Robertson is well-known as the Garden Town of the Boland of South Africa and is situated in the fertile Breede River valley, only 160km from Cape Town on the popular Route 62.
Situated at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains, Robertson offers the visitor wine estates, hiking trails, nature reserves, a riverside holiday resort, racehorse stud farms and above all exceptional hospitality.
The town is surrounded by vineyards and orchards that stretch from the outlying farm lands into the very heart of the town. Columns of red or yellow cannas and flaming bougainvillea line the roads outside the wine estates, gardens overflow and vineyards are banked with roses, while brilliant mauve jacarandas shade the streets.
Founded in 1853, the town, boasts a proud architectural heritage with Victorian and Georgian houses and cottages lining the streets. Among the National Monuments are the Pink Church (1859), the Museum (1860), the Edwardian No 12 Piet Retief Street (1904), the Victorian No 59 Van Reeneen Street (1914) and the Powder House, used as a storage place for gunpowder in less peaceful days.
Around Robertson lie the stately stud farms. Eleven co-operatives, fourteen estates and half a dozen private producers, in and around Robertson, have made this one of the foremost wine-making regions in South Africa. And orchard upon orchard of decidious fruit, destined for the national and international markets, punctuates the landscape that isn't covered by vineyards.
The scenic Robertson Valley is renowned for its wines of connoisseur
quality, radiant roses and thoroughbred horses. Eleven co-operatives,
fourteen estates and half a dozen private producers, in and around
Robertson, have made this one of the foremost wine-making regions in
South Africa.
Some of the wine estates and cellars are:
Van Loveren
Visitors
can taste this cellar's superb white and Blanc de Noir wines as well as
its first red wine, River Red at the renovated rondavel in the middel
of the beautiful garden.
Springfield Estate
This Estate, one
of the latest addition to the Robertson Wine Route, is open to the
public. The wine range includes Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc/Chardonnay and Colombar/Chardonnay blends.
Bon Courage Wine Estate
This
Estate, near Robertson, offers an excellent range of quality wines,
from dry to full sweet, as well as red and sparkling wines. Wine can be
tasted in the lovely old manor house. The underground cellar, where Cap
Classique is made, is open to the public.
Rooiberg Co-operative Wine Cellar
Rooiberg
has several times been named South Africa's champion wine cellar, while
its cellarmaster has won the prized General Smuts trophy as the
country's champion winemaker.
Roodezandt Winery
Roodezandt, situated in the centre of Robertson, produces a wide range of high quality wines
Robertson Winery
The
Robertson and Breede River area's oldest cellar produces dry white and
red wines, semi-sweet, late harvest and sweet Red Muscadel wine and a
sparkling grape juice in addition to a wide variety of dry white wines.
Langeberg Winery
This
cellar produces a variety of wines including Muscadel, port and sherry.
Three and 5 year old brandies are bottled and imported liqueurs and
spirits are available.
Graham Beck Wines
One of the Cape's most exciting and modern wineries. Specialises in world class Methode Champenoise.
De Wetshof Wine Estate
Pioneer
of classical white wine cultivars in the Cape with first Superior
Chardonnay S.A, first Superior Sauvignon Blanc S.A, first Superior Rhine
Riesling and Vinexpo winner.
Clairvaux Wines
Variable soil
and climate differences in vineyards make it possible to produce a
variety of wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Rhie Riesling, Special Late
Harvest, Muscadel, Sparkles sparkling juice, Hanepoot grape juice,
Somerkeur 5-litre Tap Vats and Hopp Johanna Red Jeripigo
Agterkliphoogte
This
wine estate specialises in the sweeter wines. Outstanding Steen,
Colombar and Muscadel wines being the pride of this cellar.
