With a tagline reading ‘Where real people make real wine’, it’s easy to see that the Botriver Winegrowers Association is all about authenticity.

Located at the foot of the Houw Mountain Range - about 90km from Cape Town and less than 40km from Hermanus - Botriver is the epitome of a pastoral hamlet. A single tarred road snakes its way through town, taking you past a handful of quaint cottages, the legendary Botriver Hotel and up to the train station, where you will find the Shuntin’ Shed Restaurant.

Within a 10km radius of the town centre, you will find a diverse collection of wineries, with the common denominators being: an atmosphere of earthy sociability; a warm welcome; handcrafted wines; a commitment to biodiversity and personable tasting experiences. 

Currently, the Botriver Wine Route is home to the following 12 wine farms:

Anysbos
Arcangeli
Beaumont
Gabrielskloof
Genevieve MCC
Goedvertrouw
Luddite
Paardenkloof/Ecology
Rivendell
Stuart Vineyards
Villion
Wildekrans

If you want to experience them all in one memorable go, be sure to include the annual Barrels & Beards Harvest Festival.

Visit the Botriver Wine Route website to find out more.

Located just inland from Cape Agulhas – the southernmost tip of Africa, where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet – Elim is a small town established by Moravian missionaries in 1824.
Meaning ‘place of God’, it is steeped in history and ambiance. More than 100 years ago, vineyards were planted here for sacramental wine. These ceased for many decades, and viticulture only resumed in the 1990s.

Since then, it has grown into one of the most exciting wine-producing regions in South Africa, home to a wonderful selection of boutique wineries and tasting experiences.

Being in such close proximity to the exact spot where two of the world’s largest oceans crash into one another, there is a certain natural vibrance in the air. It is believed that the Agulhas region was formed some 900 million years ago and used to be part of Antarctica.

These fascinating geographical factors make for a truly unique terroir with diverse soil types, encouraging distinctive mineral and flinty flavours. The main winds that blow all come straight off the sea, keeping things slightly cooler, and carrying some of the ocean’s salt.

In this region, you will find the following wine farms:

Black Oystercatcher
The Berrio
The Drift
Ghost Corner
Giant Periwinkle
Jean Daneel Wines
Land’s End
Lomond
Skipskop
Strandveld Vineyards
Zoetendal

If you want to experience this special wine route’s magic all in one weekend, the Elim Wine Festival takes place in November every year.

With its 350m elevation above sea level, yet close proximity to False Bay, the Elgin Valley has made a name for itself as the cool climate wine capital of South Africa.

What does this mean?

Well, basically, the relatively high altitude combined with maritime environs work together to allow Elgin’s grapes a longer ripening period on the vines than any other region in the country. This leads to wines that burst with zest, fruity flavours and complexity.

Varietals from this region that have done particularly well and continue to attract attention are Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Shiraz.

In this region, you will find the following wine farms:

Almenkerk
Arumdale
Charles Fox MCC
Elgin Ridge
Elgin Vintners
Hannay
Highlands Road
Iona
Lothian Vineyards
Oak Valley
Oneiric
Paul Cluver
Paul Wallace
Shannon
South Hill Vineyards

Located less than an hours’ drive from Cape Town, the Elgin Valley is highly accessible and offers an enticing alternative for visitors who would like to explore beyond the ‘traditional’ wine regions.

If you enjoy events with a great vibe, you will love the Elgin Cool Wine & Country Food Festival, which takes place in late April every year.

Visit the Experience Elgin website for more details.

Translated, the Afrikaans phrase ‘Hemel-en-Aarde’ means ‘heaven and earth’, which is a pretty accurate description of this breathtakingly beautiful coastal wine region.

Stretching about 16km inland from the seaside town of Hermanus, the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is home to more than 10 wine farms, each more exquisite than the next.

Pioneering viticulture in the area, Hamilton Russell Vineyards planted their first grape vines in 1976, which yielded the first vintage in 1981.

Over the last few years, winegrowing has expanded significantly in the valley. The region has even come to establish itself as a producer of some of South Africa's most iconic wines with an exceptional talent for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

In this region, you will find the following wine farms:

Ataraxia
Bosman Hermanus
Bouchard Finlayson
Creation
Domaine Des Dieux
Hamilton Russell
Hermanuspietersfontein
La Vierge
Newton Johnson
Southern Right
Sumaridge
Whalehaven

If you only have a limited time in Hermanus and can’t explore the region in depth, be sure to stop off at the Wine Village at the gateway to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Here, you will be able to taste some of the local wines and stock up on your favourites.

Visit the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Facebook page for more details.

Located on the banks of the Klein River, about 24km east of Hermanus, the Victorian-inspired village of Stanford is a favourite weekend getaway spot for Capetonians.

While many seek it out for its friendly country atmosphere and surrounding natural beauty, its bouquet of lovely wine farms is also well worth a visit!

Currently home to eight official members, it’s a cosy little wine route with loads of clout. The Stanford Wine Route was officially launched in October 2015 and strives to offer the kind of experience that tantalises all the senses.

Many of the farms in the region have also diversified to add crafted beers, infused gins and grappa-based liqueurs to their repertoires.

In this region, you will find the following wine farms:

Boschrivier Winery
Misty Mountains
Raka
Sir Robert Stanford Estate
Springfontein Wine Estate
Stanford Hills
Walker Bay Vineyards
Vaalvlei Estate

Follow the Stanford Wine Route Facebook page for news and events.

While Swellendam doesn’t have an official wine route of its own, the town is in close proximity to a number of wonderful wine farms.

Toward the west of Swellendam, lies the Bonnievale-Ashton section of the Robertson Wine Route, you will find the following wine farms:

Jan Harmsgat (25km)
Esona (53km)
Viljoensdrift (55km)
Van Loveren (56km)

Toward the north-east, lies the charming R62 town of Barrydale, where you will find:

Joubert-Tradauw Private Cellar (44km)
Barrydale Cellar (45km)

Finally, if you want to experience something completely out of the ordinary, head south toward Malgas, take the hand-drawn pontoon over the Breede River and visit Sijnn.

Established by David and Rita Trafford in the early 2000s, this boutique winery is located on a hill overlooking the vast expanse of the surrounding farms and valleys. Due to poor soils and dry climate, their grapes are grown on crouching bush vines with a relatively low yield.

Because of this, their wines are produced in limited numbers, making them truly exclusive additions to your wine collection.

Visit the Sijnn website to find out more.

Are you interested in undertaking a wine-lover’s journey through the Overberg? Get in touch with us and we’ll help create your bespoke itinerary!