Although Africa is not the first place you think of when wanting to go wine tasting, Africa has some great up-and-coming wine scenes. South African holds some of the best wine regions in Africa but has more recently expanded to other places in the continent. Wine in South Africa dates back to 1659 in Cape Town and has continued to expand since then. It is known for its Pinotage varietal which crosses a Pinot Noir grade with Cinsaut. Make sure to keep an eye on these growing wine regions.
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Best Wine Regions in South Africa
Stellenbosch, South Africa
By Dani of No Hurry To Get Home
Set in the heart of the Cape wine region, Stellenbosch is probably home to South Africa’s most famous wine estates and one of the best wine regions in Africa. Cabernet Sauvignon is the region’s most planted grape variety, and it’s often combined with Merlot to craft Bordeaux Blend wines. Aside from that, Stellenbosch is the birthplace of Pinotage, which is a crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut. Simply put, Stellenbosh is probably the heart of South African wine, and while you may be able to find Cabernet Sauvignon, no one does it quite as they do!
Aside from the region’s incredible wine, what makes Stellenbosch such a special place is the beautiful landscapes it’s set in, which allows for some of the most unique wine-tasting experiences. Think gently rolling hills as far as the eye can see, incredible mountains backdropping in every direction, and, yep, experiences that combine the love of fermented grapes with wildlife.
A few of the must-visit wine farms in Stellenbosch include Dornier Wines, whose focus is on quality red and white wines produced in hand with ancient decomposed granite soils. Ken Forrester Vineyards, where you’ll find Chenin Blanc & Rhône varietal reds, and Villiera Wines, which mixes a vineyard experience with a low-key safari adventure.
Cape Winelands, South Africa
By Roxanne of Far Away World
The Cape Winelands is a beautiful wine region in South Africa, just a couple of hours’ drive out of Cape Town. It is one of the best wine regions in Africa. The region includes the towns of Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek, all of which produce excellent wines. As well as the stunning scenery (think rolling vineyards and rugged mountains), the Cape Winelands are known for their earthy red wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage and Syrah, and dry whites including Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. With flavors and blends reminiscent of Bordeaux, there are plenty of delicious wines to sample in the region.
There are many world-class wineries in the Cape Winelands, most of which have high-quality restaurants and sweeping estates to enjoy. A few favorites are Boschendal in Franschhoek, one of the oldest wine farms in the region, with gorgeous views and cute cottages to stay in; Spier in Stellenbosch which hosts picnics on the lawn in the summer and has a range of child-friendly activities; and Nederberg in Paarl with great food and wine in a beautiful, historic building.
A trip to the Cape Winelands can also go beyond sampling good wine. You can easily spend a week there and there are lots to do there for the whole family. Along with the excellent wine, there are some exceptional restaurants and many of the wineries offer top-quality accommodation, lovely gardens, and other activities.
Constantia Valley, South Africa
By Campbell of Stingy Nomads
Cape Town’s spectacular suburb, Constantia, offers a wine route winding through some of the oldest wine farms in South Africa. Constantia is one of the best wine regions in Africa.
Located only a 15-minute drive from the city bowl, the Constantia Valley Wine Route has a great selection of wine farms. Some highlights of this wine route are the breathtaking views, delicious food, and of course the award-winning wines. The ‘Cape Town’ Wine of Origin District contains a total of 30 wine farms divided into several wards of which Constantia is the most well known. The region is best known for Sauvignon Blanc wines assisted by the cool sea breeze from the nearby Atlantic Ocean and for fantastic Red Bordeaux blends. Similar to Australia and California some excellent blends are produced here.
Constantia has been producing one of South Africa’s most famous wines for more than three hundred years. Grand Constance, a dessert wine produced from White Muscat and a little red Muscat, put the Cape on the map. This special wine was a favorite of Napoleon Bonaparte, Jane Austin, and Charles Dickens and is still produced on Groot Constantia. Beau Constantia, a boutique wine farm situated at the top of Constantia Nek is a personal favorite. The Beautiful, modern tasting venue blends perfectly into the natural environment with spectacular views of the Constantia Valley all the way to False Bay and the Helderberg Mountains.
Other Best Wine Regions in Africa
Fogo, Cape Verde
By Paulina of Paulina on the Road
Fogo is a small island situated in the small archipelago of Cape Verde and one of the best wine regions in Africa. The nation has a significant history of wine production, especially on its volcanic island of Fogo. This small island is the home to different wineries and wine productions. A variety of grapes are cultivated there including Muscat, Cabernet, Touriga Nacional, Sauvignon, and Tempranillo.
Fogo saw the first vine cultivation with the arrival of Count of Montrond. He made a sweet red wine from the vine he cultivated. The wine later came to be known as Manecom.
Fogo Island is the home to an active volcano and tiny wine industry. The vineyards in Fogo are situated on the volcanic soil in the caldera. There is a healthy production of grapes, leading to the good production of wine.
The place is home to only 1000 people and two wineries named Sodade and Cha das Caldeiras. They produce approximately 160,000 bottles of wine every year using grapes like white Vinho Branco. The wines found in that region include red, white, and rose wine.
Visitors like both the wineries- Sodade and Cha das Caldeiras as they produce fresh wines all year round. This wine region is worth liking because it has been producing wines for years and is famous for its preserved wineries around the world.
Apart from wine tasting, there are a lot of things to do on Fogo island. Visitors can explore Pico Do Fogo, Parque Natural do Fogo, Municipal Museum and more.
Dodoma, Tanzania
By Joanna of The World in my Pocket
You wouldn’t think that among the most popular Tanzanian drinks you would find wine. But Tanzania is the second-largest wine producer in Sub Saharan African content, behind South Africa, and contains some of the best wine regions in Africa. Most of the wine produced in Tanzania comes from the region around the capital of the country, Dodoma. The country produces both wine and red wines and has its own local grape as well.
Dodoma is an area with dry earth and sandy soil, warm temperatures, and low humidity, which is a perfect environment to grow different grape varieties. Among the most popular are the local Makutupora, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Chenin Blanc.
Most of the white wine produced in Tanzania is naturally sweet, whilst the red one is full-bodied, dry, with deep earthy flavors. One of the most popular Tanzanian wineries is Cetawico, founded by an Italian missionary in the 1930s. The wine industry in Tanzania is quite new, but the wine produced is high quality.
My favorite Tanzanian wine is the red Sharye, a blend that includes the local Makutupora grapes. It is a full-bodied wine, quite spicy and dry. It has an intense aftertaste and because of it, pairs well with aged cheeses or barbecued meat.
Tanzanian wine is mostly produced for internal consumption, so it’s hard to find it outside of the country. You can buy a bottle at the supermarkets in Tanzania for around 11,000 Tanzanian shillings (around £4).
Visitors can spend a lot of time exploring the best wine regions in Africa. Other popular regions include Paarl, Somerset West, Franschhoek in South Africa, Algeria, Cha das Caldeiras, Cape Verde, and the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Be sure to keep an eye on this growing wine scene!
Although these are some of the best wine regions in Africa, other countries around the world have some awesome wine-tasting areas. Interested in reading about more wine regions around the world? Make sure to check out these posts for the best areas to wine taste around the world.
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Best Wine Regions in New Zealand
Best Wine Regions in the United States
