Boosting Wine tourism Geoffrey Dean by Susannah

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Boosting wine tourism: Geoffrey Dean blogs from Cape Town

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Boosting wine tourism: Geoffrey Dean blogs from Cape Town

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Written by Geoffrey Dean Tuesday, 09 October 2012 09:50

While the biennial Cape Wine trade fair in South Africa last month was another big success, a new exhibition that ran alongside it in the Cape Town Convention Centre enjoyed a sparkling debut. Vindaba, part of a long-term strategy to boost wine tourism, derives from the South African government's aim to gain promotion by 2020 to the travellers' Premier League - the top 20 global destinations.

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South Africa currently enjoys buoyant tourism but, like most countries, it would like more visitors and more spending by them, notably in its winelands. While the Napa Valley in California, for example, attracts per capita expenditure of US$188 by wine tourists each year, the figure is US$41 in the western Cape. The minister for tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, sees wine tourism as a potential money-spinner. "I believe it can contribute in a significant way to the South African economy," he said. The stunning and majestic location of its winelands in the western Cape, which would make them the clear favourite in a global beauty contest for vineyards, gives South Africa an inherent advantage over other players. Throw in high-class and value-for-money accommodation, sumptuous cuisine, outdoor adventure and a host of cultural options, and you have all the ingredients for a surge in wine tourism. Stellenbosch is the best place to start, for apart from being the heartland of the South African This winesite industry, uses cookies. it is This little By site continuing more uses than cookies. to browse a 30-minute By continuing the drive to browse from the Cape Town airport. scores of scattered wineries demand a of stay of several siteIts you are agreeing site to you our are use agreeing of cookies. to our Finduse out cookies. Find out days, and there is a whole rangemore of accommodation, from of the oldest here [X] more hereone[X] hotels in South Africa - Oude Werf in the middle of the charming old town

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centre - to the ritzy hotel on the Asara wine estate, a few kilometres west of Stellenbosch. The very comfortable and spacious bedrooms at the nearby Spier winery represent a less expensive option. Delaire Graff, high up on the top of the Helshoogte Pass with stunning views towards Stellenbosch and Cape Town, offers the luxury villa option as well as sophisticated eating. If you prefer a small cottage on one of the most beautiful of all Stellenbosch wineries, try Muratie, which dates back to 1685. Eikendaal, also just outside the town, offers good value mid-price accommodation in a delightful winery setting, complete with delicious food and swimming-pool. Culinary excellence abounds in Stellenbosch, where an absolute must is the restaurant at the Jordan winery, where celebrated Scottish chef, George Jardine, presides over a very reasonably-priced gourmet menu. It also comes with a spectacular view that stretches some 32km west towards the Franschhoek Mountains. No less dramatic is the sweeping panorama east over Table Mountain from the outstanding Ouverture restaurant on the Hidden Valley wine farm, just south of Stellenbosch. In the middle of the town, by Bosman's Crossing, the Dalla Cia family's Pane e Vino wine bar produces some of the best pasta not

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Boosting wine tourism: Geoffrey Dean blogs from Cape Town

Dalla Cia family's Pane e Vino wine bar produces some of the best pasta not just in South Africa but anywhere outside Italy. Equally high-class cuisine awaits those who make it to the beautiful little town of Franschhoek, where classy B&Bs complement five-star hotels. Good restaurants such as Grande Provence abound, while Bon Vivant is consistently outstanding. La Petite Ferme offers both a wonderful view and fine food. Also very much worth a visit for lunch in the Franschhoek area, some 15km from the town, is one of the most progressive wine estates in South Africa, Solms Delta. Motivated by a desire for nation building, its owners, Mark Solms, a renowned South African neuroscientist, and Richard Astor, a British philanthropist, gave a third share of the estate to a workers' trust that funds education, medical care and recreational activities for employees and families. Special interest tours of the estate, and its forest, river and museum, led by farm residents, go way beyond the conventional wine tasting experience. There is always music in the air too, for the workers' children, who have formed a brass band, practise most days, and give an exuberant performance every Saturday morning. Vindaba showcased many other wine regions in the western Cape that offer visitors such a rewarding holiday. The charming little town of Riebeek Kasteel in Swartland is a gem tucked away in the scenically captivating Swartland, while Hermanus is the ideal venue from which to whale-watch in the second half of the year as well as take in the picturesque vineyards of the Hemel-enAarde Valley.

Last but not least, there is Robertson, a high-yielding area of production much further inland, near which the little villages of Ashton, Bonnievale, Montagu and McGregor are quaint places to stop off. The latter is an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;arty' location, with a cluster of restaurants. Indeed, wherever you are in the western Cape's winelands, a good well-priced one never seems far away. Even the French would be impressed.

Comments #1 Nathan Meyers 2012-10-09 22:57 I'm so glad SA's getting all this press right now. Well deserved. Robertson and Riebeek Kasteel are two of my favourite regions and are unfortunately often overlooked by the average tourist which is a shame. I hope we see a lot more vineyards open up as eco-tourism destinations in the future too. They have so much to offer! Nathan Meyers http://www.nathansearth.co.uk Refresh comments list Add comment Name (required) E-mail (required, but will not display)

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