Durbanville / Darling

10 estates in this wine region.

This Region includes:
Durbanville, Melkbosstrand,and Darling

This region is conveniently positioned just outside (within an hours drive) of Cape Town. It is considered to be one of the top wine producing regions in South Africa. The area is well known for producing high quality Sauvignon Blanc and in recent years the area has also been playing a more prominent role as an attractive destination for travellers. It is also well known for its excellent red wines and experiences a moderately warm to mediterranean climate with breezes blowing off the atlantic coast keeping the region cool in summer.  The landscape is covered with a mix of top quality winelands and golden wheat fields.

Darling is a small town about 75 km along the west coast, north of Cape Town. The town is home to an array of unique flora and fauna.

This town makes a wonderful and relaxing weekend destination to get a way from the city bustle. The town makes you feel like you have stepped back into the past, with its Victorian architecture and antiquated trees adding to the soothing feeling that it brings to its visitors.

 The area around darling is a agricultural basket of goods, with everything from dairy to fantastic wines, wheat, peas, potatoes and sheep, all actively farmed. The local community is also well known for producing weaved baskets. So don’t forget to get yourself one of these unique baskets as a souvenir, before you leave.

To view in and around Darling:

Darling has several other major attractions that include the Bird Island Nature Reserve, which holds the world’s most accessible Cape Gannett colony. The island is also home to several other species including penguins and cormorants and is connected to Lambert’s Bay via a breakwater wall.

The Darling area also has its own wine route which includes five wine cellars producing an extensive offering of attractive wines.

A short drive outside Darling brings one to the Buffelsfontein Game Reserve which offers three hour game drives for the visitors to the area. The game you can expect to see includes lions, giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, hartebeest, kudu, eland and springbok. Some of the smaller creatures you may be lucky enough to spot include cape foxes, porcupines, honey badgers and African wildcats.
One of the main wineries in the area that offers well priced wine tasting sessions is the Groote Post Farm, which has its beginnings in the eighteenth century. The winery is set in a beautiful lush green valley, with the Klawer River flowing through it.

Durbanville:

Durbanville was one of the first municipalities in South Africa. The small region was named after Sir Benjamin D’Urban, a governor of the Cape  in the 1830’s. This region is the home of the Durbanville wine route, which is conveniently situated just a 20 minute drive from Cape Town’s heart.

The history of the wine farming in Durbanville dates back to the seventeenth century. The people living in this region at the time immediately recognized the potential of the area for producing high quality wines. Vineyards have been planted and maintained by every generation ever since. The range of wines on offer include varieties from white and red wines to the more unique cellar blends in the area.

This region is also home to the Durbanville Nature Reserve and within its boundaries substantial varieties of fynbos and fauna can be found. It is also a great spot for family picnics. Within the town you can find other excellent destinations to visit that include a monthly craft market (1st Saturday of each month) at the cultural centre. The Cultural Centre includes a coffee shop, an art gallery and a clay museum.

This region is convenient, relaxing and ideally located to satisfy any nature lover or wine enthusiast’s finest taste’s.