South African Wines & The Cape Winelands: all you need to know

South Africa, and especially the greater Cape Town area, is home to one of the most spectacular wine regions in the world. Here you will find international award-winning wines at ridiculously low prices compared to wines of similar quality in the other major wine-producing countries. Factor South Africa's favourable exchange rate into the equation and you get a very appealing destination indeed for budget travellers. 

The Cape Winelands is one of just ten destinations featured on Lonely Planet's Best Value Destinations in the World for 2020! 

Prepare to indulge in affordable wine-tasting tours and sumptuous lunch spreads accompanied by inexpensive yet highly quaffable local wines at this well-priced, world-class destination. Visiting a winery is an opportunity to meet the winemakers in their own tasting rooms, take advantage of 'cellar door' prices, and to explore the beautiful farms that produce this glorious stuff.

In this SA Wine Guide - Quick Links

1. A Brief History of South African Wine
2. South Africa’s Winelands by Area
3. Best Wine Routes in South Africa
4. Best Cape Wineland Towns to Visit
5. South African Wineries Worth Visiting
6. Top Winemakers & Best Wineries
7. Best Organic Wineries
8. Best Wine Bars in the Cape
9. Best Wine Shops in South Africa
10. Best South African Wine Guides
11. Best Wine Farm Stalls & Restaurants
12. Best Winelands Activities
13. Wine Festivals & Events
14. How to Ship Wine Home

Since South Africa's democratic renaissance in 1994, wine tourism has really taken off in the Western Cape, and alongside it has followed the foodie and arts & crafts culture that infuses Cape Town's Winelands today. 

Top-Notch Quality at Rock Bottom Prices

Due to the weakness of the South African Rand, especially compared to other New World wine countries like Australia, New Zealand and the USA, South African wine is the best bang for buck on Planet Vino.

South African wine farms have been honing their craft since the 1600's - much longer than fellow Southern Hemisphere producers like Australia and New Zealand. What you're getting with a bottle of good South African wine is essentially the same level of quality for literally half the price. 

With numerous top wine routes located within an hour’s drive of Cape Town, visitors are spoilt for choice. Aside from the vino itself, a day trip through the Winelands offers a heady mixture of mountain and coastal scenery, world-class restaurants, arts and crafts and adventure activities.

Thanks to the well-developed infrastructure of the Western Cape, the Cape Winelands and surrounds are peppered with incredible accommodations and tourist facilities to suit a wide spectrum of travellers.

Many South African wine farms have expanded their offerings beyond gastronomy, wine and accommodation. Nowadays the Winelands are brimming with adventure activities, including hiking, horse trails, mountain biking and cycling, hot air ballooning, helicopter rides and wildlife experiences.

A Brief History of South African Wine

South Africa boasts over 300 years of winemaking history. Vines were first planted in the Cape in the 1650s but it wasn’t until the French Huguenots arrived with their viticulture skills in the 1680s that wine production really took off in South Africa. While the country is regarded as a New World wine region, using New World winemaking techniques, our traditions and culture are stylistically reminiscent of Old World winemaking. 

Setbacks during the 19th and 20th centuries knocked South Africa’s wine production. Then overproduction as a result of replanting high-yield grape varieties led to the South African government funding the South African Co-Operative Wine Growers Association. The aim was to stabilise the industry by funding the co-operative, known as KWV (Kooperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika). However, throughout the 20th century, KWV prioritised quantity over quality, restricted yields and set prices at levels that encouraged brandy production and hampered innovation. This, coupled with trade sanctions on South Africa in the 1980s due to apartheid, saw South Africa’s international wine reputation dwindle.

In the early 1990s when Nelson Mandela was released and elected as the first democratic president of South Africa, KWV was privatised. As a private business KWV gained access to world export markets and so began the renaissance of the South African wine industry. The Cape's geography (magnificent mountains, valleys and plateaus) and Mediterranean climate, influenced by the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, provided an ideal environment for the country’s passionate winemakers to produce an exciting variety of wines.

New access to global markets exposed local producers to international winemakers, new viticulture techniques and winemaking technologies, triggering a meteoric rise in the production of high-quality and internationally acclaimed wines. This, coupled with some of the most beautiful wine farm locations on earth, elevated South Africa’s reputation as a wine producer and subsequently piqued global interest in South African wine tourism to the point that it has become a critical part of South Africa’s economy.

