Wine Tour of Grabouw and Elgin Valley

Wine Tour of Grabouw and Elgin Valley

Grabou and Elgin Located 65 km south east of Cape Town over Sir Lowry’s pass along the N2 highway. Grabouw is the commercial centre for Elgin Valley The largest single export fruit-producing area in South Africa. The Original inhabitants of the area were the Khoi Khoi pastoralists and the San hunter gatherers. The Dutch colonists settled in the area in the 1600’s dispossessing the natives of their land. The town was created on the farm Grietjiesgat in 1856 by Wilhelm Langschmidt a painter from Cape Town who named Grabouw after its birthplace in Germany. The early 1900’s saw the development of the deciduous fruit farming become the town’s main economic growth engine and now the hub of South Africa’s export of apples and pears. By the end of the 20th century there was a market shift in the balance of the economy with the introduction of viticulture and planting of new vineyards and a significant increase in tourism.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Charles Fox Wine Estate, 89 Valley Road, Elgin 7180 South Africa

Charles Fox Cap Classique Wines - Formerly a fruit farm Charles and Zelda Fox purchased the farm in 2005 desiring to produce world class Cap Classique wines, fortunately the terroir proved to be ideal for natural sparkling wines, they next recruited Riems based Champagne specialistNicholas Follet, vineyard specialist Paul Wallace and viticulturist Kevin Watt. Various cultivars such as Chardonay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir were planted on 6.3 of the 33 hectares available. Cellar tours are avialble and recommended. Annual production 5,000 cases, Wines – Specialising in MCC Pinot Noir, Chardonay, Pinot Meunier known for Cap Classique. We do 4 various wine tours in Elgin Valley and cherry pick simply the best of the best



Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

Stop At: Highlands Road Estate, 75 Highlands Road, Elgin 7180 South Africa

Highlands Road Estate – Established in 2004 by Michael White this boutique winery set in the cool Elgin Valley produces wonderful elegant wines, besides the wine cellar there is an attractive wine tasting room with a deck overlooking the dam to relax and enjoy their award winning Sauvignon Blanc, Sine Cera ( a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon ), Chardonay , MCC, Rose`, Pinot Noir and a red called Ruadh. Winemaker - Vanessa Simkiss – Annual Production 4,500 cases – Wines – 35% red & 65% white, the restaurant is called The Waterside Cafe` offering simple bistro food and wood fired pizza`s, picnics can be enjoyed on the evergreen lawn next to the dam. We do 4 various wine tours in Elgin Valley and cherry pick simply the best of the best



Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

Stop At: Oak Valley Estate, Oak Avenue, Elgin 7180 South Africa

Oak Valley Estate for lunch and wine tasting – Founded in 1898 by Sir Antonie Viljoen a medical docter, from Edinburgh, who became a senator in the Cape Parliament. He was knighted for his efforts to reconcile Boer and Brits after the Boer war. He planted the first vineyards in 1908 which were later converted to fruit farming to help the 2nd World War effert. Antonie loved Oak trees so much he planted over 4,000 on his farm. A century later Oak Valley is known for its apples, pears, greenhouse, cut – flowers free range pasture –reared livestock, mountain bike trails, and its critical acclaimed cool climate wines. Owner – A. G. Rawbone – Viljoen, Winemaker – Quentin Gobregts, Annual production 15,000, Wines 45% red & 55% white, Known for Chardonay and Pinot Noir. We do 4 various wine tours in Elgin Valley and cherry pick simply the best of the best



Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

Stop At: Winters Drift, Oak Avenue Elgin Valley, Elgin 7180 South Africa

Wintersdrift Wine Estate – Named after the “winter ford” crossing of the Palmiet River on the farm , then called Glen Elgin purchased by the Molteno Brothers in 1903, forming part of the original ox wagon trail through the Overberg to the East of Cape Town. The historic Elgin railway station building now restored has become a wine tasting room, and was opened in 2012 as the Winters Drift Tasting Station. Retaining its original feel and atmosphere of the old waiting room with its railway benches, telephones and clocks, if you are lucky you might see a train pull up while enjoying a late lunch and Winters Drift Wine. Owners – Fruitways Group, Cellarmaster/Winemaker Koen Roose, Annual production 5,000 cases, Wines 30% red & 70% white, Known for their Chardonay, Syrah and Pinot Noir. Attractions are the restored Railway Station now a restaurant. We do 4 various wine tours in Elgin Valley and cherry pick simply the best of the best



Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

Stop At: Elgin Railway Market, Oak Road Elgin Railway Station, Elgin South Africa

The Railway Market is truly a great destination with a large variety of food vendors with literally something for everyone, from curries ( The Curry Pot), ribs and burgers from the ( Station Grill ), Mexican dishes from ( El Sombrero ), schwarma`s from ( Ardi`s ), pizza from ( Corlie`s Kitchen ), jaffels, vetkoek, pancakes and soup from ( Ella`s Farm Foods ), for the health conscious, fresh fruit juices, smoothies, and low carb breads with various delicious fillings from ( Le Food ), biltong from ( Sud – Wes) Pies , tarts, and quiches from ( Pudding & Pie ), cheeses, breads, dips, pates and dolmades from ( Corne`s Deli Delight`s ), then for those with a sweet tooth there is home-made cakes from ( Flour & Love ) and ice-cream and waffles-on-a-stick from ( Rollin ). The bar serves local wines, beers, cider and L-Gin. The artisanal gin bar serves local craft gins. For coffee lovers there is Ground Central and upstairs we have Sovinho selling Overberg wines. On the mezzanine and ground floor we have all the retail stores with jewellery from Ruby Rose & Shelley Taylor Designs, leather goods from Lotus Leather, classic clothing Vintage Salvage, pottery from The Potter at Almenkerk at Handmaiden Crafts, wooden pieces from JAC Wood Crafts and freshly cut flowers from Oak Valley

Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes