If your dream holiday consists of luxury hotels, great scenery, delicious dining opportunities and fine wines, you will struggle to find anywhere more perfect than the Western Cape of South Africa.

An area that combines cosmopolitan cities with rugged coastlines, lush mountains with sweeping stretches of sand, and surrounds itself with not one, but two oceans, the Western Cape has a little something for everyone, which is perhaps why millions flock to this southernmost point of Africa each year.

The sun-drenched vineyards of the Cape Winelands will appeal to anyone with a passion for New World Wines, and if you can drag yourself away from the Mother City of Cape Town, you will be able to taste your way around hundreds of wineries in search for that perfect Sauvignon Blanc or Pinotage.

The picturesque university town of Stellenbosch is a mere 45 minute drive from Cape Town, and boast well over 100 wineries.  Combining beautiful scenery with charming hotels, Stellenbosch is a wonderful place to uncover South African wines, and while the choice of vineyards may be overwhelming, I can guarantee you will find something to tickle your palate in every single one of them!

Thelema, Tokara, Asara and Anura are all favourites of ours, as are Kleine Zalze and Delheim, so if you have only one day in the Winelands, we suggest you take an escorted tour and visit all six!

Paarl is another stunning wine growing region, steeped in history and boasting some of the most exquisite Cape Dutch, Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Home to popular South African wineries such as Nederburg and Simonsvlei, in addition to smaller producers, Paarl is most definitely worth a visit.

Wellington sits in the heart of the Winelands and surrounds itself with the dramatic Groenberg Mountain and the Kromme River.  One of South Africa’s largest wine-producing towns, Wellington is pretty, peaceful and it offers a vast selection of wine and Brandy tasting opportunities.

The new world wines of South Africa are quite simply superb, and if you are looking for a luxury wine tour in 2012, we highly recommend that you head on down to the Western Cape!