South African Wine Facts & Stats

• South Africa is the 10th largest wine producer in the world in terms of overall volume (2018), responsible for 3.4% of global wine output
• South Africa has 94 545 hectares of wine grapes (more than twice the size of Seychelles)
• 207 estate wine farms
• 546 wineries (472 independent wineries and 48 co-operative wineries)
• White grapes account for 55.2% with Chenin Blanc the most widely planted grape
• Red grapes account for 44.8% with Cabernet Sauvignon the most widely planted red grape
• South Africa’s signature wine variety is Pinotage, a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut
• More than 300,000 people are employed in the South African wine industry

South Africa’s Wineland Areas

Almost all of South Africa's wine regions are found in the Western Cape Province, mostly near Cape Town, with a few wine farms in the Northern Cape. From largest to smallest, here are the 10 wine regions of South Africa:

1. Stellenbosch: 15 252 hectares and 170 wineries
2. Paarl: 15 150 hectares and 118 wineries
3. Breedekloof: 12 941 hectares and 28 wineries
4. Robertson: 12 910 hectares and 47 wineries
5. Swartland: 12 892 hectares and 34 wineries
6. Olifants River: 9 861 hectares and 16 wineries
7. Worcester: 6 472 hectares and 21 wineries
8. Northern Cape: 4 123 hectares and 13 wineries
9. Cape South Coast: 2 601 hectares and 51 wineries
10. Klein Karoo: 2 344 hectares and 22 wineries

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Best Wine Routes in South Africa

The Cape Winelands region is one of the six most popular tourist attractions in South Africa, along with Kruger National Park and Cape Town. Not only is it acclaimed, but it is also rated as an excellent value destination. The Cape Winelands is, after all, featured in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel: Best-Value Destinations across the world for 2020. Wine routes that make the Cape Winelands famous, are as follows:

Constantia Wine Route

Cape Town’s exquisite backyard and oldest wine-growing region dating back to 1685, Constantia offers Cape Town visitors an easy and accessible experience of South African wine. Just 15 minutes drive from the city centre, the Constantia Valley is home to 10 notable wine farms with exceptional restaurants and sweeping views across Constantiaberg and Table Mountain. An area of rich heritage and timeless beauty complimented by hiking and running trails, horse riding and mountain biking and a wine museum at Groot Constantia Estate. Tastings, cellar tours and dining are delightful ways to experience this historic wine region on the doorstep of the Mother City.

Stellenbosch Wine Route

Situated about 50km, or 45 minutes drive from Cape Town, is the Stellenbosch Wine Route. The oldest wine route in South Africa, the Stellenbosch wine region incorporates over 300 wineries. At the centre of this wine route, is the town of Stellenbosch, South Africa’s 2nd oldest urban area. Widely considered the heart of the South African wine industry. As well as being synonymous with South African wine, it’s also a culinary hot spot and an adventure mecca.

Known as the City of Oaks, Stellenbosch marries business, culture, education, technology and tourism in a magnificent setting with a historic town centre. An accolade the region takes great pride in is its warm hospitality - welcoming visitors to the town and wine route with an abundance of personality.

Due to the large number of wineries, the route is split into 5 sub-routes, purely for ease of navigation. These are Bottelary Hills, Greater Simonsberg, Helderberg, Stellenbosch Valley and Stellenbosch Berg.

Franschhoek Winelands

The French-corner, as it translates, has similar growing conditions to its name-sake, France, with over 30 cellars producing some of the country's finest wines. Situated between towering mountains the valley has excellent hiking trails, particularly in the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve (part of the UNESCO declared Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve).

Recently a 9-cellar Cap Classique sparkling wine route launched to educate visitors about the method for making the cape sparking wine and of course to give you a chance to sample the bottles of joy.

There is an open-air hop-on hop-off wine tram service that quite brilliantly transports visitors around the valley, which means you don’t have to drive or spit out your wine tastings.

Paarl Winelands

The Paarl Wine Route is the 2nd oldest in South Africa and is best known for the quality of its spicy Shiraz thanks to a climate that favours this variety, though Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinotage, Viognier and Mourvedre flourish here too. Nederburg and KWV, with a cellar complex covering 22 hectares, are the heavyweights in the valley with a slew of smaller, well-known farms populating the valley. The Cathedral Cellar, with its barrel-vaulted roof and large carved red wine vats, depicting the history of the Cape's wine industry is well worth a visit.

