Taste pinotage in the Cape Winelands

When the Dutch East India Company arrived in South Africa 350 years ago, it constructed a provisioning depot for ships, which required wine of course! The enterprise collaborated with the French, and vines rapidly covered the valleys in the lush region that is today known as the Cape Winelands. Winemaking has evolved over time, including the perfecting of pinotage, South Africa's hallmark red wine that is a rustic hybrid between pinot noir and cinsault.

With its patchwork of vineyards and hundreds of wine estates, farm markets, little museums, gastronomic restaurants, and three main wine towns dating from the 17th century: Franschhoek, founded by French Huguenots; Stellenbosch, filled with Cape Dutch architecture; and Paarl, founded by 23 families from Stellenbosch. Delheim, on the slopes of Simonsberg Mountain outside Stellenbosch, and Lanzerac, built in 1692 in Stellenbosch with spectacular vistas of mountains, vineyards, and oak-shaded gardens, are two excellent spots to try pinotage. Take a drive (or bike ride) outside of Paarl on Bainskloof Pass if you need a break from all the wine tastings. This picturesque mountain route offers about 30 kilometers of breathtaking views and a caravan site at the halfway point.