Experience the diversity of Franschhoek

Wine-tasting on horseback in the Franschhoek Valley.

Wine-tasting on horseback in the Franschhoek Valley.

Published Sep 26, 2011

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Following in the success of its Food & Wine Route, the Franschhoek Wine Valley has recently launched Franschhoek ‘Rond en Bont’. The route encourages visitors to the area to experience the diversity of this picturesque valley with residents of the communities as they welcome them with open arms ready to share in their heritage.

Dwarsrivier, a neighbouring region of Franschhoek, and just one of the many attractions on this route, boasts a rich cultural history and shares many freedom stories with the valley. Covering a large area of the Franschhoek Wine Valley, the route also includes communities such as Wemmershoek, Bosbou, Groendal, Mooiwater, Tyotyombeni, neighbouring farms as well as the town Franschhoek.

The route is available throughout the year and offers visitors a diverse range of cultural and modern experiences, which include wine tastings in a shebeen, arts and crafts, traditional cuisine as well as a social history museum. A pamphlet will be made available to visitors highlighting the various activities, and tour packages on offer.

Calvyn Gilfellan, Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU) CEO, comments that the latest tourism trends show that visitors want to learn more about the local communities that they visit: “The Franschhoek ‘Rond en Bont’ tourism route speaks directly to the needs of tourists by allowing visitors to interact with locals and experience the rich culture and heritage of the Western Cape. I commend Franschhoek Wine Valley for this initiative and call on other Western Cape regions and towns to follow this innovative approach to attract more visitors.”

The launch of the Franschhoek ‘Rond en Bont’ tourism route is one of the many events and activities included on CTRU’s Tourism Month 2011 Calendar, which can be accessed at www.tourismcapetown.co.za.

“A project which has taken months to fine tune and put in place, we’re thrilled to finally make this route available to visitors wanting to an authentic cultural experience. We’re proud to be involved in this initiative and are positive that it will grow from strength to strength,” adds Franschhoek Wine Valley CEO, Jenny Prinsloo.

Highlights on the route include:

- Artefact, a small and intimate working pottery studio with a retail area in Franschhoek. Vuyisa Potina “Elvis” is the local artist in residence, and visitors are invited to visit him in the studio where he’ll share his story of success and possibly even let you try your hand at pottery.

- Solms-Delta Wine Estate has implemented changes and programmes aimed at transforming housing, education, medical care and the general quality of life for farm workers and residents. Listen to heartfelt stories of the residents, as they relay experiences of the past, the present and their hopes for the future. Also located on the farm is the Solms-Delta Museum. The social history of the 320-year-old estate is displayed in a museum, located in the original wine cellar, which dates back to 1740. Solms-Delta’s mission is to embrace and celebrate all that it means to be South African.

- The Drakenstein Correctional Services, a low risk security prison, situated in the area, and also where Mandela spent his last day in prison and ‘Walked to Freedom’.

- Batho’s Place offers visitors delicious traditional African cuisine. Enjoy live entertainment as well as a beer tasting whilst absorbing all that the community has to offer.

- The much loved Teesakkie, run by Ruth Paulse. When the opportunity came to start her own business, Ruth grabbed it with both hands and decided to open up a tea garden situated at her home in Groendal. Visitors to her establishment are welcome to enjoy morning or afternoon tea in her beautiful garden set amongst fruit trees and vegetables. She is famous for her carrot cake and her produce is likely to come fresh from her garden.

- Liwalethu Crèche, a small crèche situated in a home in the Mooiwater area, which currently cares for approximately 30 children. You will be welcomed by Nosanele the head teacher, and the children in her care will entertain you with song and dance.

- A visit to the township wouldn’t be complete without a stopover at the local shebeen, especially The Whitehouse Shebeen, where local resident, Cecil Solwandle will welcome you. An avid wine enthusiast and ex sommelier at Reuben’s restaurant, Cecil started his own wine label in consultation with well-known winemaker Marc Kent. He offers wine tastings to tourists visiting his shebeen, and in doing so hopes to educate more locals, young and old, on wine.

- Mary’s Kitchen offers visitors sumptuous meals representative of the area. This home kitchen situated on the outskirts of Bosbou (situated on a small farm) serves traditional local cuisine representative of the community, and is open for breakfast and lunch. In winter you can sit at her welcoming fire place or on sunny days outside under the large oak tree, shaded by umbrellas.

For more information on this proudly Franschhoek initiative visit www.franschhoek.org.za

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