Detours Gay Travel Blog
South Africa: Wine Not Take a Sip?
- Detours
- Nov 6, 2024
South Africa — doesn’t it just roll right off the tongue? And do you know what else likes to roll off the tongue - Wine of course! 🍷
And guess what? Detours has been running gay tours to (arguably) one of the best wine regions in all of Africa since 2016. In fact, we've clinked glasses here with over 30 groups since then.
In a small town located about an hour drive from Cape Town, you’ll find Franschhoek, nestled in a valley littered with centuries-old vineyards.
And being the wine connoisseur that I am — it’s safe to say that the best wines come from the oldest vineyards?
Cue the joke where I say, “I’ve aged like a fine wine.” Or perhaps I should change it to, “I’ve aged like century-old vineyards.” 😉
Ok, ok… you caught me, I’m just a humble Detours trip leader. My dreams of becoming a wine sommelier will just have to wait. There are gay group travel trips that need leading! Like to South Africa for instance.
Besides, who else is going to share all the juicy bits of info with you? 😏
Franschhoek
Franschhoek — a wine lover’s dream.
I didn’t originally come up with that (although I’d like to take credit for it.)
No, that was Time Magazine when they featured Franschhoek as one of the “World’s Greatest Places in 2022.”
Two years later, I’d say it’s still a top contender.
Franschhoek is a diverse destination that feels tucked away, but easy to get to.
It’s the perfect combination of small town charm and international elegance. 💅
Huguenots
Franschhoek is one of the oldest villages in South Africa.
It was once known as Oliphants hoek (elephant corner in English) because, as I’m sure you guess it, elephants used to roam the valley floors.
Today, the town of Franschhoek is known as the French Quarter.
(Franschhoek translates to the French Quarter in Dutch — look at you learning Afrikaans!) 👏
This is because Franschhoek provided a safe haven for French Huguenot refugees during the 17th century.
So, without diving too deep down a history rabbit hole (that’s what YouTube is for), I'm just going to provide you with the SparkNotes edition.
Basically what happened was, a large number of French refugees arrived in South Africa because they were escaping religious persecution in France.
The Huguenots were Protestant, and France — at that time — was predominantly Catholic that didn’t look too kindly upon their protestant brothers. ⛪
So how is this relevant to the wine region of Franschhoek? Well, I’m glad you asked.
As it turns out, many of the French refugees came from wine-producing regions in France including some of the most notable Champagne, Provence, and La Rochelle.
And we all know that the French are famous for their wines.
So Franschhoek elevated its wine game thanks to the French Huguenot refugees. 🥂
And given the time period we’re talking about (all Hail King Louis XIV 🫡) these vineyards are now hundreds of years old.
Climate
Now that we got the history part out of the way, what kind of oenophile would I be if we didn’t dig into the dirt… literally?
And I know it’s called soil, not dirt. 🧑🌾
If you look to the valley floor, you will find soils that are sandy like a beach! These sandy soils are better suited to produce fruity wines.
But if you’re not a lover of fruity wine, don’t worry…
The altitude changes as you make your way from the valley floor up the mountains; and there you will find your favorite Syrahs, Cabernet Francs, and Chardonnays.
The climate is mainly Mediterranean, with dry heat and intense sunlight perfect for ripening grapes that I can wash down my gullet…
Er… I mean, that you can enjoy while taking in an authentic and diverse experience. 🤭
I wanted to take a moment to appreciate the mountains surrounding Franschhoek which contribute to one of the best wine-producing regions in South Africa.
The mountains in this valley certainly put on a dramatic display in comparison to other parts of the world. ⛰️
In other mountain ranges, you often find foothills leading up to the majestic mountain peaks.
The mountains in Franschhoek however, rise directly from the valley floor sans foothills! (I’m getting you prepped for French too while we're at it.) 😉
They jut straight out of the earth; some reaching heights up to 2,300 meters!
I’m no geologist, but I can tell you that the Franschhoek valley is an unforgettable experience, wines or not.
It turns out with the right amount of soil, sunshine, and temperature, South Africa is able to export nearly 1.13 billion liters of wine annually.
But don’t worry, there will be lots of wine left for you to enjoy.
The First Black-owned Winery
Franschhoek isn’t only a space for enjoying beauty, but history as well.
(Don’t worry we’re not going into Hugenot history part II…)
But I thought the first Black-owned winery in Franschhoek bore mentioning.
Klein Goederust Boutique Winery, a winery owned and operated by Paul Siguqa, opened in 2022. Siguqa saved for 15 years to buy and restore the winery.
As I’m sure you know, South Africa’s apartheid left a dark mark on the country’s history.
The racial caste system of apartheid made owning a winery for a Black person a dream that was next to impossible.
So, the fact that Paul Siquga, who grew up watching his mother labor in the vineyards, now owns his own winery is a reminder to all those who bravely fought for basic human rights.
Tipsy Tastings
It goes without saying that wine tasting is very popular here.
And for all you oenophiles, there are over 130 wineries within Franschhoek alone! 🤯
Not only is Franschhoek known for world-class wines, but you will find amazing cuisine and art as you stroll through the streets. Because Detours always leaves time for structured spontaneity.
And with Detours small group trips and endless social opportunities, there’s no better way to travel through the mesmerizing Franschhoek valley.
So as you venture forth into your tipsy wine tasting tours, I felt it was imperative to share a little nugget of wine wisdom:
How to keep a bottle of wine fresh after you’ve opened it.
Put a cork in it → seems fairly obvious, but sometimes after one too many glasses, popping the cork back on an open bottle of wine is pretty easy to forget.
Buy a smaller bottle → who knew wine bottles came in a variety of sizes?? Perhaps half liters are available too? 😉
Change the vessel → I don’t know how many of you travel with jars (or is that just me?) but you can transfer the wine into a sealable container to reduce the wine's exposure to oxygen.
Happy sipping!