Wellington
A wine lover’s paradise
Wellington is a wine lover’s delight and is nestled in the valleys of the Western Cape. This hearty and soulful town is a 45-minute drive from Cape Town and is centered on agriculture such as wine, grapes, olives, fruit, and brandy.
The French were settlers in the area, more here than anywhere else in the Cape. Their love for wine has impacted the lush and rich vineyards that produce some of this centuries best wine’s, countrywide. In fact, in the last few years, Wellington has been recognised globally for producing quality wine. The area has an impressive 21-member wine route, with families who have been in the industry for many years.
The area hosts stellar wine events throughout the year, where you can indulge in the town’s best and most unique wines while spending time with friends and family. Shake hands with the winemaker, sip their wine and get to know what it takes to be an owner of a vineyard.
Wine estates
A gateway to Wellington’s wines is Bovlei Valley, a picturesque area defined by rolling green hills and award-winning wines dating back to 1688. The first wine farms in Wellington originate from the area and today it has upheld its prestigious history as it is home to a number of winning estates. Some of these include:
• Bosman Family Vineyards
• Andreas Wines
• Doolhof Wine Estate
• Val de Charron,
• Dunstone Winery
• Welvanpas Family Vineyards
• Nabygelee Private Cellar
Bosman Family Vineyards
The largest nursery vine in South Africa – Bosman Family Vineyards lies in Leliefontein and dates back to 1798 when the first generation of the Bosman family arrived on the farm. The vineyard began producing its own line of handcrafted wines in 2007, after decades of focusing solely on its vine nursery.
Andreas Wines
Expanding over 4.5 hectares of vineyards lies Andreas Wines, where exquisite Shiraz is produced, with cultivars consisting of flavourful berries. Overlooking the vineyard is an eighteenth century home surrounded by lush gardens.
Restaurants
As with any wine town, good food is a priority, and Wellington delivers this in tantalizing style.
Dine at Festa
Dine at Festa is a hotspot where one can find pizzas, brochettes, gourmet sandwiches, beef and pork fillets, burgers and more. This is tastefully complemented with craft beer, local wines and coffee. It boasts stunning views of the mountains with a laidback atmosphere.
Seasons at Diemersfontein
Perfect for breakfast, lunch, and supper – Seasons at Diemersfontein offers a variety of signature dishes, infused with fresh, local and seasonal produce, all reflect the changing seasons. For those not looking for a hearty meal, there is also wine tasting options available for those interested in indulging in Wellington’s finest. Guests are privileged with stunning views that overlook a farm dam, horse paddocks, and mountain ranges.
Val du Charron Olive and Wine Estate
With spectacular views over the Bovlei, this olive and wine estate offers decadent food from The Local Grill restaurant and Piza e Vino. Opening in 2015, The Local Grill exudes European elegance and is a place for hearty meat lovers with specialty dishes including Grain-fed and grass-fed beef. Other prominent dishes include steak tartare, venison and pork. Authentic Italian comes to life at Piza e Vino – offering healthy and creative pizzas, pastas and burgers, coupled with award-winning wines and warm hospitality.
The family vibe bistro is seated on the Dunstone wine estate offering a selection of cellar wines that expertly complement delicious dishes, such as homemade pies and quiches, the Dunstone burger, filled baguettes, vineyard platters and aromatic curries.
Villamar Restaurant and Coffee Bar
Transporting its diners through an Italian culinary experience. this restaurant and coffee bar is situated on the Oude brug Farm. Offering exceptional coffee, delicious cuisine and seasonal farm produce, Villamar has evolved into a firm favourite among locals and tourists. Coffees offered here are from a wide range of single origins, including Brazil, Colombia, Guatamala and Honduras to name a few. There a also unique Villamar blends, such as Roastmaster Platino, The Villa Platino and Villamar Platino,
Activities
A gorgeous spot for outdoor lovers is Tweede Tol Campsite, a cape nature camping and picnic site that spans 102 000 hectares of mountain, wildlife, and fynbos reserve.
The area is a major attraction, especially on long weekends and school holidays when excited families visit the exclusive on-site Wolwekloof River swimming holes. Past campers have agreed that the pools make the visit worthwhile and is a great option for family trips. There are fun activities for any age, some of which include mountain biking and cycling, rock climbing and whale watching. Tweede Tol certainly offers an experience and view parallel to none
Schools
For families moving into the area, a careful consideration for schooling options becomes imperative. Fortunately, the area has a number of quality schools to ensure a bright future for its learners.
Hugenote is a bilingual and co-educational school, where boys and girls are taught how to approach and succeed in everyday life. It has a Christian ethos and these morals are passed on to each learner. Hugenote offers sports and cultural activities for your kids including music, art, tennis, cricket, netball, hockey, rugby, cross-country and swimming. The school strives for excellence and the complete development of each child.
Universities
Some of South Africa’s top 5 universities are found in the Western Cape, and Stellenbosch University is one such example. The University is 28 km’s from Wellington and boasts a wide selection of courses for students, some of which include:
• Engineering
• Law
• Medicine and Health Sciences
• Arts and Social Science
For sports enthusiasts, the campus has a renowned Rugby team known as, Maties who consistently deliver a great game of Rugby. Many of the players have also been chosen for provincial rugby. The university’s hockey team does equally well in inter-varsity games and many of the players get chosen annually to play IPT, which is a provincial hockey tournament.
A place of study and play, Stellenbosch University delivers tertiary education on an international level.
Another great learning institution is the University Of Cape Town (UCT) which aims to inspire and create graduates with internationally competitive qualifications. Courses at UCT include:
• Commerce
• Engineering
• Health Sciences
• Humanities
• Law
• Science
However, UCT does lie further from Wellington as opposed to Stellenbosch University and will take an hour to reach. To avoid the lengthy travel time, students have with quality residence to stay during semesters.
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology has various campuses around the Cape, including Wellington Campus. This campus is in the heart of Wellington and lies on Jan van Riebeeck Street. It offers a range of courses in the Faculty of Business, Applied Sciences, Social Sciences, and Education.
If you are considering moving into the beautiful town of Wellington, Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty has expert agents that will assist you in finding your ideal home. Our agents have specialised knowledge on the area to ensure your every need and want is met. Contact us today to find out more.
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