Meander your way from Elgin to Hermanus

Writer De Waal Steyn

Elgin is often the place you travel through on your way to somewhere else. But hidden in plain sight are some of the region’s best restaurants, wine farms and authentic farmstalls where you can taste freshly squeezed apple juice or cider and extend your wine collection with some truly remarkable wines.

Nestled in the lush green valleys embraced by the Hottentots Holland Mountains, the name Elgin has over the years become synonymous with apples, as 60% of the national crop is produced there. But Elgin is also becoming one of South Africa's most unique and successful wine regions, with the coolest climate of any region in the country. As with the lifestyle in this area, the grapes ripen slowly, resulting in fruity and sprightly wine, with sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and shiraz doing particularly well.

Elgin

So, next time you drive trough Elgin, turn your trip into a meander and savour the sights, sounds and tastes of this unique area. Here are some of the highlights you dare not miss.

On your way from Cape Town, your first stop should be The Orchard Farmstall at Grabouw, the gateway to the Overberg, situated just off the N2.

Stop and celebrate this iconic farmstall’s 5th anniversary under new ownership, with daily specials and fresh and tasty fare.

Everyone's taste is catered for here. The shelves are lined with local honey, homemade jams and preserves, including orange marmalade, passion fruit jam, pear and ginger preserve, pineapple jam, apricot jam, strawberry jam and quince jelly. There are local and imported teas on sale, any number of local arts, crafts and bespoke gifts. There is an array of the usual – chips, sweets, cold drinks – that we've come to expect from farmstalls.

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