Devon detour
Devon Valley is one of Stellenbosch’s best-kept secrets,
both scenically and viticulturally. Vines have flourished here since the 18th
century and it has an enviable reputation, not only for the red wines produced
here, but also as a source of premium grapes.
The Devon Valley Detour offers an unforgettable journey
through the picturesque Devon Valley. Experience the abundance of flavours and
renowned wines of the Vintners of Devon Valley, read more here.
Whiskey, Wine and food pairings
The Devon Valley Hotel is surrounded by its own working
SylvanVale Vineyards that produce handmade boutique style wines that are only
available for sale to guests to the property. Gourmet Food and SylvanVale wine
pairing are available all year round either in Flavours Restaurant or on a
smaller sample tasting scale of Flavours food canapés and a flight of three
SylvanVale wines.
The Cedarwood Lounge & Bar is home to one of the most
definitive collections of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies in South Africa and is
frequented by self-confessed Whisky lovers from all over the globe. Whisky
tastings and pairing menus are also available and presents the perfect opportunity
for Whisky and food lovers to indulge in these simple pleasures while visiting
the Stellenbosch Winelands.
Golfing in the fields
From its location in a beautiful and peaceful corner of the
Devon Valley, just outside Stellenbosch, The Devon Valley Hotel offers golfers
the ideal home-base from which to explore the surrounding area and play some of
the best golf courses in the Western Cape. Within an easy driving distance
radius of 10 to 30 minutes from the hotel, golfers can enjoy a choice of at
least eight excellent golf estates. The options within this radius are
DevonVale, De Zalze, Pearl Valley and Erinvale to name a few.
Visit the wine route
Wine lover or not, a visit to the Cape Winelands is an
absolute must as the region is one of breathtaking vistas and majestic mountain
backdrops while being steeped in rich culture and history. Rolling vineyards
and quaint Cape Dutch homesteads await you, as well as award-winning wine farms
offering some of the country’s best wines.
The Winelands are divided into various regions, each
offering their own ‘wine route’. The most popular and well-known are
Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Wellington and Paarl. Not to be forgotten are the
highly acclaimed wine estates in the Constantia Valley. Also located in
beautiful surroundings with stunning mountain backdrops, the Constantia Valley
boasts some of the oldest estates and homesteads along with award-winning
wines.
Sun, Surf and sand
As The Devon Valley Hotel is situated in the very heart of
the Winelands region and uniquely positioned in its own working SylvanVale
Vineyard, guests find themselves surrounded by lush gardens and vineyards and
basically everything that celebrates the fine art of wine making. If however,
they wish to enjoy a day out on the beach, it is only an easy 20 kilometre’s
drive to the nearest beach at Strand (about 20-25 minutes’ drive).
A further 5 kilometres along the coast is Gordon’s Bay and
the ever popular Bikini Beach, adjacent to the harbour and yacht club. Boating
and fishing can be done from the harbour and swimming in Gordon’s Bay’s beach
area is probably the safest of all the False Bay beaches. Guests can enjoy
long, leisurely walks along the Strand beach or opt for the more active beach
activity options of swimming, boogie-boarding, surfing, paddle-skiing,
kite-surfing and sailing.
Whale watching in Hermanus
Approximately an hour and a half from Devon Valley is the seaside
town of Hermanus. Hermanus is hailed as offering the best land-based whale
watching in the world. From May onwards Southern Right Whales pay homage to
these warm, shallow waters in order to calf their young and to mate. The best
time for whale watching is between August and November and at this time the bay
is dotted with whales.
