West Coast Wine Route, Western Cape
Take a drive up the beautiful Cape West Coast to visit the Darling, Olifants River, Cederberg and coastal wine estates, in this newest of South Africa’s Wine routes.
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Not only will you be surprised by the selection and quality of the award winning wines from this area, but the routes themselves have so to offer.
The West Coast National Park offers hiking, birding, whales in season and wildlife, while the Cederberg Wilderness Area is a pristine natural beauty in the Cape Floral Kingdom offering amazing rock formations, hiking, birding, cycling and climbing. It is also a National Heritage site for San Rock Art.
The West Coast is renowned for good fishing spots and of course, botanists and photographers are drawn to the area, from August to September when wild flowers are at their best.
Quaint villages, whitewashed fishermen’s cottages, pristine beaches, great seafood and wine contribute to the laid back atmosphere, iconic of the West Coast.
Wine Estates in the Darling Area
Groote Post Winery, Darling, West Coast
Groote Post Winery has it all. Excellent wines, historical architecture, a restaurant with scrumptious meals to balance the Groote Post wines and a scenic setting in the green valley of the Klawer River.
Cloof Wines, Darling, Cape West Coast
Cloof Wines, near Darling in the Western Cape, have planted bush vines which they believe best suit local conditions and are integral to the unique style and quality of their wines. This decision has most certainly paid off as evidenced by the growing number of certificates decorating the tasting room walls.
Darling Cellars, West CoastThe Darling Cellars in the Western Cape, was established in 1996 in the beautiful West Coast region, demarcated as the Wine of Origin Darling in 2003, with its unique terroir producing unique wines that are region and varietal true.
Wine Estates in the Cederberg Area
Cederberg Private Wine Cellar, Sanddrif, Cederberg Wilderness Area
The Cederberg Wine Cellar has a unique location in the beautiful, pristine Cederberg Wilderness Area. This area is part of the Cape Floral Kingdom and its rugged mountains, stunning scenery, clean rivers and wild flowers attract hikers, climbers, cyclists, fly fishing enthusiasts and nature lovers. Here, among spectacular rock formations and fynbos, you will find the highest altitude vineyards in the Cape.
Wine Estates off the N7 between Clanwilliam and Klawer
Stellar Organic Winery TravalThe Stellar Organic Winery, situated in the village of Trawal, started as an organic wine producer in the early days of organic wine production and made ground breaking strides into the production of no-added-sulphur wines. What started off as a product to supply a niche market has not only worked its way into mainstream sales but Stellar is currently the largest global producer of no-added-sulphur wines.
Tierhoek Wine Estate Piekenierskloof Area
When the wines on Tierhoek, an estate in the Piekenierskloof in the Cederberg, received one of the highest ratings for any South African wine, by Decanter Magazine, in the UK, owners Tony and Shelley Sandell knew all their efforts were in the right direction. After they bought Tierhoek in 2001, they restored the original farmhouse and the neglected 30 year old Chenin Blanc vines. Tierhoek whose Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Granch Noir, and Straw wines are all attracting critical acclaim, is well worth the visit.
Klawer Wine CellarThe Klawer Wine Cellars started off as a co-operative for the wine farming community in the valley between the towns of Clanwilliam and Vredendal. Initially a bulk cellar, Klawer sold on its wines to other bottling companies for years, but due to the high quality of their wines, the stock began selling out year after year. Klawer Cellars wines are super-quaffable and kind to the wallet; also try their unusual African Ruby Rooibos Vermouth – a rooibos-infused red muscadel.
Vleiland Wines Klawer
Tel: +27 (0) 82 905 1640 (Nico): Tel: +27 (0) 27 213 2525 (Office) Tasting by appointment only.
Wine Estates on the Olifants River, Vredendal and Lutzville
The Olifants River wine route meanders along the Olifants River from Klawer, until it reaches Lutzville. This area around Lutzville is regarded as one of the most ideal wine growing areas due to its mild climate, misty mornings, sunny days and south westerly sea breeze
Namaqua Wines, Vredendal, West Coast
Namaqua Wines, one of the largest cellars in South Africa, offers visitors an excellent wine tasting experience in their state of the art visitor centre, on the banks of the Olifants River, near Vredendal. The comfortable tasting room is complemented with a spacious restaurant that offers a selection of tasty local dishes and vistas of vineyards and the Maskam Mountains.
Stoumann’s WinesStoumann’s Winery near Vredendal, is situated in the heart of the fertile Olifants River Valley. Starting from small beginnings in 1998, they have grown in leaps and bounds from the smallest cellar on the West Coast Wine Route, to a cellar, which in 2009, pressed 960 tons, of which 90% was white and 10% was red grapes. Erik Schlünz joined the cellar in 2007 as Manager/Winemaker.
Melkboomsdrift Boutique WineMelkboomsdrift wines have won several awards at the Young Wine Makers Show of South Africa and are well worth tasting. Situated near Vredendal, the 18ha family wine farm with its lime rich soil produces excellent red wines. Cultivars planted are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz and Ruby Cabernet.
Teubes Wines Vredendal
Teubes and Sir Lambert wine estates, owned by the Teubes family, are not-to-be missed.
Tel: +27 (0) 83 2744 832: Tasting and sales: Open by appointment
Rosslo Wines Vredendal
Tasting and sales: Mon-Fri 08h00 – 17h00: Tel: +27 (0) 27 213 2243
Bellpost Cellars Vredendal
Tel: +27 (0) 82 619 2428: E-mail
Tasting and sales: Open by appointment
Wilgenhof Wines Vredendal
Tel: +27 (0) 27 213 2518: Cell: +27 (0) 83 628 9398: E-mail Website.
Tasting and sales: Open by appointment
Cape Rock Wines Vredendal
Head on to Cape Rock wine estate, where in addition to award-winning Rhône style reds you can sample their Mourvèdre, Grenache and a Portuguese-style Capa Roca.
Tel: +27 (0) 27 213 2567: E-mail
Tasting and sales: Open by appointment
Lutzville Vineyards, West Coast, South Africa
Lutzville Vineyards is situated on the banks of the mighty Olifants River, and benefits from the unique local climate to nurture the foundation for excellent grapes. Fresh Atlantic morning breezes roll in and cool down the vineyards. The hot sunny days and crisp evenings result in large temperature differences between day and night. Matched with ideal soils and diverse terroir, these micro climates happily conspire to create the best growing conditions for the grapes – the perfect ingredients for the superior aromas and flavours you experience in every bottle of Lutzville wine.
Seal Breeze Wines Lutzville
Seal Breeze winery for 100% handmade wine.
Tel: +27 (0) 27 217 1458: Cell: +27 (0) 84 505 1991: E-mail
Tasting and sales: Open by appointment
Coastal Wineries
Sir Lambert – Wine of Origin Lambert’s Bay
Tel: +27 (0) 27 213 2377: E-mail Website.
Tasting and sales: Open by appointment
Fryer’s Cove Bamboes Bay
Fryers Cove’s vineyards offer exceptional Sauvignon Blancs.
Tel: +27 (0) 27 213 2312: Cell: +27 (0) 82 800 7367: E-mail Website.
Tasting and sales: Open by appointment
| More info on the town of Cedarberg | More info on the West Coast area |
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