The Spice Route (Paarl Winelands Region)

In addition to Paarl’s wine route, a Spice Route was established in 2011. This is a taste sensation situated on the slopes of the Paarl Mountains that has expanded to include a range of aesthetic experiences. This is a full day excursion with all establishments within walking distance of each other.

The Spice Route celebrates the Cape’s diverse cultures from a collection of historical instances to modern day flavour infusions in this gathering of diverse artisans. From chocolate and ice cream making, coffee and beer brewing to glass blowing, diamond cutting and sports activities, the compilation of the Spice Route is a smorgasbord of delights that include:

• Barley & Biltong Emporium
• Brenda’s Deli
• Cape Brewing Company
• De Villiers Chocolate
• DV Café
• Hero Adventure Trails
• La Grapperia Bistro & Pizzeria
• Pilates for Life
• Red Hot Glass
• Richard Bosman’s Cured Meats
• Spice Route Wines
• The Trading Company
• Wilderer Distillery

Elgin Valley Winelands

Located in the Overberg Valley, the Elgin wine route links a series of family-owned wine farms making wine tasting and cellar tours a very personalised experience, often conducted by the winemaker.

Scenic and friendly, Elgin’s uniquely cool climate allows winemakers to produce distinctive wines in a valley with beautiful vistas and as all wine farmers know, grapes love a good view. This relatively new wine route is often uncrowded and is in some senses a bit of a secret, lying just an hour’s scenic drive outside of Cape Town.

The Elgin Valley is part of the UNESCO-protected Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve which is a hub of seemingly endless adventure activities from hiking and birding to kloofing and all manner of fishing, not to mention a riot of mountain biking trails. Elgin is the gateway to the Green Mountain Eco route and home to several private game reserves.

Hemel & Aarde Wine Route

Hemel and Aarde with vineyards stretching along the entire valley is home to 15 wine farms, the Hemel-En-Aarde wine route takes in these highly acclaimed cool-climate farms most notable for their exceptional Burgundy-style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietals thanks to the on-shore south-easter rushing over the cold Benguela Current and cooling the clay-soil vineyards.

Wineries here produce small batch premium wines made by some of South Africa’s most creative winemakers and a trip through this valley is wine opulence with exceptional dining options from Temptation and Heaven, if names are anything to go by, to brunch boards and deli platters.

Situated a stone’s throw from Hermanus, the world’s best land-based whale-watching location, a day out here is often augmented with whale sightings, almost as an afterthought, if you can be that nonchalant about sightings of the world’s largest mammals.

Swartland Wine Route

Perhaps South Africa’s most exciting wine region, the Swartland seems to bristle with innovation and diversity. It exudes a sense of magic, producing unique wines from terroir not found anywhere else in the Cape. The area includes historic estates, large wine farms and garagistes introducing visitors to a huge variety of wines.

The Swartland Wine and Olive Route is an hour’s drive from Cape Town and includes the historic towns of Malmesbury, Piketberg, and the twin towns of Riebeek West and Riebeek Kasteel on the slopes of the Kasteelberg. It’s a journey that will transport you into another world.

Translated, Swartland means black land, so called after the Renosterbos that turns dark at a certain time of the year and alters the colour of the land. The area is brimming with farmer’s markets and for the intrepid traveller, there’s 4x4ing, hang-gliding, horse riding, clay-pigeon shooting, hiking and mountain biking in amongst the wine and olives experiences.

Plettenberg Bay Winelands

The Plett Wine Route stretches from Harkerville in the West to The Crags in the East. This is the easternmost wine region in the country with Plett falling just inside the Western Cape, close to the border of the Eastern Cape Province. This is also the newest wine of origin region in South Africa, dating back to 2000 when the first vines were planted in what was deemed to be ideal cold-climate conditions for varietals such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

It is also the smallest wine region in South Africa but heritage and hectares haven’t interfered with the production of great wines, particularly in the case of Bramon’s two double-gold Michelangelo Grand d’Or medals for their 2012 and 2013 MCCs. Plett’s increasing wine farm fervour is evident in the now 19 farms that populate this wine route along the scenic Garden Route and creates 8 Méthode Cap Classique style wines, leading it to be dubbed the Bubbly Route.

