South African wine is world-renowned. A trip to Cape Town would not be complete without a trip to the winelands. If you are looking for the best places to go wine tasting in Cape Town then this is your guide.
There are three main wine regions in Cape Town. The closest is Constantia which is a 20-30 minute drive from the city centre. These wine farms are smaller than the ones out in Stellenbosch. These include Groot Constantia which is South Africa’s oldest winery dating back to 1685. The Stellenbosch wine region is an hour’s drive from Cape Town and its history dates back to the French Huguenots in the 1690s. It is famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon. Stellenbosch probably has the most densely concentrated area of wine farms and is a great spot if you want to visit lots of wine farms. Franschhoek, meaning ‘French Corner’, is a beautiful town about an hour and a half from Cape Town which feels very French. The wine route in Franschhoek is stunning with lots of beautiful farms to explore. It is a lovely spot for a weekend trip to the winelands and has the fun Wine Tram experience.
Buitenverwagting is my favourite wine farm in Constantia. It offers wine tasting in the cellar at a cost of R100 for 5 wines. However, my favourite way to experience Buitenverwagting is to buy a bottle of wine (my favourite is their Buiten Blanc) and their food platters to enjoy on the lawns with friends. Platters on the lawn works on a first come first served basis, so be sure to arrive early to avoid disappointment. Bring along a picnic blanket and enjoy an afternoon of cheese and wine in the sun.
Constantia Glen is another firm favourite. The views from here are the best in the region with beautiful outdoor seating. They offer various wine tasting options starting at R150 pp for 4 wines. They also offer cheese & charcuterie platters as well as pizzas which are delicious. Make sure you a book a table in advance.
Groot Constantia is the oldest wine farm in South Africa. Steeped in heritage, this is a wine farm where you can drink wine and learn some history. Do a standard wine tasting for R130 for 5 wines or try their chocolate and wine pairing for R200. The onsite restaurant is Jonkershuis which serves traditional Cape Malay food.
Groot Constantia has become quite commercial and touristy over the years so if you’re looking for something more authentic maybe try one of the other farms.
Beau Constantia is definitely one of the fanciest farms in Constantia. Situated on top of Constantia Nek, the tastefully done tasting rooms have gorgeous views of the Constantia Wine Valley. Wine tasting options range from R110- R150 per tasting. You can order platters to enjoy alongside your tasting. Alternatively, Chef’s Warehouse is the restaurant onsite which can be booked seperately. The cuisine is fine dining.
Steenberg is another gorgeous wine farm in Constantia. They are best known for their Bubbly Tasting which costs R120 per person and includes 3 Steenberg sparkling wines. They also have the onsite Bistro Sixteen82 which has a divine tapas menu.
Little House Villa, Dalton House and 33 Strawberry Lane – Studio and Cottage are beautiful spots to stay in Constantia.
There are over 200 wine farms in Stellenbosch so this list is FAR from exhaustive. For a full list you can visit the Stellenbosch Wine Route website. The below are a few of my favourites in the region.
Spier is one of the classic wine farms in Stellenbosch. It is more than just a wine farm though with beautiful accommodation and a spa, picnics, annual light festivals, segway tours, a craft market, walks, art exhibitions and various onsite restaurants. For all the options on offer, browse their website. Their wine tasting options start at R85 for 3 wines and includes a chocolate wine pairing option. They have a delicious cheese & meat platter available to enjoy with your wine tasting for R280. The farm is beautiful and you can enjoy walking around the gardens after your wine tasting.
JC Le Roux is a great spot to do sparkling wine pairings. They offer a bubbly & nougat pairing for R130 pp, bubbly & cheesecake pairing for R165 pp and a bubbly & pizza pairing for R195 pp. I have done the nougat one and it is lovely. They also offer cellar tours which run through the history of MCC and sparkling wine in South Africa.
