is also fabulous visual experience.
If your interest is great scenery then I definitely would do the drive to Franschhoek from Stellenbosch over the HelsHoogte pass as it is a wonderful scenic drive all the way to Franschhoek.
When in Franschhoek do go to the top of the Franschhoek Mountain as you will see a wonderfully scenic overview of the Franschhoek Valley from the top of the mountain pass.
While in Franschhoek stop in at Les Bon Vivant. You will NOT forget this wonderful meal. Do not be surprised if you are the only patrons in the restaurant as it is better known for dinners however I believe that going to Bon Vivant for lunch when nobody else frequents the restaurant is the biggest culinary secret in Franschhoek.
Some other interesting experiences that I would recommend in Franschhoek that I would recommend would be:
a. Visit the Old Corkscrew Antique shop. This shop has a huge secret in it. Don’t worry when you visit the shop you will find the secret.
b. Stop in at the Hugenout Chocolate factory and enjoy their great chocolates. Let the owners (Denver and Denver) tell you the fabulous history of how they started the shop,
c. Stop in at Kei Carpets just outside of Franschhoek where you can see how carpets are hand woven. (Be aware that I have been told that Kei Carpets will be moving premises soon)
All of the above in one day. Phew! Worst of all is that the above only scratches the surface of what the winelands offers you and thus I sure that many other Fodorites will add some of their own experiences and preferences to this thread.
Most important though is that I do believe that you will enjoy a day in the winelands and all that you will complain about is why you only allocated one day of your journey to the region.
Enjoy your stay in our great country when you visit us.
Very proudly part of the wonderful
nation of South Africa
You ended your posting with a
and how right you are in doing so as here is so much to do in the winelands that one day just is not enough. I am going to make an assumption that you are not staying in the winelands and will only be doing a day trip to the area. If that is the case then I would suggest you do some of the following.
Obviously visit a winefarm. The question is which one? There will be many opinions about this choice and my personal choices would be:
a. <b>Ernie Els</b> - Incredible setting and views: Great wine but expensive by local standards http://www.ernieels.com/default.aspx?i_CategoryID=28
b. <b>Muratie</b> Wonderfully rustic winefarm where history has been respected. You will see what I mean by this when you visit this farm. Good selection of red and white wines and the cherry on the top is that the farm also has fantastic Port http://www.muratie.co.za/
c. <b>Middlevlei</b> A trip to the Cape Winelands without tasting Pinotage is an incomplete experience and Middlevlei are one of the top exponents when making this cultivar. Wonderful farm type setting and excellent wines. http://www.wine.co.za/directory/wine...RODUCERID=3216
You should not spend your whole day just visiting wine farms as there is so much else to do on the Winelands.
If you have an interest in history I would suggest that you:
1. Visit the Stellenbosch Museum where you will walk trough a set of old historic houses showing off the development of the area since the late 16090’s
2. Simply walk the streets of Stellenbosch and the history will ooze out as there is so much to se or learn about. If you elect to do this then go to the Stellenbosch information bureau and make sure that you obtain some guidance form them before you start out on this walking adventure.
3. Visit the Afrikaans language monument outside of Paarl. This is the only monument in the world which honors a language and is a very interesting architectural structure
4. Visit Solms Delta winefarm on the way to Franschhoek. http://www.solms-delta.co.za/main/overview.html This is a rell little hidden gem when it comes to geology, archeology and history buffs with some very interesting wine thrown in to the experience. If you do have an interest in this farm budget for at least an hour to thoroughly enjoy the experience
Other experiences that are worth pursuing while in Stellenbosch would be:
a. Visit Van Rhyns Brandy Company and learn how brandy is made as well as see a fantastic cooperage (wine barrel making) exhibition.
b. If you are into animal petting visit Spier and stop in at the Cheetah Foundation where you can pat a live cheetah. My personal feeling about this experience is that it is a bit zoo-ish
c. Walk the Stellenbosch University campus. Besides obtaining a feel for student life on a South African university campus this is also fabulous visual experience.
If your interest is great scenery then I definitely would do the drive to Franschhoek from Stellenbosch over the HelsHoogte pass as it is a wonderful scenic drive all the way to Franschhoek.
When in Franschhoek do go to the top of the Franschhoek Mountain as you will see a wonderfully scenic overview of the Franschhoek Valley from the top of the mountain pass.
While in Franschhoek stop in at Les Bon Vivant. You will NOT forget this wonderful meal. Do not be surprised if you are the only patrons in the restaurant as it is better known for dinners however I believe that going to Bon Vivant for lunch when nobody else frequents the restaurant is the biggest culinary secret in Franschhoek.
Some other interesting experiences that I would recommend in Franschhoek that I would recommend would be:
a. Visit the Old Corkscrew Antique shop. This shop has a huge secret in it. Don’t worry when you visit the shop you will find the secret.
b. Stop in at the Hugenout Chocolate factory and enjoy their great chocolates. Let the owners (Denver and Denver) tell you the fabulous history of how they started the shop,
c. Stop in at Kei Carpets just outside of Franschhoek where you can see how carpets are hand woven. (Be aware that I have been told that Kei Carpets will be moving premises soon)
All of the above in one day. Phew!
Worst of all is that the above only scratches the surface of what the winelands offers you and thus I sure that many other Fodorites will add some of their own experiences and preferences to this thread.Most important though is that I do believe that you will enjoy a day in the winelands and all that you will complain about is why you only allocated one day of your journey to the region.
Enjoy your stay in our great country when you visit us.
Very proudly part of the wonderful
nation of South Africa
Jan 6th, 2007, 10:05 PM
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
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Stephan and Aby,
My absolute Capetonian pleasure to have helped you.
Enjoy Cape Town when you visit us as you simply cant go wrong in our wonderful city and its surrounds when it comes to enjoying a travel experience.
Very proudly part of the wonderfulnation of South Africa
My absolute Capetonian pleasure to have helped you.
Enjoy Cape Town when you visit us as you simply cant go wrong in our wonderful city and its surrounds when it comes to enjoying a travel experience.
Very proudly part of the wonderful
nation of South Africa
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