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Varsity cup womens winners the 2019 FNB Wine2Whales Pinotage 3 day mountain bike event stage3 from Oak Valley to Onrus. Image by Xavier Briel [FNB Wines2Whales]

The FNB Wines2Whales Wine Route

By FNB Wines2Whales, 08/11/21, 5:45PM HST

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Varsity cup womens winners the 2019 FNB Wine2Whales Pinotage 3 day mountain bike event stage3 from Oak Valley to Onrus. Image by Xavier Briel

The appeal of the FNB Wines2Whales has long been the journey from Lourensford to Hermanus, along incredible mountain biking trails across world famous wine estates. With the route change up for the Switchback, that classic formula remains consistent as wine farms, and their wines, are the heart of FNB W2W. These are the farms which make it tick…

Wine Map

Cool climates, sea breezes and fertile soils make for great wines and spectacular mountain biking; as any FNB Wines2Whales rider can confirm. Wine making and mountain biking go hand-in-hand in South Africa, in a way which simply doesn’t happen elsewhere in the world. Where else are riders welcomed onto private properties, invited to ride purpose-built trails and then encouraged to linger, in glamourous tasting rooms or restaurants, still outfitted in muddy cycling kit?

We are spoilt! FNB W2W is very aware of how fortunate South African mountain bikers are. The wine estates which host the Chardonnay, Pinotage and Shiraz events make the races the world-class events they are. Too often, though, we speed through the farms, swooping thought their manicured singletracks and speeding past their vineyards – making notes to return for a slower visit another time.

Well, now is the time and here is the list. A unique wine tour through the farms which make up the Wines of FNB Wines2Whales. Starting from Onrus, we’ll take you on a wine tour of the FNB Wines2Whales Switchback route, but from the wales to the wines of Lourensford; as we upload each individual wine farm, you’ll be able to click through to a unique story of each region listed below.

For a taste of the FNB Wines2Whales Wine Route, be sure to take a look at Wine Village Hermanus’ amazing FNB W2W Wine Collection, consisting of only the best wines from the farms along the route; click here to shop.

Hemel en Aarde Valley

The deep valleys and high peaks of the Hemel en Aarde Mountain Range, along with distinct soils and crisp Atlantic Sea breezes, creating a geographically diverse region for producing world-class wines. From their aspects, the vineyards soak up bountiful sunlight to produce site-specific Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Bot River

The Bot River ward and village in the Overberg region is flanked by the foothills of the Groenlandberg and Babylonstoren mountain ranges. With favourable soils of shale and sandstone, this maritime influenced winegrowing area cradles just enough warmth to produce rich Pinotage and Shiraz and Chenin Blanc.  – Roxanne Waldeck, Sommelier and Wine Educator.

Elgin

The Elgin district lies in the Cape South Coast region on a unique, high-lying plateau overlooking the sea. It boasts the coolest ripening season in South Africa, producing Sauvignon Blanc and Méthode Cap Classic of distinct character, with the integrity of the surrounding features echoed in the wines.

Helderberg Basin

The Helderberg mountain range as its gentle slopes face out to False Bay, and boasts a wine offering as diverse as its terroir. With some of the oldest wine estates of the region, Somerset West has a proud reputation for port and red wine, while in recent years is receiving attention for its remarkable, site specific white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

 

– All region descriptions by Roxanne Waldeck, Sommelier and Wine Educator.