West Coast Wine Route :: Wine estates, cellars and vineyards along the West Coast

A stone’s throw from the cold Atlantic Ocean, on the Western Cape’s ruggedly beautiful West Coast, lies one of South Africa’s richest and most diverse wine regions, the West Coast Wine Route, which has become synonymous with good food, good wine and good company.

Three of the largest wine cellars in South Africa – Namaqua Wines, Klawer Wine Cellars and Lutzville Vineyards – can be found here, as well as the country’s largest organic wine cellar, Stellar Organics and several smaller boutique wine producers where visitors are welcomed with open arms.
The region gently undulates from mountain peaks like Gifberg, Maskam and Koebee to the rich Olifants River Valley, which forms an integral part of the West Coast Wine Route, and the West Coast with its charming fisherman’s villages.

With a host of outdoor activities like 4x4 routes, quad-biking, river rafting, hiking, mountain-biking and camping to add to the unique West Coast mix, in addition to a host of award-winning wines, this wine region has plenty to offer the visitor.

“Wine to me is passion. It’s family and friends. It’s warmth of heart and generosity of spirit. Wine is art. It’s culture. It’s the essence of civilisation and the art of living.”
- Robert Mondavi in his autobiography, Harvests of Joy.

History
The region was first discovered in 1660 by Jan Danckaert on his quest to find Monomotapa, or "Land of Gold". The Dutch exploratory expedition on horseback set out to the north and east. Across the river, which Danckaert named the Olifants River, they saw the fires of the Namaqua, but turned back due to exhaustion. Vines were first cultivated in the early 1700s.

Region
The region stretches in a belt from north to south along the broad valley of the Olifants River. It is surrounded by the Gifberg, Maskam and Koebee mountain peaks. The area known as the Matzikama encompasses the towns of Vanrhynsdorp, Vredendal, Koekenaap, Ebenhaezer, Lutzville and Klawer. The region incorporates several wards including the cooler Koekenaap, Bamboesbay and Lamberts Bay areas adjacent to the cold Atlantic Ocean. The Western border is formed by the Atlantic Ocean, where villages such as Lamberts Bay, Doringbaai, Strandfontein or Bakoond offer glimpses of the “real” West Coast and mouth watering seafood, crayfish and fresh harders, straight from the sea.

Attractions
Every year, after the first winter rains, the landscape is transformed into a flower carpet. Veld flowers of every imaginable hue and fragrance attract visitors from far and wide. The many circular routes and interesting footpaths ensure that there is room for all the sightseers.

The beaches in the area are still pristinely white, the coastal area a bird watcher's paradise, and the sunsets glorious. From July whales are regularly spotted in the many small bays.

The Rittelfees is South Africa’s largest music festival, drawing more than 40 000 visitors to the area at the end of October every year. A national Fly-in is arranged by the Aviation club and attracts pilots and spectators from all over.

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