Stellenbosch is the second oldest European settlement in South Africa after Cape Town, and is located in the Western Cape Province. It is situated about 50 kilometers from Cape Town and has a population of around 90.000 as of the year 2000, not counting students. Stellenbosch is rapidly merging with other surrounding urban settlements. The town is also home to the University of Stellenbosch, which was founded as the Stellenbosch Gymnasium on 1 March 1866. The Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschoek valleys form the Cape Winelands, are the largest of the two main wine growing regions in South Africa. The South African wine industry produces about 10 million hectoliters of wine annually. Stellenbosch is the primary location for viticulture and viticulture research. The Stellenbosch wine route, established in 1971 is world renowned and a common tourist destination.