Discover the Western Cape Brandy Route
The Western Cape Brandy Route takes travelers through some of South Africa’s most breathtaking scenery, visiting a diverse range of brandy cellars, many of which have been family-owned for generations. Embracing state-of-the-art production trends, while staying true to long-held traditions, brandy cellars in the Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Wellington, Paarl and Elgin areas welcome visitors with warm hospitality as they explore the Western Cape Brandy Route.
With its oak-lined streets and white-washed buildings, Stellenbosch lies at the very heart of the South African wine industry, and the Stellenbosch Wine Route bears testimony to the quality product coming out of the idyllic surroundings of this historic town. Five of the fourteen producers on the Western Cape Brandy Route are found in Stellenbosch – Kaapzicht Estate, Louiesenhof, Tokara, Uitkyk, and Van Ryn’s Brandy – each with its own distinctive atmosphere and high quality product.
Located just outside of Cape Town’s city limits, Paarl offers interesting attractions and exciting activities in a spectacular vineyard-covered landscape. Paarl is also home to three brandy producers – Backsberg Estate Cellars, Laborie Estate, and Nederburg. Other attractions in Paarl include the Afrikaans Language Monument, 4×4 and mountain bike trails, a snake park, bird sanctuary and the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve.
The picturesque region of Grabouw is home to the Oude Molen Distillery, while Franschhoek – the town founded by French Huguenots in 1688 – features Haute Cabrière on the Western Cape Brandy Route.
With the Berg river flowing along its western border and the Spruit and Kromme rivers watering the region, Wellington lies in a fertile valley that was once the last outpost for pioneers travelling north from Cape Town into the interior of South Africa. With its ideal growing conditions, Wellington is home to four brandy producers – De Compagnie, Oude Wellington Estate, Upland Estate, and Savingnac de Versailles.
If you plan to travel through the Western Cape, you may want to include some of the Brandy Route destinations, where you can enjoy tastings and tours revealing the intricate process of producing some of South Africa’s top quality brandies. Bear in mind that some of the Western Cape Brandy Route members conduct tours by appointment, so it may be best to check in with the producer of your choice when making your travel plans.