Forty kilometres east of Cape Town, Stellenbosch is the heart of South African wine and the easiest to reach. The estates spread over roughly 30 kilometres, close enough that Cape Town works as a base if you would rather not move hotels.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux blends and Chenin Blanc are the strengths, with Pinotage — South Africa's own crossing — as the local curiosity worth trying at least once. Mountain slopes on three sides give a range of aspects and altitudes, so the styles vary more than the size of the place suggests.
The town itself is a working university town with Cape Dutch architecture and oak-lined streets, which makes it unusually pleasant to stay in. Many estates serve serious food. Harvest is February to April; the winter months from June are green, wet and much quieter.