That moniker seems fitting for this carefree stretch of South Africa that boasts more extramural activities than bubbles in an MCC bottle. From wildlife adventures and paragliding to ocean pursuits and river adventures to culinary delights, hikes and sanctuaries, the Garden Route is one of South Africa’s premier destinations, now complete with wines of origin. Need we say more!  

Elim Wine Route

Elim lies 2.5 hours east of Cape Town. This is the southernmost wine route in Africa, a region that harnesses environmental extremities to produce magnificent reflections of Africa’s southern tip.

This is where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet and with that accord comes a wildness of nature. Cool, strong winds and mineral-rich soils contribute to an unusual terroir that leads to unique flavours in the wines, sometimes described as explosive, that are created in this seemingly impossible wine-growing environment.

The national monument that is the village of Elim is central to the vineyards of this region, made up of 6 wineries that all offering tastings, sales and tours by appointment. This is an exciting area that translates extremely well into the wines made here.

Klein Karoo Wine Route

This surreal region is the easternmost of the Cape wine producing regions, positioned between spectacular mountain ranges running from Montagu in the West to the Outeniqua in the East, along Route 62.

Despite being a semi-arid region, the Klein Karoo’s multiple microclimates nurture a large variety of wines, the region is particularly well known for the fortified wines and pot-stilled brandies, producing champion Muscadel and world-class port as well as premium reds and whites. Viticulture occurs along the kloof, valleys and alluvial riverine sites, defined by the regions low rainfall.

The warmth of the Klein Karoo’s landscapes is a charm reflected by its inhabitants that are delighted to welcome visitors to this mystical land and its treasures. Besides the wonderful spectrum of wines on offer, there is a myriad of activities for the adventurous from spelunking and mountain-biking to camping, hiking and walking trails. The ostrich farms are a unique touch and the desert nights make for divine star gazing.

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Best Cape Winelands Towns to Visit 

The plethora of towns and villages to visit in the Cape Winelands is staggering. From the renowned hearts of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek and the quaint dorpies like Pniel to the magical villages of McGregor and Prince Albert and the eccentric gems along Route 62. This is a selection of the best Cape Wineland towns to help shape your journey.

Stellenbosch

South Africa’s 2nd oldest town is a must-see on any Winelands visit and just 45 minutes from Cape Town this can be part of a day trip or as a stop on a multi-day itinerary. This is a beautiful hub to explore the hundreds of wine farms in the area while being a destination composed of interesting architecture, rich culture, and a huge range of accommodation, culinary delights and art galleries. Of course, the wine’s a blockbuster!

Tours of the Stellenbosch Winelands are readily available saving you having to drive and rental of all manner of sporting equipment is easily accessible. Stellenbosch is biking central with a brilliant network of trail advice, services, guides and route maps available throughout the town.

Paarl

Named after a large granite rock resembling a pearl, South Africa’s 3rd oldest town is 50km northeast of Cape Town. The easily accessible large town retains a country feel thanks to the Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and Cape Dutch buildings.

Paarl is an adventurer’s paradise with hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, polo, golfing, canoeing, bass fishing and flyfishing on offer as well as wildlife in the form of the Drakenstein Lion Park and Le Bonheur Crocodile Farm.

Franschhoek

60 mins drive from Cape Town is the up-market village of Franschhoek, one of the most spectacular on earth. Quaint, charming and complete with a tram to access a selection of the surrounding wine farms. You might need to pinch yourself that this is all real.

Many of the Cape Dutch homesteads in Franschhoek still bear their original French names from the boutique wineries to the large cellars. French influences permeate this valley, most evidently during the annual Bastille Day celebrations.

Eateries, restaurants, delis and virtually any other descriptor for culinary delight line the main street of Franschhoek. As you’d expect from the delectable Frenchness of the town, the food is exciting, delicious and readily paired with the exquisite local wines.

Botrivier

The down-to-earth and sociable people of Botrivier number just 10 000 and have become known for their country hospitality and wines made from the oldest vines in the region.

This Overberg town sits on the foothills of the Houw Hoek Mountains some 95km outside of Cape Town en route to Hermanus. Botrivier makes a tranquil getaway for visitors wanting proximity to whale-watching sites but not the crowds that flock to this coast during whale-watching season.

