Somerset West - East of Cape Town - South Africa Wine Route           The first expedition to the east from the Castle in Cape Town lead to a place near the Somerset West valley in 1655. The farmers in the Hottentots Holland area requested the establishment of a church for the area in 1817. The governor at the time was Lord Charles Somerset and so the town was eventually named after him.   Please click on the picture!    Sir Lorwy's Pass - Somerset West       Please click on the picture!  Somerset West         Thatched cottages, historic buildings and national monuments remind us of the early days in Somerset West. The winemaking industry in Somerset West was started in the early 18th century by Willem Adriaan van der Stel, eldest son of Simon Van der Stel.  Today Somerset West offers tourists a cosy atmosphere amid beautiful surroundings and is ideal as a holiday destination for nature and outdoor lovers.