Cape Agulhas

6 estates in this wine region.

This Region includes:
Bredasdorp, Greyton, Elim, Napier, Arniston and Rivier-sonderend

Surrounding the Southern most tip of Africa, for kilometers in every direction spreads breathtaking views, wilderness, nature reserves and friendly communities waiting to greet you at every stop when visiting the Cape Agulus region.

Traditionally the area has not been a wine growing region, however today, it is with much enthusiasm and excitement that the global wine community greets the unique wines now being produced here due to its exclusive terrior.  Fresh, strong winds cool the vineyards during the ripening season and ensure that the wines produced here offer a unique array of explosive flavors rarely encountered elsewhere in the world. 
Most of the wine estates here are based around the quaint and charming towns of Greyton and Elim.  The driving time between these two towns is approximately 2 hours and when planning a day trip, it is advisable to plan for a visit to one or the other. Both villages offer a unique experience worthy of at least a day or two’s visit though and both offer a wide range of choice in terms of accommodation, from luxury to self service.

Famous for being the town at the end of the road that leads to nowhere but Greyton, one finds oneself enchanted by lanes of ancient oak trees, and the occasional horse or donkey wandering the streets unperturbed, the thatch roofed cottages and flourishing gardens. Artist galleries and coffee shops line the roads and home made delicacies and dishes are the order of the day here. If you happen to be around on a Saturday morning, their weekly morning market also provides a unique start to the day.  Besides the beauty of the town itself, Greyton offers a full range of activities. Whether seeking sanctuary from every day life or a little adventure, choices range from a visit to one of the villages small spa’s or a morning yoga lesson, to hiking, horse riding, mountain biking and 4x4 trails in the gorgeous surrounding fynbos rich nature reserves  and don’t forget to make a stop in the chocolatier. A visit to this town will have you quickly returning for more, regularly.

Founded in 1824, originally as a mission station, Elim is a unique and enchanting village, as well as being a national monument in its own right. Situated only 45km from Cape Agulhas the village consists of rows of neat and charming cottages most of which where built in the 1800’s. One of the most interesting features of the town is that it is host to the biggest wooden wheel watermill in South Africa. Visiting here is almost as good as taking a step back in time.  Geographically, this is an interesting town as it receives the winds from the east and the cooler winds from the south. This forces the vines grown in the surrounding area to stay closer to the ground and the fruit of these vines becomes highly concentrated and produces some astounding flavours and aromas  in the wines produced.

Some other towns and attractions in the Cape Agulus region also includes Riviersondered  and a number of nature reserves.This small rural farming village has a peaceful ambiance and a sense of tranquility about it. Beautiful mountain and river views surround the town, alongside a nine hole golf course and a host of other activities including close access to several beaches.

Then the Agulus National Park surrounds the true Southern most tip of Africa, just 45 kilometers from Gansbaai. The Park is currently the home of the foundation of the Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative. Here the focus is on tackling the threats to the unique flora (or fynbos) in the region. The lush  and unique plant life and with several nature trails and a unique trail to cross the southern-most tip of Africa to make this an enticing stop any journey past the area.Ultimately the parks goal is to increase the park size and to reintroduce indigenous wildlife and restore the fynbos in the reclaimed areas. Besides the gorgeous flora, during the later part of the year you can often spot whales. Other attractions to the park include a visit to the lighthouse which is situated at Africa’s furthest point, an environmental education centre and world class museum and interpretation centre and the view of the graveyard of ships that lie off the coast  were over 200 ships were wrecked on what was once called ‘ the Cape of Storms’.

Another nature reserve in the area is ‘De Hoop Nature Reserve’. One of the biggest parks in the Western Cape, this reserve offers more than your average reserve. Hiking and cycling trails lie in every direction. Watching the sun set from your camping grounds is an experience one will never forget as rare the  bontebok, Cape mountain zebra,eland, caracal, ostrich or any of the other 86 mammal species in the reserve, pass by the camp occassionally. Fishing is strictly prohibited here as the reserve encompasses  kilometers of the Southern Right Whales breeding grounds along the coast line and is host to over 250 species of fish . Sightings of the whales are possible from the beach as they breach the waters, frolick and play with their calves only few hundred meters away from shore. Through this mix of unique flora, fauna , marine and bird life De Hoop offers a very special experience  that should certainly not be missed!