Wines in South Africa have become renowned for both their splendor and consistency. The winelands, as they are known, fill a vast landscape that reaches from the plains of the Klein Karoo to the mountains and coasts. Centuries after the first plantings in 1655 and the first wine production in 1659, an official Wine of Origin plan was established in 1972 and implemented the following year to legally recognize and protect South African wines including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Pinot Noir. Today, more reds than whites are cultivated, including large-scale production of Pinotage, resulting from a cross between Pinot Noir and Hermitage (Cinsaut).

A number of well-established wine routes can be enjoyed by visitors to South Africa, highlighting regions including Cape Point, Constantia, Darling, Durbanville, Franschhoek, Kwazulu-Natal, Paarl, Walker Bay and Wellington. Vineyards to put on your must-visit list include Waterkloof overlooking False Bay, where horses are still used as part of the workforce, and the guided tours come with a tasting and two-course meal; handcrafted wines produced by a philosopher-turned vintner at Crystallum Wines in Walker Bay; and Stark-Conde Wines, where the tasting hut is afloat on a small island in the middle of a Stellenbosch lake. Stellenbosch Wine Routes on the Western Cape — which includes more than 200 wine producers in the Stellenbosch Wine of Origin designation — can arrange wine tours and gourmet food and wine experiences at celebrated wine farms, estates, tasting rooms and restaurants. Accommodations within a range of lodging choices from rustic to luxury can also be included.