Activity Description

As part of a package tour to South Africa, my wife and I went on a guided wine tour. Not being a wine fundi or even particularly fond of wine, I embarked on this wine tour with great trepidation. My wife on the other hand was quite excited about venturing into wine country and exploring the Cape wine farms. I think the wine gift basket we received as part of the package tour was the catalyst for my wife’s enthusiasm for doing the wine tour. These operators just know how….

Our wine tour was conducted by a company called African Eagle Daytours. We set off with them on our mission to discover the wonders of South African wine. I must admit that my reticence already started waning before our first stop. The Cape Winelands is certainly a beautiful part of South Africa and I was so absorbed in taking in the magnificent scenery made up of towering mountains and endless vineyards, I had completely forgotten my reluctance to do this wine tour. I must admit that my reticence suffered another blow at the wine tasting tour at our first wine estate. Here I was given my first taste of estate wine, and together with an explanation from our rather knowledgeable guide, I quite enjoyed it.

Before this day, I did not know the difference between Sauvignon Blanc wine and Shiraz wine – yes I was as bad as that! Not wanting to show my ignorance, I kept my mouth firmly shut, only opening it to swallow this now delicious liquid on the wine tasting tour. As the day progressed, we visited a number of Cape wine estates and I learnt more about wine making and in truth, my appreciation of wine was growing with every wine tasting.

At the end of the wine tour, I must admit that my enthusiasm matched that of my wife. Needless to say, a wine tour in the Cape Winelands has become our firm favourite.

(Nic Wylie – UK)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Minimum 3 wine tastings
• Minimum 12 wines tasted for the day
• Opportunity to purchase wine

Stellenbosch
• City orientation
• Dorp Street
• De Braak
• Free walkabout in historical town
• Wine tasting on a Stellenbosch Estate
• Cellar Tour
• Cheese Tasting

Paarl
• Drive through Paarl
• Wine tasting on a wine estate
• View Nelson Mandelas’s former prison (Victor Vester)

Franschoek
• Wine & biltong pairing
• Historical village
• Huguenot memorial (optional)
• Wine tasting at a Franschoek vineyard
• Helshoogte pass

Arrangements

Requirements

Inclusions and Exclusions

Notes