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  INFORMATION:
   WORCESTER  |  MONTAGU  |  BARRYDALE |  CALITZDORP  |  OUDTSHOORN  |  DE RUST  

Routes: Wine Routes
Province: Western Cape
R62 Brandy Route & Western Cape Brandy Route

The new R62 Brandy Route
Visitors to the increasingly popular Little Karoo region in the Western Cape can now look forward to a new tourist attraction, namely the R62 Brandy Route which includes the sights and experiences offered by six brandy cellars and one museum. 

The R62 Brandy Route, the second of these Routes to be launched in South Africa by the SA Brandy Foundation, follows the well-known R62 road and includes visiting points at Worcester, Montagu, Barrydale, Calitzdorp, Oudtshoorn and De Rust. Between this enchanting region’s picturesque landscape, old buildings, ostriches and interesting characters there is a deep history of brandy distillation.

The aim of the R62 Brandy Route is to introduce the broader public and travellers through the region to this history, as well as the many superb brandies you will find here.


The Western Cape Brandy Route
The Western Cape Brandy Route is an addition to the area's many tourist attractions and lends an extra dimension to the culture behind our viticulture industry, says Pietman Retief, director of the South African Brandy Foundation. "On May 19, 1997 it was exactly 325 years since the first brandy was distilled in South Africa, which reaffirms the rich history and tradition behind this product. It is therefore apt that 1997 was selected to launch the South Africa's first brandy route, which to our mind is also a world first." 

Brandy can quite rightly be regarded as one of South Africa's true national products. "It is probably our national drink, an indisputable fact considering that South Africans consume over 45 million litres of brandy each year," said Retief. "Brandy is understood, loved and respected by South Africans of all class and racial groups. It is a companion in countless households, and due to the quality of South African brandy, it is a product with character. The wide variety of different styles of brandies made in South Africa and the fact that it is recognised as a quality product has caused brandy sales to increase annually over the past few years."

Currently brandy represents 65% of all South African spirits and sales are growing at between 5% and 7% a year. The concept of a South African Brandy Route was formed a few years ago when more and more brandy cellars were opening their doors to visitors and developing an infrastructure to cope with tour groups. "The Brandy Foundation supported this trend from the start. We would like to show the workings of the brandy industry to the public because once people have seen how much love, attention, time and knowledge is put into each bottle of brandy, they will develop a greater respect for the product." 

According to official records, the first South African brandy was distilled on May 19 by an unnamed chef on the Dutch ship De Pijl. "We don't know much more about this formidable man or his brandy, except that after his first feat the Cape became a much livelier place," said Retief. "This was the start of an industry which has built up an excellent reputation for a wonderful product. After 325 years I can think of no better way to pay tribute to the father of South African brandy than proposing a toast of smooth Cape brandy. Cheers!"