A slow meander through the Western Cape Winelands ft. Janice Hicks & Kate Sanders
Category News
Across to the east of the Mother City lies the vast natural beauty of the Western Cape Winelands. Formally known as the Boland Region, the Winelands begins where the city ends, carving out a vast stretch of land from the spectacular orchids of Stellenbosch to the fruit and nut region of Montagu and stretching as far north as the Tankwa Karoo National Park.
All in all, the Winelands covers just over 20,000 sq/km of real estate with some of the most notable towns in the country. These include, as mentioned before, Stellenbosch, Montagu, Worcester, Robertson, Paarl, Franschhoek, Wellington and Ceres. While the borders of the prestigious stretch of immaculate orchards and meandering roads are far more defined today, the original term "Boland", or Highlands, carried a looser border definition. Due to its incredible depth of size, the Winelands is separated into five distinct municipalities.
An auspicious climate and geography
Boasting a Mediterranean climate, the region experiences hot and dry summers, with a wet and rainy season over the winter. Unlike other regions, the climate remains set in seasonal changes. One may even experience snow on the peaks of the mountain ranges, which form the backdrop to the terrain.
The geography includes incredible mountain ranges providing spectacular and scenic views, fields of grapes, and slow meandering back roads traversing endless fields of greenery, rivers, canyons and forests.
Agent Q&A
To achieve a proper understanding of the lifestyle one could experience within The Winelands, one needs to speak to an expert. Luckily, Hamilton's experienced Property Practitioners, Janice Hicks and Kate Sanders are here to provide first-hand knowledge of the area's most attractive and well-kept secrets.
Q: When touring the valleys of The Winelands, what kind of homes would one expect to encounter?
A: Because the Winelands encompasses such a large area, the properties range from apartments to spectacular Lifestyle Estates, Gentleman's Lifestyle farms and Renowned Wine farms.
Q: Let's explore prices; what are the trends?
A: It is an affordable place to live with a vast range of prices from under a million rand to hundreds of millions. It all depends on the area and the property you are looking for - luckily, we have them all to choose from in the Winelands area.
Q: What features set The Winelands apart from similar areas within the Western Cape?
A: The Cosmopolitan vibes, historical towns, the huge diversity of the people who live there and the, of course, the world-renowned restaurants and accommodation establishments which are available to our visitors and locals alike
Q: What makes The Winelands great for young families? Are there any good schools in the nearby vicinity?
A: We have excellent schools and Universities in the Winelands area, and a newly opened Green School in the Paarl area is proving to be a very popular choice. Safety is also a huge plus factor.
Q: In terms of lifestyle, what do The Winelands offer residents?
A: Peace of mind regarding security, excellent schools, proximity to the international airport and only an hour's drive to the popular coastal towns like Hermanus, where one gets to watch the Whales. The sheer size of the Winelands area encompasses them all.
Q: What are the nearby healthcare facilities like?
A: We have excellent healthcare facilities in the various areas of the Winelands districts there are Mediclinic Hospitals in all the main areas.
Q: What are some of the highlights of living here?
A: To be surrounded by such incredible beauty and live in an area steeped in History is a true privilege. There are just so many things one has access to, such as the spectacular nature trails dotted with natural rock pools and waterfalls you can swim in to cool off while on your walk, Wine Farms you can pop into for a meal or wine tasting and excellent world-class restaurants just makes the area a really special place to be!
There are also several fantastic golf courses, a flying club, hang gliding spots off the surrounding mountains and hot air ballooning, to name but a few sports which one can do. Don't forget the fabulous wine-tasting experience on the Wine Tram in Franschhoek, which visits the various wine farms where you can hop off to do a wine tasting or have a meal at your leisure, then hop on the next one passing when you are ready to move onto the next spot!
Q: What are your favourite aspects of The Winelands, personally?
A: The proximity to everything without the stress and traffic that goes with living in a city, together with the slow pace of life and the fresh air, are definite plus factors, not to mention the incredible beauty it has to offer.
Q: What advice would you give people looking to purchase property in The Winelands?
A: They can be assured of an excellent return on their investment within approximately five years if they buy wisely and do not over-capitalise on their purchase. The uniqueness of the area makes it a desirable place to live, which often ends up where the demand outweighs the available properties for sale.
Read our previous Q&A here: A refined walkthrough of The Winelands's most prestigious offerings
Contact Hamiltons Property Portfolio for all your buying or selling requirements:
Johannesburg (Head Office): 011 463 0155
Cape Town: 021 418-0328
Garden Route: 044 050 3295
Eastern Cape: 076 927 7787
Winelands: 072 991 6272
Or email reception@hamiltons.co.za
Hamilton's Property Portfolio holds a Fidelity Fund Certificate issued by the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority.
Author: Bryce Anderson