The Winelands, with its green valleys, majestic mountain ranges, historic wine estates and Cape Dutch homesteads, offers an ideal day or multi-day heritage excursion from Cape Town. Driving out on the N2 and into Somerset West, the historic Vergelegen Wine Estate has a beautifully restored Cape Dutch manor house.

The R44 leads into Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa and famous for its wines, historical buildings, oak-lined streets and university. The town contains many fine examples of historic Cape Dutch architecture, all of which have been carefully restored. The Spier Estate, just outside Stellenbosch, hosts the Spier Summer Festival, a five-month festival of music, opera, dance, stand-up comedy and theatre. The Stellenbosch Wine Route is arguably the most famous in South Africa, and includes over 300 members, of which more than 100 farms are open to the public.

Just over the Helshoogte Pass on the R310 from Stellenbosch, visit the historical homestead of Boschendal, a landmark in the Winelands. Continue into the town of Franschhoek, which has a rich cultural and historical heritage, dating back to 1688 when 200 French Huguenots were granted land in the area. Known as the food and wine capital of the country, the town continues to attract some of South Africa’s best chefs and its restaurants regularly feature in the country’s “Top 100”. Franschhoek is breathtakingly beautiful, set against a backdrop of the towering Franschhoek and Drakenstein Mountains.

The Huguenot Memorial Museum and the Huguenot Monument commemorate the arrival of the Huguenots in South Africa, while the Solms Delta Museum van de Caab is situated in the original cellar of a 315-year-old wine estate. Ideal for a lunch break, the main street is lined with restaurants, shops, galleries and coffee shops, serving delicious freshly baked confections. 

Follow the R45 into Paarl in Drakenstein country, situated on the banks of the Berg River and overlooked by a huge granite dome at the summit of the adjoining mountain.

The Main Street is lined with shady oak trees and historical buildings dating back to the 18th century. The Taalmonument (Afrikaans language monument) recognises the role played by pioneers living in the Paarl district, in the development of the language. Nederburg, situated just outside Paarl, is a winery with a 200-year heritage that boasts South Africa’s most decorated wine range.