Tulbagh was originally settled with a view to creating provisions for ships passing the horn of Africa, and the potential for viticulture in this fertile valley was very quickly realised.

Due to an unique situation - in a bowl surrounded by imposing mountain ranges, yet the southern side of the valley is open to cooling south-east winds during the hot summer months - Tulbagh possesses some of the most diverse and attractive conditions for viticulture in the Cape; the differences in terroir and micro-climates allowing for the productions of a diversity of distinctive wines.

Present-day visitors may now enjoy a wide range of excellent wines, produced by the various estates and private cellars, which have received a string of national and international accolades - including Diners Club Winemaker of the Year and a healthy spread of gold and double gold Veritas awards.

Tulbagh has always been innovative in its approach to wine making, with Twee Jonge Gezellen being the first estate to introduce night harvesting in South Africa, a concept now employed by many others throughout the Cape.

Latterly many new producers have been attracted to the valley, so the wine lover may visit several boutique wineries as well as traditional cellars as Theuniskraal, Drostdy and Twee Jonge Gezellen, whose roots stretch back to the first settlement of the valley.