Come Sit, Stay & Savour Stellenbosch this winter

Stellenbosch’s Come Sit, Stay & Savour winter programme invites enthusiasts to swap their winter hibernation for a sensory sojourn in the vibrant City of Oaks and to immerse themselves in ultimate “bucket list” encounters until the end of September.

Whether you are looking for a romantic mid-week escape or a weekend breakaway with the kids, Come Sit, Stay & Savour Stellenbosch – an initiative run by Stellenbosch 360 and Stellenbosch Wine Routes as part of the Stellenbosch Experience tourism marketing campaign – makes it possible for everyone to come and discover the winter wonders of the Winelands. Three tiers of value-added packages are available, ranging from budget-friendly, to top end stay-and-play experiences that encapsulate the bustling pulse, unique cultural mix and multifaceted offerings of this vibrant town.

As a showcase of Stellenbosch’s warm hospitality, these packages are fuelled with value for money leisure activities in and around South Africa’s Food and Wine Capital for visitors to enjoy during their stay.

From as little as R1 200 per person, one can Come Sit, Stay & Savour Stellenbosch, which includes two nights’ accommodation, dinner, lunch and two activities selected from a “bucket list” of authentic Stellenbosch experiences.

Premium packages are available from R2 800 per person, which include a royal two-night stay at a five-star hotel, dinner at an award-winning restaurant, lunch and two timeout indulgences like a spa treatment or a virtual wine tasting. Think waking up on a historic wine farm like Lanzerac, lunch at a busy sidewalk café, followed by an art experience or a little more adventurous cycle through the vineyards, all perfectly complemented by dinner at an award winning local restaurant.  

Guests can opt to extend their stay or add more activities to their ultimate “bucket list” for their own account, all at a reduced rate.

“Stellenbosch is a world-class, one of a kind destination worth much more than just a day trip or a wine tasting. With these packages visitors can experience the beauty, bounty and best of this wine tourism hotspot, without breaking the bank. It is also the perfect base from where to explore surrounding regions like Cape Town or the spectacular coast-line, all within an easy 30 – 45 minutes drive. Even though our vines are now having their well-earned sleep after the harvest, our town is alive and buzzing with things to do, see and savour… some of which are completely for mahala,” shares Annareth Bolton, CEO of the country’s first and foremost wine route.

One such free attraction, which lures one to linger longer in the company of Stellenbosch and its interesting locals, is the town’s latest Come Sit outdoor sculpture exhibition – a project of the Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust (SOST). Blending function and form, it consists of 24 minimalist concrete benches that have been placed in strategic locations around the centre of town and transformed into functional artworks of high aesthetic value, using various mediums and techniques.

Participating artists include some of our country’s finest such as Wilma Cruise, Strijdom van der Merwe, Jaco Sieberhagen and graffiti artist Mak1One. Urban design is part of the rich, cultural fabric of Stellenbosch and gives the town its vibrant, “forever young” character. The Come Sit initiative invites passersby to engage with the artworks, slow down, sit down, take a photo or two and simply share in the unique and contemporary lifestyle that makes Stellenbosch one of the best places to live and to visit.

Other Stellenbosch highlights to be enjoyed for free this winter include a visit to Oom Samie se winkel, a stroll through the botanical garden or around the campus of South Africa’s most loved university town, a visit to one of the weekend markets, or appreciating the latest exhibition at the Sasol Art Museum.

“Stellenbosch is definitely a town worth exploring over a few days. Friendly people, a fascinating living history, quality wines and food, unique entertainment for young and old, warm hospitality, a multitude of outdoor activities and awe-inspiring beauty…we have it all! If you are looking for a destination that offers an eclectic, urban lifestyle, yet with genuine, small town hospitality, all at great value; then know you are in good company when you visit us,” shares Annemarie Ferns, CEO of Stellenbosch 360.

To make the most of the Come Sit, Stay & Savour Stellenbosch three-tiered, value-added packages on offer until the end of September visit http://blog.wineroute.co.za/ and book your memorable experience now with Stellenbosch Travel at http://stellenboschtravel.co.za/. Excellent deals have been secured with travel partners, Thrifty and Stellenbosch Travel, for car rental and flights from Johannesburg and Durban. Follow the links on http://stellenboschtravel.co.za/ or contact them on Tel: +27(21) 887-2920.

Come Sit, Stay & Savour Stellenbosch forms part of the year-long wine tourism campaign, Stellenbosch Experience 2014, initiated by Destinate for Stellenbosch Wine Routes and Stellenbosch 360. This winter project follows on the success of the recent #Stellenblog campaign which saw top international and local bloggers sharing the happenings and highlights of Stellenbosch through social media to the world. The activities chosen for the packages are based on the feedback from these high profile bloggers.