The Wine Tractor is a new experience in the Stellenbosch winelands. At a cost of R300 per person you can hop on and hop off the wine tractor which visits a number of wine farms in the region. Included in your ticket is a complimentary glass of wine at Eikendal Vineyards before the start of the tour. You will also receive a running commentary from your guide on the tractor so you can learn more about winemaking in the region and each farm you visit.
The wine tractor starts at Eikendal Vineyards where you sign in and enjoy your complimentary taster before hopping on the tractor to the first stop: Grangehurst Winery, a boutique wine cellar specialising in reds. Tastings cost R115-R150 per person for 5 wines.
After Grangehurst you will continue on to Longridge, an organic and biodynamic wine farm. The farm is absolutely stunning with herb and vegetable gardens lining the beautiful building. The wine tasting menu for wine tractor guests is R100 for 5 wines. I personally LOVED these wines and the Longridge experience. You can also build your own cheese & charcuterie platter choosing from their fridge of cheeses paying per cheese, packet of crackers or cold meats. It works out to be decently priced and you get to pick and choose what you like.
After Londridge tractor guests can choose their next stop off location. The route currently continues on to Peter Falke, Avontuur and Eikendal, with more locations coming soon.
At Avontuur you can do a standard wine tasting for R100 for 5 wines or upgrade to a biltong or nougat pairing for R150. Avontuur is also a stud farm and has beautiful mountain views
Peter Falke is another lovely stop on the wine tractor route. Wine tasting at Peter Falke starts at R100 for 5 wines.
We ended off our Wine Tractor experience with Eikendal. They have a lovely restaurant, Cucina di Giovanni, which is great for lunch. Eikendal also does fun wine pairings. They’ve had pizza and wine pairings, cheesecake and wine pairings and ice cream and wine pairings. Check their website for the current pairing on offer.
The Wine Tractor is a unique and fun experience to do for your Stellenbosch wine tasting experience. Book your tickets here.
If you’re looking for a tour that combines Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl wine regions then check out this GetYourGuide Originals Experience:
Check out Camissa Farm, Stellenbosch luxury apartments or Camberley Wines.
Franschhoek is definitely the most beautiful wine region near Cape Town and is perfect for a day trip on the Wine Tram or weekend away.
Boschendal is a stunning spot with a lot going on. They have a Friday night market in summer, citrus picking in winter and a number of different restaurant options. Boschendal has a number of lovely wine tasting and pairing options available including a chocolate and wine pairing, Cap Classique and oyster tasting, and wine and cheese pairing. You can also opt for just a wine tasting starting at R100.
Stay at Boschendal: book here.
Babylonstoren is one of my favourite spots to visit. If you’re not into wine then check out my blog for everything you can do at Babylonstoren.The cost of wine tasting starts at R180 p.p. for seven wines (Flagship wines can be added to your tasting at an additional cost: Chardonnay R50, Nebukadnesar R80 and Sprankel R85). An express tasting of three wines is also available at R80 p.p. Guests are seated on a first-come, first-served basis. They also offer cellar tours.
Stay at Babylonstoren: book here.
Haute Cabriere offers views of the valley below as well as a unique underground cellar tasting experience. They offer a variety of tasting options starting at R95 per person.
Rickety Bridge is situated between the Dassenberg Mountain and the Franschhoek River, offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding area. In addition to wine production, the estate boasts luxury accommodations, a tasting room, a wine cellar, and a restaurant. Visitors can indulge in wine tastings, take tours of the cellar, and enjoy delicious food paired with the estate’s wines. Their estate tasting of 5 wines costs R150 per person.
The wine tram is a truly unique experience in Franschhoek. Hop on and off at various wine farms and enjoy a day of being transported by an old-school tram through the vineyards. The wine tram offers 5 different routes with different wine farms for each route. Book the Wine Tram here:
View the full list of Franschhoek Wineries here.
L’ermitage – Franschhoek Chateau & Villas, Franschhoek Rose Cottages, La Cle Village, The Tram Stop, Jardin de la Ferme or The Farmstead.
If you’re looking for a tour that combines Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl wine regions then check out this GetYourGuide Originals Experience:
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