Area Information Winelands

Winelands

Stellenbosch is without a doubt the most well-known town in South Africa. History, culture, natural beauty, sport,education and wine has made the name “Stellenbosch” resonate around the globe as one of South Africa’s premier tourist, wine, business and education attractions.

After its discovery, Stellenbosch was quickly identified as an area in which to settle, with great potential for agriculture. The surrounding areas proved rich in soil and correct climate for producing vegetables to sustain the ships passing by the Cape of Good Hope en route to the other Dutch colonies in the East. Add to this the thirst of the Dutch and other settlers that necessitated the making good wine, Stellenbosch soon saw its hills and valleys also planted to vines along with other agricultural crops.

Besides its status as a leading cultural, education and leisure destination, it is wine that has made – and continues to make – Stellenbosch famous.

A variety of soils and locations ideally suited to flourishing of a wide variety of grape cultivars, has seen Stellenbosch continue to dominate the South African wine scene in terms of quality. With the growing acceptance of South African wines globally, Stellenbosch remains at the forefront of growth in the wine industry.

The region’s potential for producing quality of the wines and as a tourism hub has seen investors from as far afield as France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and America staking their claim in the Stellenbosch winelands.

In 1971 Stellenbosch became the first wine region in South Africa to establish a wine route as an organised network of wineries at which the tourist could experience the product of the vine and tune into the soul of the region’s winelands.