Stellenbosch - A Gift from the Gods

More than a sprawling urban settlement, Stellenbosch is a lifestyle, loved by many and envied by many more. Founded in 1679, Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa, after Cape Town. One of the most scenic towns in South Africa, the ‘Town of Oaks’ welcomes visitors with its oak-lined streets in front of many an example of elegant, Victorian, Cape Dutch and Georgian architecture.

Enveloped and protected by a range of mountains, there are several vantage points from which to enjoy the vistas of the Helderberg, Stellenbosch Mountain, Jonkershoek Valley, ‘The Pieke’ and Simonsberg to the east.

Dinning out in Stellenbosch is a special experience, whether alfresco under the oaks and the stars, or indoors in cosy, yet luxurious surroundings. Stellenbosch’s restaurants and eateries are diverse in character and range from elegant Cape Dutch manor and Victorian villa, to country cottage and sidewalk café. Many of the wine estates offer platters, picnic baskets and light meals as part of the wine tasting experience. Most of the restaurants, tearooms and coffee shops use locally grown vegetables, fruit and herbs.

Stellenbosch is host to a number of annual festivals. The Stellenbosch Festival of Music and Art features classical music by renowned local and international musicians, traditional music, master classes, art exhibitions, and street festivals. The Van der Stel Festival is held in celebration of the famous Governor of the Cape, and the Stellenbosch Food and Wine Festival affords wine-lovers the opportunity to savour the finest award-winning wines, as well as traditional Cape gourmet dishes. But more of that in our next edition.

Representing more than a hundred different cellars and more than 300 wine and grape producers within the boundaries of the Stellenbosch Wine of Origin classification, the Stellenbosch Wine Route is justifiably known as one of the finest that South Africa has to offer. The winemaking industry has survived and indeed thrived for over 300 years. The region’s cool climate and fertile soil, combined with the planting of suitable varieties of grapes, has made Stellenbosch one of the leading and most honoured wine producing regions in the world.
Synonymous with a variety of high-quality, award-winning red and white wines, the route was established in April 1971 by the late Neil Joubert of Spier, Frans Malan of Simonsig and Spatz Sperling of Delheim. Today, the Stellenbosch Wine Route is one of the biggest tourist attractions in South Africa.

The Wine Route is divided into five sub-routes and you can start at any cellar of your choice and include as many as you like. The cellars of the route are situated along the four main roads leading to Stellenbosch and each cellar entrance is clearly signposted with the official Wine Route logo.

Daily wine tasting, cellar tours and sales are offered at most cellars and many of these have restaurant and picnic facilities. Some cellars however offer tasting by appointment only. Wine can be purchased at the cellar door and purchases of any given quantity can be delivered locally or internationally.

The Brandy Route, launched in 1997, also starts in Stellenbosch, starting out with a visit to the Van Ryn Brandy Cellar at Vlottenburg, followed by a visit to Oude Molen Brandy Museum and Uitkyk before leaving the Stellenbosch area for other cellars in the Boland.

Stellenbosch is the home of the Simonsberg Cheese Factory where a range of exotic cheeses can be sampled. In addition there are many farm stalls and delis both in and around the town, offering an abundance of fresh produce and delicious homemade goodies.

Another popular stop for visitors to Stellenbosch is Oom Samie se Winkel in Dorp Street. This is a general dealer of bygone years, where you can purchase everything from tobacco and dried fish to leather and spices. Once again there is a wine shop, Victorian this time, as well as a very intimate tea garden.

The Stellenbosch Village Museum is a group of carefully restored and furnished buildings, representing the major stylistic periods of the previous three centuries. The Toy and Miniature Museum will enchant both young and old. There are also many other museums and places of historical interest in and around the town, and the Tourist Information Centre offers a number of guided walking tours with registered guides, each with their own fascinating stories and tales.

Outdoor activities include taking to the skies in a helicopter, glider or hot air balloon. Gliding over the vineyards is truly breathtaking. Hiking and mountain biking is popular throughout the year on the various trails of the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. Golfers can attempt to subdue any one of the six 18-hole golf courses in and around Stellenbosch.

It has been said that there is a show on every night of the week somewhere in Stellenbosch. The now famous performances at the Spier Amphitheatre and the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre, featuring a host of local and overseas artists, start in spring and carry on into late autumn. The Conservatoire of the University of Stellenbosch boasts two state of the art concert halls, and features performances by both overseas and local artists. The Dorp Street Theatre Café enables South African and local Stellenbosch artists to exhibit their talent.

Stellenbosch offers visitors a wide range of accommodation from which to choose, from the luxury of Spier and Lanzerac Estates to the historic Stellenbosch Hotel, to many a fine guesthouse, situated in the town or on the surrounding farms.