The great Cape escape

With its dramatic mountains, historic architecture and lush vineyards, South Africa is a destination that deserves to be on every wine lover's travel wish list. If you're planning a trip, don't miss these highlights...

- STORY MALU LAMBERT

As the plane dips into Cape Town's airspace, the granite monolith of Table Mountain rises to greet you.

Its presence magnetises the city, one of the few in the world threaded by a national park. As its granitic folds amble in the direction of Cape Point, its slopes form Constantia, South Africa's oldest wine region.

The mountain is a reminder of the Cape's ancient geology, conservatively put at 700 million years old. Mountains are everywhere. Stellenbosch is shaped by four major ranges: Franschhoek is hugged by a bowl of them, the Swartland is the most mountainous of all, while the dramatic corridors of the Breedekloof and Robertson will have you looking out for hobbits.

With winemaking records dating back to the mid-1600s, a trip here is to be immersed in an ongoing dialogue between past and present. Visually, too, picture the white Cape Dutch architecture shrugging up from the earth and slinking side-by-side with sleek, modern wineries.

Hosts with the most

Hospitality here has evolved into an art form. Expect guided tastings, cellar and vineyard tours, some even done safari-style at estates such as Jordan and Villiera. Alongside this is one of the world's most dynamic food scenes, with its highly original, seasonally focused and affordable fine dining.

Places to stay range from centuries-old homesteads to luxurious hotels and nature lodges.