The valley of Franschhoek has retained its French Huguenot character, which is reflected in the names of many of the wine farms, guesthouses and restaurants. The valley offers visitors numerous walks and biking trails in the surrounding mountains, and many farms offer trout fishing in streams and dams, as well as horse riding. Vines are planted on the banks of rivers and up mountain slopes, resulting in a wide range of wines. The most widely planted white-wine varieties are Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Semillon. Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot are the most widely planted red-wine varieties. The valley is mainly recognised for the quality of its Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Semillon — there are Semillon vines in the valley which are over 100 years old. Franschhoek is also regarded as one of South Africa’s leading Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) producing areas and has its own MCC route.
