When in Rome, right? And when you aren’t driving, double right? I roved between the vines, took about a million photos and had more than my fair share of wine, obviously. It’s not fair to ask me to sit still in such a beautiful spot. In between courses I snuck away from our table to explore the gardens and property. It’s still warm enough to sit outside in a t-shirt and drink chardonnay on the patio and the colors of the vineyard are at their finest.

Our first stop was lunch out at one of the prettiest wineries I’ve ever seen, and that’s saying something because WINE.ĭelaire Graff Estate is a must on any trip in South Africa and May is the perfect time of year to visit. And there is nowhere that makes you truly feel at home than heading out and exploring Stellenbosch and its surrounds. When I think of places in South Africa to travel not like a tourist, the Cape Winelands immediately sprang to mind. South Africa is much more than safaris and up-and-coming cities, and it’s definitely much safer than we are led to believe. Also, if your card is ever lost or stolen, you can also get a replacement, wherever you are in the world. All of my cards are Visa which is a bonus if you travel as much as I do! They have great benefits for travel and different card types to suit your needs. Visa asked me to be a part of a project called #notatourist, and over the next few months I’ll be sharing some of my best travel secrets for exploring beyond the usual landmarks. It is such a big and diverse country, and there is so much to do and see, I think it’s relatively easy to get off the beaten tourist track, if there is much of one at all.

I didn’t really get a touristy vibe when I was in South Africa. I briefly mentioned Stellenbosch when I first introduced you guys to South Africa here, but now I thought I’d dig a little deeper and share what really tugged at my heart about this place. The days get crisper and the skies are clearer – I love it! I have the most amazing memories of autumn amongst the vines in northern Spain where I used to live, when the whole countryside changes color. It’s one of my favorite seasons, and I think it’s the absolute best time of year to visit wine countries around the world. Pinch me, I had died and gone to Cabernet heaven!Īs you guys already probably know, I am mildly obsessed with autumn. It was May when we visited and since I was still in the Southern Hemisphere, which you guessed it, meant beautiful red, yellow and gold vineyards for as far as you could see. To me it could be New Zealand or even La Rioja, Spain the wine-growing region in the north where I used to live. So my mind was reeling by the time we got out of the car in Stellenbosch for a day trip from Cape Town.

Personally, when I think of South Africa, I had never thought of wine.

Never heard of it? No worries, me neither.Īfter Cape Town, it’s the oldest settlement in South Africa, and not longer after people arrived, grapes were planted, making it one of the main wine growing regions in the country, meaning I was likely already going to like it. 45 minutes inland from Cape Town, is a little corner of South Africa called Stellenbosch, one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever clapped eyes on.

Autumn photos