Beyond wine, discover SWARTLAND CULTURE – where you're free to kick off your shoes.
Rugged and raw, the region is deep-rooted, untamed and unapologetic of spirit. Its wide horizon stretches ocean-to-mountain across extreme diversity.
The Swartland is an ever-changing land of contrast. Characterised by an austere name - directly translated from Afrikaans as 'blackland' – the region is seasonally transformed most memorably to magnificent undulating hills of green. The landscape is dominated by sprawling fields of grain, thriving orchards and vineyards dotted with islands of wilderness and quaint farm villages.
Here is the invitation to discover back-roads that echo through the climate and geography as much in its produce as the tenacity of its communities. Here is the opportunity for the visitor to be immersed in neighbourhoods that may be down-to-earth, but are renowned for their uncompromising expression through wine and food, art, language and way of life.
This is the soul of the Swartland: a sincere, independent people in unique country.
Be enchanted by a place that's home to some of the country's oldest vines; where off-the-beaten-tracks reveal prized wine and olive farms; where it's not uncommon to be welcomed at first greeting by farm owners themselves, who work the land too.
In the Swartland simplicity and honesty are hallmarks, along with enticement to explore. And there are many experiences to be had, whether you seek sophisticated fine dining or a remote, no-frills hiking trail; to race a bike along a farm track or explore a quiet art gallery; to swim in a farm dam or strike out to meet the winemakers behind cutting-edge brands.
Less than an hour's drive from Cape Town, the region offers authenticity and space to breathe. It's not a place you choose, but a place of tranquillity that chooses you.
The Swartland Wine & Olive Route is more than just a map; it is a laid-back state of mind that will reset your compass. No shoes required.
WINE
The Swartland has become known internationally as the South African wine region with a difference. It could be argued that some of the most innovative wines are produced here.
OLIVES
In this little Mediterranean corner of the world, orchards and vineyards carpet the slopes and olive groves nestle around unexpected corners. Some of the finest olive oils in South Africa are produced in the Swartland.
EXPLORE
It’s close enough to get to, yet it’s a perfect place to get away from it all. Each producer on the Swartland Wine & Olive Route offers guests a uniquely different experience.
RECENT BLOG POSTS
Expert recipe for preserving olives
Written by Clifford Roberts; Photographer Johan Viljoen Here’s a recipe that’s a step-by-step guide on how to preserve olives – one that comes from a specialist in the premier olive growing region of the Swartland. Keeping olives like shop-bought varieties is easy. The basic steps are to harvest the olives by hand, select the best […]
Nature knows best at Nativo
How time, terroir and tenacity play a role in producing organic wines in the Swartland. Helmed by father and daughter duo Billy and Kiki Hughes, Nativo forms part of Hughes Family Wines – an ex-wheatfield turned winery where absolutely every step of the winemaking process is done by hand. A marine engineer, Billy invented a […]
Tim Hillock Wines – A Balanced Beginning
Producing simple, pared back and elegant wine is what winemaker Tim Hillock is passionate about. From his family’s cellar at the foot of the Kasteelberg, Tim has been making his Syrah and Chenin varietals since 2021. Studying first at the University of Cape Town and then at Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute at Stellenbosch University, Tim […]