EXPLORE THE CAPE WINELANDS
DAY 1
In the western foothills of the Hawequa Mountains lies a little-explored route of winding mountain passes, expansive country estates, earthy farms bursting with produce and pretty country lanes connecting heritage towns and villages together.
PAARL MOUNTAIN RESERVE
A massive granite outcrop dominates Paarl from on high and makes a great scenic drive with plenty of walking opportunities en-route to explore the fynbos-laden hillsides. There’s a curated wild flower garden, bass fishing, mountain biking trails and lush lake side strolls. One of winelands locals’ secrets!
What to do
Where to eat
Where to stay
- Cycle the Bainskloof Pass
- Taste socially-responsible wines at Napier Wines
- Variety is the Spice Route of life
- Meander through the Paarl Mountain Reserve
- Mr Chippa’s $
- Fairview $$
- Doolhof $
- Seasons at Diemersfontein $$$
- Dunstone Country House
- 5 Mountain's Lodge
- Amberg
- De Kleinje Bos
- Mooi Bly
- Bartolomeusklip
- Cascade Country Manor
SPICE ROUTE
Offering such a range of creative outpouring in one place, Spice Route is in really a destination with routes within it: part ethical shopping mall, part artisanal workspace, the unifying force here is hard to define. There’s food to eat, food to buy, food being made but also trading stores, glass blowing and exercise spaces which all combine beautifully into a place you can easily spend a whole day, browsing, grazing and lazing. We particularly like De Villiers Chocolate and Red Hot Glass.
NAPIER WINES
Confusingly nothing to do with the town of Napier in the Overberg, Napier Wines is a German-owned estate specialising in premium French-style wines. A family-run estate since the late 1980s, they are rightly proud of their ’14 Homes’ wine which celebrates the family’s investment in properly built houses for the estate’s farm workers, replacing shoddy makeshift housing that is the norm in the Winelands. Expect a small-scale farm and a boutique range of wines at www.napier-vineyards.co.za
BAINSKLOOF PASS
Probably the best way to see this historic 20km former wagon route is by bicycle. Expect almost no traffic and a slow climb of around 7km through forest, topping out with views of both the Paarl valley to the west and the Breede River valley to the east. The eastern side is particularly delightful with the rock pools and waterfalls of the Witte Rivier sparkling beneath you as you ride down the eastern side.
PICNIC @ DOOLHOF
Named after its labyrinthine settings of valleys, rivers and meadows, Doolhof will entreat you to a wine tasting and then thrust a picnic basket into your hands: you’re then invited to stroll along all 10km their purpose-built river walk, admiring the estate’s hard work at restoring biodiversity to the terroir, spotting buck, porcupine and baboon and noshing on contents of said basket.
$$$ = LUXURY
$$ = MODERATE
$ = BUDGET
SEASONS @ DIEMERSFONTEIN $$$
Make a day of it at Diemersfontein: by the time you’ve tasted the wine, ridden the horses through the park-like grounds and taken a tractor ride up the berg, you’ll be ready for the fine delights of Seasons Restaurant: the estate is owned by the same family that owns South Africa’s premier supermarket Woolworths and as such you’re assured world-class dining.
GOATSHED @ FAIRVIEW $$
Indulge your penchant for puns (Goats do Roam for Cotes du Rhone), cheese and wine at Fairview: a working farm that just happens to make excellent mid-range wine, you’ll love the farm-fresh flavours rolling out of their Bakery, Deli and into Goatshed, their restaurant/eatery. Light and informal but deliciously simple dishes combine with a serious purpose: genuine engagement with fair labour practices and sustainability in agriculture to name but a few.
MR CHIPPA’S $
If you ask any South African, of any race or class or creed, what the single unifying force is in the country, they will give you one word: braai.
A braai is a seriously important part of South African national culture and our myriad sub cultures. It’s translated at ‘barbeque’ in English but that’s not coming close to the xmeaning.
At Mr. Chippa’s, you’re going to visit a shishanyama, a public braai. Started in 1996 off the back of a cellphone business he had at the time, Mr. Mlata (known as Chippa locally) started his restaurant as a way of increasing the social capital in the area. Now over 20 years old, popular with locals and visitors, this is place where you can really enjoy South Africa as most tourists never do.
UNLOCK THE FULL ROUTE
Sorry but full routes are only available to Greenwood Guide customers. We hope you’ve enjoyed a taste of what’s in included. Buy one of the routes today and get 10% off your first route!
UNLOCK THE FULL ROUTE
Sorry but full routes are only available to Greenwood Guide customers. We hope you’ve enjoyed a taste of what’s in included. Buy one of the routes today and get 10% off your first route!
UNLOCK THE FULL ROUTE
Sorry but full routes are only available to Greenwood Guide customers. We hope you’ve enjoyed a taste of what’s in included. Buy one of the routes today and get 10% off your first route!
UNLOCK THE FULL ROUTE
Sorry but full routes are only available to Greenwood Guide customers. We hope you’ve enjoyed a taste of what’s in included. Buy one of the routes today and get 10% off your first route!