With the countdown very much on for inVOYAGE Cape Town, we catch up with Richard Holt, CEO of event partner Concepts Collection, to share his thoughts on why the Cape Winelands is one of his favourite destinations and why it’s perfect for exclusive corporate incentives, special conferences and other group celebrations.

The Cape Winelands are at the very heart of the history and essence of South Africa and an alluring destination for smaller, high end incentive groups, special conferences, corporate retreats and celebrations for those wanting to create something that bit different.

It is an area that combines both beauty, history and authenticity, with the emergence of a developing exclusive and world class tourism destination.

Starting just 40 minutes from central Cape town the winelands now extend for hundreds of kilometres, with over 650 wine producers (and growing) ranging from large commercial wine farms, luxury boutique wine estates and small family farms to individuals making wine in their garages. Wine tourism is booming, but the region is not just about wine and there is so much for corporate groups to enjoy.

Stunning Setting – The Pearl of South Africa

The Cape Winelands region is an area whose small and beautiful towns of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl are collectively known as the 'pearls' of South Africa. With Cape Town being named 11th best city in the world the Winelands are a natural extension of its sheer beauty! With jagged mountain peaks and passes, plunging valleys covered in vineyards to the cooler coastal areas and their dramatic ocean backdrop, the wine region now encompasses 15 separate wine routes and is an area of diverse beauty and unparalleled scenery.

World Class Hospitality – Millionaires Playground

Adding to the appeal of the region, for the last two decades many wealthy global & local investors and celebrities like Richard Branson, London diamond jeweller Laurence Graff, Indian steel magnate Anajlit Singh and golfer Ernie Els have been purchasing wine farms and developing them into luxury tourist destinations in their own right, adding the most exclusive boutique hotels and venue facilities restaurants, art collections, shops and activities.

Amazing Places To Stay – Boutique Luxury

As a result of the continued investment and development, the areas around the historic small winelands towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek in particular are now littered with 5-star properties offering spacious and very different facilities for smaller groups. We are regularly making exclusive use bookings for our international groups, in effect giving them their own private wine estate for several days on which to create their events. Luxe wine estate properties like Lanzerac Hotel, Boschendal, Babylonstoren, Mont Rochelle and Leeu estates.

Culinary Heaven – South Africa’s Food & Wine Capital

With the small winelands town of Franschhoek emerging as the gastronomic capital of South Africa, the main street and the wine farms of the surrounding valleys house many stunning restaurants including personal favourites like La Petite Colombe on Leeu Estates, Babel at Babylonstoren, the Werf at Boschendal and the Table at De Meye. From fine dining to casual country food and farm shops across the winelands, there is literally a place for groups to dine fabulously at every turn.

Whilst the food choices are endless so are the opportunities to create food-based activities for groups such as Masterchef style cook offs, foraging and food classes with chefs.

The Great Outdoors - Lifestyle & Activities For All

Blessed with fantastic year-round weather, the winelands are very much about a nature based outdoor lifestyle where long lazy lunches and wine tasting are the norm. For those wanting more strenuous physical adventures, group activities abound for everyone.

The locals are big into the outdoor healthy lifestyle and sports activities with mountain biking, hiking, climbing, horse-riding, paragliding and quad biking amongst just some of the group activities. Golf is also hugely popular and along the coastal wine routes groups can combine their wine tasting with whale watching, shark cage diving, beaches and boat trips. The exciting list is endless!

The Soul Factor – Wellness & Wellbeing

For those more interested in stimulating the mind, wellness and wellbeing activities are popular and there is a really vibrant art, architecture and design scene, with exclusive art galleries and collections at designer wine estates like Cavalli, Delaire Graff, Grand Provence and La Motte plus the amazing Dylan Lewis sculpture garden outside Stellenbosch.

The Franschhoek valley even has its own tram network, where groups can book their own exclusive tram to transport them from wine estate to wine estate.

And Of Course … The Wine

South African wines have emerged on a world stage! As South Africa continues its transformation - new and exciting wine makers have emerged. We help our groups taste and experience the very best wine varietals but also connect much deeper, to meet the winemakers, personalities, and stories behind their wine.  There’s a hugely personal journey in each glass of wine one tastes.  As well as sampling wine we also take groups on curated experiences like unique wine safaris, planting and harvesting vines, helping blend, bottle and label their own wines and engage in the wine making process. A first-hand interaction with a soulful part of our Winelands.