In the most simplified version of Cape Town's modern history, it all started with a garden to supply fresh food and vegetables to travellers and traders who arrived here in the late 1600s.  Vineyards soon followed, said to have been planted by the Dutch Commander of the Cape, Jan van Riebeeck, who "erroneously believed that wine had a high vitamin C content and that it would be a perfect remedy for the scurvy-afflicted sailors. He swiftly planted vines, and within seven years, wine was already produced. These first vines were in the City Bowl near the Company Gardens, but the soil was far from ideal for viticulture, and the wine was ghastly."

Today the wine is plentiful, and definitely not ghastly. In 2015 South Africa was ranked eighth on the list of the largest wine-producing countries in the world, and the Cape has produced many award-winning wines. In particular, one should look out for Pinotage, a uniquely South African grape varietal. Cape Blends – similar to Bordeaux-style blends, use Pinotage grapes. For bubbly lovers, ask for MCC. Methode Cape Classique is a South African sparkling wine produced in the traditional French method, and labels abound. 

It's a complex story of colonisation and domination of the local population, and it's also one of the foundings of a settlement that would grow into what is now Cape Town, and its expansive winelands. For a basic version of the history of Cape Town Wikipedia provides a good resource here and for a version you can kick back and read at leisure that provides fascinating insights on the founding of the city, we suggest Nechama Brodie's Cape Town Book. 

The top wine-producing areas are Constantia, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek. Along with the tasting rooms, many farms compete on offering exceptional dining with awarded restaurants and big-name chefs, along with other amenities, from spas to farm-style living. You can also find an enormous range of accommodations to suit just about any budget.