indwe magazine – June 2005

R62
Make the Route Your Destination
Text: Guillaume Celliers
Images: © South African Tourism & L’Esprit Photo
Between the cities of Port Elizabeth and Cape Town meanders the longest wine route in the world, Route 62. Stretching from Uniondale in the Eastern Cape all the way to Paarl in the Western Cape, Route 62 encompasses a kaleidoscope of scenic wonders that captures the essence of days gone by. This scenic route passes through the farming towns of Oudtshoorn, Calitzdorp, Ladismith, historic Amalienstein, Zoar, and the fruit and wine producing towns of Barrydale, Montagu, Ashton, Bonnievale, Robertson, McGregor, Worcester, Ceres in the Koue Bokkeveld, as well as Wolseley, Tulbagh and Wellington.
With the completion of the N2 highway in 1958, and given our fixation with rapid mobility, Route 62 suffered the loss of traffic and tourists. But unlike the fate of the smaller towns on the well-known Route 66 in America, the advent of bigger and better highways never signaled the demise of the smaller towns on the ‘old’ Route 62, they only went into hibernation. Today, with the revival of Route 62, these quaint little towns, so rich in tradition and steeped in culture, are waking from their 40-year hibernation, and having been beautifully preserved, they offer the traveler a profound experience.
The revival of Route 62 is the brainchild of Gert Lubbe, the energetic and creative proprietor of the Montagu Country Hotel. Gert Lubbe is also the founder and former owner of two renowned establishments in Stellenbosch – De Oude Werf and Aan de Oewer. Since taking ownership of the once dilapidated Montagu Hotel, Gert has once again performed his magic by restoring this stately hotel to its former glory. Today the Montagu Country Hotel is a picture of grace and beauty and one of the finest examples of Art Deco design and style, welcoming visitors from all over the world to luxury accommodation and dining in a style reminiscent of days gone by.
The marketing and promotion of Route 62 has become Gert Lubbe’s passion, and he has unselfishly devoted his personal time and resources to introduce and promote Route 62 to prospective travelers and tour operators across the world. So much so that tourists from across Europe seem to be more informed about the existence of this wonderful South African treasure than us South Africans.
With the Cape’s vast coastline growing in popularity as a holiday destination for holidaymakers from the northern provinces, a growing number of South Africans are discovering that there is profound truth in the old adage, “make the route your destination!” There is much to discover all along the various routes leading to and from Cape Town, but Route 62 offers the most comprehensive array of attractions, suited to meet the needs of a wide spectrum of travelers and fun seekers.
Attractions on Route 62 include some of the most superb wine cellars and estates in South Africa, with a wide variety of conferencing facilities, health spas, spiritual retreats, and incentive experiences. For the more adventurous there are hiking trails, farm stays, 4x4 excursions, quad biking, mountain biking, and a variety of water sports. The whole of Route 62 offers a plethora of accommodation, from five-star hotels to quaint guesthouses and even remote mountain cottages.
In terms of wine and winemaking, Route 62 can be divided into four main regions: the Robertson Wine Valley, The Klein Karoo Wine Route, and The Tulbagh Wine Route and the Wellington Wine Route.

THE ROBERTSON WINE VALLEY
The Robertson Wine Valley, embracing the districts of Ashton, Bonnievale, McGregor and Robertson, is less than two hours from Cape Town. It is the home of champion wines, champion horses and renowned for an abundance of roses, making it truly the “valley of wine and roses”.
Long noted for its exceptional dessert wines, in recent years the Robertson Wine valley has won great acclaim for the production of outstanding red and white wines, particularly Chardonnay, Colombar and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as Cap Classique sparkling wines.
The lime-rich soils and unique climate give the region the natural attributes to produce outstanding wines. With the history of co-operation between growers and wineries in the region, disciplined planning is done regarding the planting of specific grape varieties suitable to the region’s soils and they ensure compliance with recognized trends in the wine industry.

THE KLEIN KAROO WINE ROUTE
The Klein Karoo Wine Route on Route 62 is arguably the most diverse of South Africa’s wine regions. It is the easternmost wine-producing region in the country, stretching along Route 62 from Montagu in the west, to De Rust in the east, and Albertinia in the south.
The Klein Karoo Wine Route is situated between spectacular mountain ranges, and its vines are mostly grown in the fertile alluvial soil along the riverbanks. The climate is generally drier than that of the other wine regions, resulting in healthy vineyards that are grown organically to a large extent.
World-class Port and South Africa’s champion Muscadel are produced here, along with an extensive range of dessert wines. Members of the Klein Karoo Wine Route also produce a host of outstanding red and white wines, which vary from full-bodied cabernets to lighter wines for easy drinking.

The Tulbagh Wine Route
Tulbagh is situated an easy 80-minute drive north of Cape Town, at the northern edge of the beautiful and fertile Breede River Valley. It is surrounded on three sides by mountain ranges – the Obiqua Mountains to the west, the Winterhoek Mountains to the north and the Witzenberg to the east, and often covered in snow during the winter months.
Accordingly Tulbagh enjoys some of the most diverse and attractive conditions for viticulture in the Cape, and the differences in terroir available to wine makers allow for a wide diversity of distinctive wines of excellence. For centuries the Tulbagh valley has been celebrated for the beauty of its setting and the historical significance of its town. In more recent times, wine has moved centre stage and visitors to the valley can now enjoy a wide range of wines from the various estates and private cellars, wines that have received a string of national and international awards including Diners Club Wine Maker of the Year, a healthy spread of gold and double gold Veritas awards, and numerous others.
Some of South Africa’s best-known wine estates are all situated in the Tulbagh Valley, including the magnificent Saronsberg, Drostdyhof, Theuniskraal, Twee Jonge Gezellen and Paddagang.

The Wellington Wine Route
Wellington, considered to be the heart of the Boland, is less than one hour’s drive away from Cape Town, and in close proximity to Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek, Robinson and Montagu.
The scenic pride and joy of the Wellington district is the magnificent Drakenstein range of mountains and the spectacular Bain’s Kloof Pass, which carries the road to Ceres and the Breede River Valley over its heights. This mountain pass provides one of the most glorious scenic drives in Southern Africa.
Founded in 1907, Bovlei Winery is the second oldest co-operative winery in South Africa, and the breathtaking view of the Haweques mountain range creates an atmosphere conducive to a wonderful wine tasting experience. Visitors to Bovlei can look forward to true Boland hospitality and a collection of fine wines in splendid surrounds. Cellar tours are available during the season.
The Hildenbrand Wine and Olive Estate, established in 1999 by Ms Reni Hildenbrand, is a prolific private wine estate with a growing reputation for making exceptional wines and olive produce.
Reni Hildenbrand is a remarkable woman, passionate about nature and the environment, and all her wines are produced in harmony with nature. Using an organic approach, Reni Hildenbrand has been recognised and awarded by the industry for employing environmentally friendly practices in both vineyard management and winemaking techniques.
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