Some of the best wine the African continent produces comes from South Africa which has a long history of wine making dating back over 350 years. Production has dramatically increased in its quality in the past few years. It is widely known for excellent wine as well as value for money. South Africa is a "new world" wine region yet it encompasses many styles of wine, some traditional and some new. South Africa includes a number of wine making regions, each of which have their individual style and merits.

Stellenbosch is one of the best known wine producing regions in South Africa. It is only a short distance away from the capital, Cape Town and is the country's top wine area. The climate in Stellenbosch is Mediterranean, thanks in part to its proximity to a mountain range. This has resulted in rich soil and favourable conditions for wine making. Stellenbosch produces both red and white wines, although red wines are concentrated around the east due to its granite filled soils. White wine can be found in the west as whites are more suited to the sandstone soils commonly found in this area.

The region is full of natural beauty which makes it ideal for wine tourism. Stellenbosch has a popular wine route which consists of several trails. Tourists walk through the vineyards, taking in spectacular mountain views and learning about the wines of the region. When visiting this region be sure to purchase single trip travel insurance. Some areas of South Africa pose a relatively high risk and it is always sensible to take precautions and cover yourself should anything untoward occur.

Another highly regarded region in South Africa is Franschoek. The Franschoek Valley is a relatively small area, despite which it is highly influential in South Africa's wine production. The area produces a wide range of different wines, due in part to the variety in soil type in the region and the high level of rainfall. You can visit this wine producing region on a holiday in South Africa. Franschoek is only a day trip away from Cape Town and can be easily reached. In addition to wine, the area is contains many funky restaurants and modern bars which draw in young travellers together sophisticated adult visitors. The scenery in Franschoek is also spectacular. The beauty of the environment combined with some superb architecture makes it well worth a visit.

Constantia is a region in South Africa that can boast the most significant history in terms of wine making. Constantia was the first region in which wine was made in the country. Some of the most widely recognised South African wines have come from this area. The conditions here are perfect for wine production. The climate is ideal and vineyards are to be found on slopes where they are cooled by the sea. The region is close to Cape Town making it easily accessible. There are only five estates on this wine route, as a result of which it is possible to visit all of these estates in one day. However, many visitors prefer to spread the visits throughout their stay, avoiding any sense of feeling rushed.

Paarl is another of South Africa's primary wine making regions. It has been producing wines for over 280 years. There are many different cellars ranging from small, intimate, family owned outfits through to large commercial concerns. These larger cellars tend to produce the South African wine you will find in the supermarket. Although best known for its white wines, in recent years Paarl reds have become far more prominent. The region's warm climate and soil type make it eminently suitable for producing red wines.

Paarl also makes a fantastic tourist destination. It is a favourite with rock climbers due to the Paarl Rock which has often been compared to Ayers rock in Australia. If you are visiting this wine making region, Paarl is a great place to stop off and relax. However, if you are planning on doing some rock climbing, do make sure that you have single trip travel insurance and that it will cover this activity.

Finally, Walker Bay is another region that produces some superb South African wine. Although Walker Bay's output volume is not particularly high, wines from this region are among some of the most highly regarded. In particular, this region produces some excellent Pinot Noir and Chardonnays. Wine making techniques here are traditional and tend to follow the French model.