The Cape's main wine-producing region spreads around the small towns of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. There are other grape-growing areas in South Africa, but none so old and few so beautiful.

Although the wine ranks amongst the world's best, you don't need to be a connoisseur to drop in for a casual tasting. Welcoming cellar-masters may be exceptions in Europe, but here they are still the rule. Pamper yourself; spend a day touring the vineyards, have lunch on one of the estates, or arrange to have a picnic made up for you, to eat beside one of the area's streams or lakes.

If you want to stay in the thriving university town of Stellenbosch, then we recommend the historic D' Ouwe Werf hotel, or perhaps the more modern River Manor, whilst for somewhere just outside we'd suggest that you consider the stylish Lanzerac Hotel.

In the smaller, more peaceful village of Franschhoek, it's difficult to beat the delights of the sumptuous Le Quartier Français. With a similarly strong emphasis on their food, Roggeland Country House, just outside Paarl, has long been a firm favourite – and in the last few years the nearby Mountain Shadows has been again making a name for itself.

> Click here for a map of the whole of the Cape <


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