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Welcome
to the Winelands & Overberg
Regions
Just beyond the City of Cape
Town lies one of the largest fruit and wine producing valleys in the Western
Cape.
This stretched out valley is graced with olive and fruit orchards, vineyards and wheat lands surrounded by mountains with snow capped peaks in
winter.
Known for its stunning autumn colours, when rusty browns, reds and burgundy fill the fruit valleys and vineyards.
This region has a lot to offer the tourist, we recommend at least a 3-5 day
stay in this region to explore this region. |
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In winter the Winelands offer visitors, log fire places, traditional
Cape dishes and cozy country accommodation with our fantastic desert wines
and other fortified wines to warm the winter chills, not that our winters
get extremely cold, its highly unusual to experience temperatures
below zero Celsius at night and 10-15 degrees C in day time.
Sample
some of the finest wines on our choice of wine routes Route 44, Route 310,
Route 303, Route 45 (Stellenbosch, Helderberg, Franschhoek wine routes). Or
enjoy hiking trails, canoeing the Breede River, go sailing in False Bay.
Test your skills at 4X4 trails or take a zip along the False Bay beachfront
on a windsurfer or a wet bike.
Cape
Winelands
The Cape Winelands are
embraced by the Cape Peninsula's mountain ranges. Visitors to this region
are presented with rolling hills of vineyard, oak lined historical towns
and Cape Dutch style homesteads with white washed walls. The wine
industry in the Western Cape has been established over centuries and is
expanding all the time. New wineries are
introduced as smaller wine estates have started producing their own labels of Cape wines
from their own cellars.
Wine regions to visit include Somerset
West, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek, Wellington and Hermanus. Wine
routes offer cellar tours, wine tasting and wine sales. You may also want
to enjoy our white sun bleached beaches or participate in watersports after a day in the
winelands. |
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Hillcrest Berry
Orchards - Stellenbosch
Tel 021 885 1629
Fax: 021 8851624
Only 9km from Stellenbosch on Route 310.
e-mail
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Hillcrest
Berry Orchards & Restaurant
A little secret tea garden and farm shop and a personal favorite, up on
the hillside overlooking the Banhoek valley between Stellenbosch and Pniel.
Visit this lovely restaurant. Enjoy morning or afternoon teas, breakfasts or
lunches overlooking the magnificent mountains. A popular spot for all who
enjoy good food, crisply fresh salads and the fresh mountain air.
Dishes are well prepared, fresh berry juices are only one of their specialties. Try the berry preserves, vinegars, olive oils, Sauces, gifts,
frozen berries and fresh berries in season and much more. A fire place for
the winter day and ample seating outside and inside. |
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Franschhoek
Wine Route
Franschhoek on Route 45 (R45), is often referred to as the "The Valley
of the Hugenots". This town is less than a 30 minute drive from other
towns in the Cape winelands region and only 45 minutes drive from Cape
Town. Franschhoek is a classical winelands village with beautiful
homesteads and buildings, reminding one of the French origins of this wine
producing region. Stylish accommodation abounds in lovely auberges and
B&B's where you can stay over in the vineyards while enjoying wine
tasting trips the lovely cuisine and the warm hospitality the guest houses
in the area. Visit the chocolate factory or shop around at the specialty shops in town for collectables, world class gold
jewelry, wine, antiques
and art works. See some of South Africa's finest leather craft at Groundcover
Leather at the junction between the R310 and the R45.
Pay a visit to the Hugenot Museum to learn more about the history of the
region and then drive up the Franschhoek pass to enjoy lunch or dinner at
the popular La Petite Ferme restaurant, serving country cuisine and Cape
wines from their boutique wine cellar. Eight of the country's top 100
restaurants are found in Franschhoek.
Enjoy oven baked breads and Mediterranean dishes at Moreson wines or enjoy
the atmosphere of exclusive restaurants such as Chez Michel and La Couronne.
For the adventurous at heart La Motte Forestry Station offers
hiking trails, cycling and horse riding and there are even a few trout
fishing spots on dams in the surrounding are.
Popular wine estates include Agusta Wines, Bellingham, Boschendal (Anglo
American), Cabriere, Chamonix, Dieu Donne, Franschhoek Vineyards, La Bri,
La Couronne, Landau du Val, L'Omarins, La Motte, Mont Rochelle, Moreson,
Plasir De Merle, Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons to name but a few.
No matter if you are visiting the Cape winelands in Winter, Summer, Autumn
or Spring the Franschhoek Valley is well worth the visit and is a pleasant
region to stay over in.
Stellenbosch
& Helderberg Wine Routes
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Typical Overberg scenery
Whale coast - Hermanus
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Overberg
The
Overberg. The most Southerly region of Africa. This region begins on the
top of the Hottentots Holland mountains and stretches through the fruit
valleys of Villiersdorp up to Worcester in the North across to Barrydale
in the East and then down to the coastline of Witsands.
Caledon is more or less in
the centre of this region and even has it's own casino, The Caledon Casino
Hotel and Spa where you can come and play and enjoy yourself in the heart
of the Overberg.
New
wine routes are being established on western side of the Overberg as wine
estates have started to produce successful wines from these new vineyards.
Vineyards are a common sight now between Grabouw and Hermanus (well
known for whale watching), sloping against the majestic mountains and down
to the coastline.
The area along the N2 route from Bot River through to Swellendam (on the
edge of the Garden Route) has rolling hills covered in wheat fields,
green in winter and golden brown in summer. The climate is much
like the Cape Peninsula, Mediterranean, and gets most of it's rainfall
during winter with lovely long summer days to soak up the sun. Cape Town is
about 170km from the centre of this region (about two and a half hours
drive). The roads are in good condition and takes you through mountain
passes and valleys filled with Fynbos and Proteas.
We have taken care to select some of this region's finest accommodation
establishments, the choice is all yours. Self catering, guest house,
hotel, private lodges and game reserves, bed and breakfasts and even farm
style accommodation. The locals are warm and friendly and are well known
for their hospitality in this region.
The region offers activities such as hiking trails, 4x4 routes,
paragliding, flying, whale watching, fishing, sailing, gliding, surfing,
wind surfing, water ski and much more. Or come and enjoy the wine, cuisine
and relaxing atmosphere of this rural landscape, soak up the sun on our
beaches or set out on an inland adventure. Whatever your preference. The
Overberg has much to offer day visitors and those who wish to
experience the region and it's people for longer...
Annual Events
Whale watching (June to
December)
Toward Cape Agulhas (Route
43), you find the picturesque towns of Kleinmond, Hermanus, Gansbaai small
towns each with their own character and offering the tourist a
variety of activities and sights to see. The coast between Gordon's Bay and
Cape Infanta is well known for whale watching. Only land based whale
watching is allowed. To find out about local whale watching call the
Whale Watcher's Infoline 0800 22 8222 or contact your nearest travel bureau.
Stop over in Kleinmond and enjoy some fresh oysters, prawns, line fish,
lobster or Greek al a carte menu at the seafront. Travel along the
R44/R43 to Hermanus and stop over to enjoy some coffee or tea in one
of the fabulous coffee shops or enjoy lunch or dinner at any one of the
variety of restaurants this quaint town has to offer. Watch the whales from
the shore or be a beach bum and go sun bathing at Voelklip beach. |
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