Neethlingshof Estate Cape Winelands Stellenbosch South Africa

Wine-Making Tradition

South Africa’s wine-making tradition is an important part of the local culture and economy. It began in the 17th-century. High-quality wine and striking winelands landscapes attract thousands of tourists.

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“The first wine produced in South Africa was by Dutch explorer Jan van Riebeeck in 1659.”

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South African wineries produces a “vast array of wines, from red and white to rosé varieties, sparkling, and dessert”. Wine estates in Paarl, Stellenbosch, Franschoek, Constantia, and Durbanville are some of the best known. Many estates have alluring Cape Dutch architecture and restaurants where you can enjoy a scrumptious meal paired with wines that compliment your food.

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Stellenbosch has “fine examples” of Cape Dutch Architecture.

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Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch, known as the “town of oaks”, is the “educational and research centre” of South Africa’s winelands. Stellenbosch University is the “only university in South Africa offering a degree in viticulture and oenology“. University alumni include many renown winemakers.

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Stellenbosch University’s Elsenburg School of Agriculture and the Nietvoorbij Institute of Viticulture and Oenology are the two best-known schools for winemakers and viticulturists.

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Neethlingshof Wine Estate

Yesterday I enjoyed lunch at Neethlingshof Wine Estate surrounded by the stunning Bottelary Hills and Papegaaisberg Mountains. It’s off season, so the winery was quiet with only about 15 people enjoying lunch and the scenery. The estate’s beautiful historic manor house and vineyard vistas are divine, and I sat outside marveling at the sensational surroundings.

Neethlingshof’s history “dates to 1692”. Its “enviable soil and micro climate” produce excellent wines. The Estate is a member of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI). Highlighting their commitment to eco-sustainability, some areas of the winery are set aside for conservation.

 

Neethlingshof’s “close-knit team” includes winemakers and viticulturists who studied oenology and viticulture locally and traveled abroad to hone their skills.

Later, I stopped for coffee at a café in Stellenbosch and visited a few galleries – wonderful day enjoying Western Cape Winelands!