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33 Stellenbosch wine guide

Introduction
There are more than 120 wineries in the Stellenbosch district and the area boasts five wine routes. 33 Stellenbosch, surrounded by farmlands and vineyards, has a beautiful rural setting and is conveniently located on the Stellenbosch West Wine Route. This romantic route incorporates 32 wineries and showcases some of the most exquisite wine estates in the area, as well as a wide range of award-winning still, fortified and sparkling wines. Most of the grape varieties grown in South Africa are featured. The route also allows one a glimpse into the past. Bergkelder now houses an interesting collection of Stellenryck Wine Museum wine and brandy memorabilia.

REGION: COASTAL, DISTRICT: STELLENBOSCH

Introduction
Stellenbosch, embraced by the majestic Simonsberg (1,390m), Stellenbosch (1,175m), Jonkershoek, Twin Peaks (1,494m) and Helderberg (1,137m) mountains, nestles on the banks of the Eerste River amid vineyards and orchards. Synonomous with wine making, the town and wine district that carry the name Stellenbosch, are home to more than 120 wineries. Major wine merchants in the area include Distell, Pernod Ricard and Vinimark.
Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek, Pappegaaiberg, Simonsberg and the quality production areas surrounding the mountains of Simonsberg, Stellenbosch Berg and the Helderberg as well as the Bottelary Hills, the Stellenbosch Kloof, Vlottenburg, Koelenhof and the so-alled Muldersvlei bowl, all form part of the Stellenbosch wine district. The district makes up about 15% of the Cape’s total vineyard area.

Terrain, Microclimate and Characteristics

The topography of the district, dominated by the lie and height of the mountains, and the regions proximity (about 20km) to False Bay, help to create a moderate climate that is ideal for the cultivation of grapes for wine.
The moderating influence of cool summer breezes off the Atlantic Ocean over the undulating hills of the coastal plains and steep foothills of a reef of mountains in the district is one of the major factors in the creating high quality wines.
The soils in the region are mainly alluvial and Kroonstad types in the lower regions and Hutton and Clovelly types on the slopes of the mountains.

Climate and Rainfall

The Stellenbosch climate is generally Mediterranean in character with dry, sunny summers. The average summer temperature is 29 °C. Winters are normally mild to cold and damp, with temperatures averaging 18 to 19 °C. Average annual winter rainfall in the Stellenbosch area is between 600 mm and 800 mm.
Source ARC Infruitec – Nietvoorbij
SeasonPeriodWeatherDay °C Night °C
SummerDec to Febsunny26 to 3610 to 16
AutumnMarch to Maymild, some rain20 to 265 to 14
WinterJune to Augustmild to cold, rain15 to 203 to 8
SpringSep to NovMild to sunny19 to 284 to 13

Vines and Wines

The Stellenbosch district represents only about 15% of the Cape’s total vineyard area. Stellenbosch remains the main area of Pinotage production, with the variety accounting for some 36% (289 hectares) of total plantings in South Africa.
However, of all the awards and accolades received by South African wines over recent years, Stellenbosch has accumulated almost 70%. Conditions in the area are ideal for the production of noble cultivars and a large variety of wines in a wide range of styles are produced, including varietal and blended reds and whites, organic and natural wines, fortified whites and reds, sparkling and Méthode Cap Classique reds and whites.

History
Beyond Constantia, Stellenbosch is the oldest winemaking district at the Cape. In November 1679 Simon van der Stel, then governor of the Cape, identified Stellenbosch as an ideal area to grow fruit and vegetables in order to supply ships en-route to and from the East Indies. He earmarked the town of Stellenbosch for development and started allocating land to farmers. These early settlers to whom land had been granted along the banks of the Eerste River were encouraged to plant as many oak trees as possible.
Today Stellenbosch, or ‘Eikestad’ as it is affectionately known, boasts oak-lined streets and stunning examples of early Cape architecture – Cape-Dutch, Georgian, Regency, Victorian and Cape-Dutch Revival – in its town centre. It is essentially a university-agricultural town and a popular tourist centre, which together with its great mountain splendour and array of wineries, has an allure that attracts visitors with a wide variety of interests.
On the academic front the University of Stellenbosch serves as the nerve centre for development within the wine industry, housing the Department of Viticulture and Oenology as well as the Institute for Wine Biotechnology. On the outskirts of town is the Nietvoorbij Institute for Viticulture and Oenological Research and towards Paarl is the Agricultural College of Elsenburg. The latter runs courses for cellar technologists and viticulturists.

Tourist Attractions
Stellenbosch estate owners pioneered the concept of wine routes as a means of attracting tourists to the area more than 30 years ago. This has now become a feature in all the leading wine growing regions in the Cape. There are five wine routes - Greater Simonsberg, Stellenbosch Berg, Helderberg, Stellenbosch West and Bottelary Hills – in the Stellenbosch district.
With more than 60 historical buildings and focal points to visit in the town, Stellenbosch is a tourist mecca. Of special interest are Schreuder House, a showpiece of Cape Dutch architecture, Oom Samie se Winkel, a “general store” in the old tradition, VOC Kruithuis, the Stellenbosch Village Museum, the Toy and Miniature Museum and the Sasol Art Museum.
Most shops, pavement cafés, art galleries and restaurants in the town of Stellenbosch are centrally situated between Merriman Avenue, Bird and Dorp Street and are best visited on foot. You will also find delightful shops and farm stalls along the main routes leading to and from Stellenbosch. The Somerset West Mall, situated on the R44, is the districts’s largest shopping centre.
Annual Events include athletics meetings at Coetzenburg (February and March), University Rag (February), Stellenbosch Festival of Music and the Arts (September and October), Simon van der Stel Festival (October) and Simonsberg Fine Food and Wine Fair (December). You can access more information on festivals and events in the district at http://www.bigevents.co.za
There are numerous restaurants scattered around the town and the surrounding wineries. They cater for a variety of palates, specialising in anything from sea-foods, to traditional Cape Malay dishes, Mediterranean and French cuisine, grills and even Indonesian food. There is also a good spread of accommodation for visitors, from hotels to cosy bed-and-breakfast establishments.