Introduction
Cape Town is the gateway to the South African winelands and one of the great wine capitals of the world. Here the cultures of Africa, Europe and the East have met and mingled for over 350 years, shaping a city both ancient and modern, rich in history and culturally diverse.

Today South Africa is a peaceful democracy, a vibrant and exciting country of enormous diversity. This variety is reflected in our wines. The winemaking history dating back more than 3 centuries, is one that reflects the country's apartheid past, but also shines with the potential and expectation of the modern wine world.

The South African wine industry reflects the classicism of the Old World of France, Germany and Italy, but is also influenced by the contemporary fruit-driven styles of the New World.

This rare combination creates wines which are complex yet accessible, eloquently expressing the unique terroir and people of the Cape.

The development of wine cultivation has over the years gone hand in hand with the spread of civilisation. Looking back at the early days of the vine and its product, it is obvious that while winemaking methods and advanced techniques produce different styles of wine, the basic principles have changed very little.

Only the very southern tip of the country has a climate suitable for growing wine grapes. The Mediterranean climate and the mountain slopes and valleys form the ideal habitat for vineyards.

The Cape wine growing regions mainly have long, sun-drenched summers and this ensure grapes with enough sugar to provide excellent wines year after year. Wet winters with cool sea breezes and temperatures of 0-10℃ also contribute to the ideal conditions for viticulture at the Cape.

The rich, fertile soils along the Breede River and especially the areas of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek have become world famous for their whites, reds, sherries, ports and brandies.

The Cape Winelands is the largest wine producing region in the Western Cape and with a selection of over 200 cellars to choose from, you are guaranteed to taste some of the finest wines in the world.

There are over twelve wine routes in the Cape and all of them are within an hours drive from Cape Town. Each of them offers something different and unique in terms of landscape, wine, food and culture. You will be spoilt for choice between small, boutique wineries and the larger, more commercial wine estates.

In the past, most wine was sold through domestic wholesalers. However, with the opening up of foreign markets, rapidly increasing quantities of South African wines are being sold abroad.

Some of the Cape's wineries and winemakers have, over the years, built up considerable international stature. Nominations to lists in influential American publications have put names such as Meerlust, Kanonkop, Glen Carlou, Thelema, Rustenberg, Rust en Vrede, Simonsig and Muldersbosch in the limelight.

In South Africa, various competitions such as Veritas, Top Ten Pinotages and the annual John Platter Guide's five-star ratings have, over time, identified the consistently better performers.

South African plantings have in the past been dominated by white varieties, especially Chenin Blanc, also referred to as Steen. This is changing and there are increased plantings of international varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, as well as the Cape's own variety, Pinotage.