You’d do well to set aside a day for this delectable tour designed to gratify all the senses. You’ll taste the offerings of the cellars, savour the food, smell the crisp Autumn air and view the vineyards now turning russet and red and orange as they prepare for their rest at the foothills of the lofty Boland mountains. You’ll perceive a sense of history, of seasonal change and social shifts and a rich and deeply rooted cultural heritage. This is the warm heart of the Cape Winelands, and you’ll be taken in by it… in a truly fulfilling way.

Our tour begins at 08:30, heading north-east to the wine-country along the N1. One of the Cape’s original farming districts – Paarl. The town is set at the foot of a cluster of massive granite domes from which it takes its name, meaning "pearl". If there is still dew left by the time we arrive, you’ll see these colossal "pearls" glitter like gemstones. Our first stop of the morning is the picturesque Seidelberg Wine Estate. Established in 1692 under the name Den Leuwenjagt, (The Lion Hunt) Seidelberg is blessed with one of the most spectacular settings in the Cape Winelands. An informative cellar tour and wine tasting will provide you with personalised insight into the finer points of wine making. Next, we’ll proceed to the town of Franschhoek, which was established in the 17th century when the French Huguenots arrived. You’ll see why this cosmopolitan village has become known as the Gourmet Capital of South Africa: restaurant after tempting restaurant offering the sights, smells and tastes of (mostly) French-inspired cuisine. Franschhoek complements the artistry of its chefs and winemakers with the breathtaking beauty of its setting, against a backdrop of towering mountains. We’ll enjoy a wine tasting at one of the numerous wine estates of the area, before taking time out to assess the fabled culinary skills of the chefs at one of the award winning restaurants.

Onward to Stellenbosch, over the scenic Helshoogte Pass, to the hub of the South African wine industry – a town under age-old oak trees, boasting great architectural beauty and steeped in South African history. You’ll walk down the canal-lined avenues, in the shade of the oaks that are now just starting to drop their leaves for their Autumn slumber. Whitewashed buildings, beautifully restored, open up to the sidewalk, offering glimpses into their cool interiors of yellow wood and oak. Coffee shops, galleries, antique shops and wine bars spill onto the pavements where professors and wine farmers, students and farmhands rub shoulders and exchange greetings with tourists and townsfolk. You’ll sense an air of quiet intellectualism and history in this university town, but it’s a tranquility often punctuated by groups of jovial students on bicycles, or tourists sharing their day’s experience in some foreign tongue. Thanks to the sheer abundance of wine estates on offer, we are truly spoilt for choice when we enjoy our final winetasting of the day in Stellenbosch. We return to the bustle of city life after a day of celebrating our senses in the countryside, and you’ll be back at the CTICC at about 17:00.