Stellenbosch
Founded in 1679, Stellenbosch is the country's leading wine area and home to many of the great estates of South Africa. Just a short distance from Cape Town, vineyards fringed by mountains make for some spectacular views. In terms of terrior, generally granite-based soils are more prevalent in the east. These are especially suited to the production of red wine, such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, whereas the sandstone soils in the west are best for whites like Chenin Blanc and Pinotage. For many, Stellenbosch is the finest wine area in South Africa, and with a list of more than 80 wineries and producers, it is also the wine region with the most expensive land. Nearly all the most famous international names in South African can be found in this area including, Meerlust, Rustenberg, Thelema and Warwick.