South Africa has been regarded as one of the world's foremost winemaking areas, with popular white wines being Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, while the reds include Pinotage, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and at the fabulous Cabernet Sauvignon. It was the Dutch colonists that arrived at the Cape around 1655 that planted the first vineyards, and it was in 1659 that the first bottle of Cape wine was produced. Owing to the winter rainfall and Mediterranean climate of the Cape , together with fertile soils create some of the best conditions on the planet for growing vineyards, with the end result being some of the finest wines. Over the years the wine-growing area has expanded beyond the Cape and now even goes deep into the Karoo . Tourists can enjoy visiting the wine farms and experiencing the lifestyle, gourmet cooking and beautiful scenery that accompanies the winemaking process. The Wine Routes, of which there are now 13 to explore, are jewels in the crown of South African tourism, and with 2,00 varieteies of wine to sample, there is no wonder that people keep returning! Here are some of the highlights of the region. By no means exhaustive, these highlights can help you plan your special trip to the southern tip of Africa.