The town sits on the west bank of the Bot River as it meanders its way through the fertile valley surrounded by fynbos-covered mountains and farms producing classic handcrafted wines.

At the town’s heart is the entrance to Beaumont Wine Estate, the site of the original staging post and housing the region’s oldest wine cellar and mill. Within a 10km radius of Botrivier are a number of excellent wine estates, in particular, Gabrielskloof, Luddite and the aforementioned Beaumont that produce one of the country's best Chenin Blancs, Hope Marguerite.

Stanford

The charming town of Stanford is located on the banks of the Klein River. Being part of the Cape Whale Coast Route, this is cool-climate wine country with a wide variety of terroir producing award-winning wines from some of the most attractive wine farms in the Overberg.

Stanford attracts an interesting array of residents and visitors making for colourful conversations and interesting meetings. The town serves as a very accessible hub to visit the Stanford Wine Route, opened in 2015, and the excellent restaurants that inhabit the wineries. It’s also a short, tranquil distance from Hermanus, which can feel quite frantic during the peak of whale watching season.

Stanford has a gentle hum of activity thanks to the Wednesday and Saturday markets stocking local produce, renowned ice-cream parlours. Access to mountain bike trails, river adventures, hikes and as a prime location for whale watchers and those interested in the shark activity of Gaansbaai see a steady flow of visitors to Stanford who utilise the town as a hub.

Panthera Africa is a nearby sanctuary for big cats and the proximity to several craft brewers is a bonus for beer fans.

Greyton

Much like Franschhoek’s reminiscence of France, Greyton is a curious anecdote of an old English village. Timeless charm plasters the cottages, oak-lined streets and a weekly farmers market and slow place adding to the quintessential nature of this neighbourhood. Greyton isn’t sleepy though, the magic cultivated here readily draws Capetonians and visitors who frequent the village to explore the natural surrounds or recharge from busy lives. Greyton buzzes on weekends and breathes easy during the week.

The hiking and biking is excellent here, particularly the day-hike to McGregor that lies on the other side of the Riviersonderend Mountains. For those looking for something more cultural, artists drawn to Greyton exhibit in the local galleries and the village’s cuisine is excellent.

McGregor

This little village is located on the other side of the Riviersonderend Mountains from Greyton, a beautiful day hike and often walkers elect to hike between Greyton and McGregor spending a night or two in one of the villages and returning via the same route.

At its heart lies Temenos a retreat with gardens extending an entire block and housing a wonderful collection of books across several libraries. McGregor is one of the few inhabited places in the world to lie directly on ley lines and is widely considered a sacred site exuding powerful natural energy.  It’s quiet, creative and enchanted. Not surprisingly McGregor is an artist’s town calling sculptors, painters, musicians and crafters who infuse the town with their art and colourful culture.

As you’d expect, the accommodation is charming and peaceful. Come here to feel the land.

Prince Albert

On the southern edge of the Great Karoo, lies Prince Albert a little town that time forgot but everyone else remembers. A wonderful architectural mix has shaped the town, from Cape Dutch to a mix of Victorian and Karoo buildings. Lei waterways zigzag their way through the town that punctuates the beautifully quite Karoo with its incredible light and spectacular mountain backdrop.

The weekend market is excellent as is Gay’s Local Guernsey Dairy and the olive and wine farms welcome visitors.

The Swartberg Pass is easily accessible just outside the town offering an impressive entrance or exit to the town.

Barrydale

If you like quirky Route 62 will lead you to the village Barrydale, contrasted by its positioning between the fertile Tradouw Valley and the semi-arid Karoo. Barrydale is a colourful artisanal community at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains, surrounded by historic orchards and vineyards and sheep and dairy farms.

Life ambles here, although there’s plenty to do. Interesting shops and restaurants cater to visitors that arrive by car, motorbike, bicycle and a few other creative means. It’s worth spending some time in Barrydale, whether as a culinary stop (Diesel and Cream make incredible diet-destroying milkshakes) or as a location to put your feet up and linger.

The now-notorious Ronnie’s Sex Shop dubbed the oldest pub in Africa, is in close proximity, the auspicious name is the result of a prank and Ronnie’s Sex Shop is a regular pit stop on Route 62 for visitors, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Montagu

Approximately 2 hours from Cape Town, leading to the Little Karoo is the historic town of Montagu, home to hot springs and a magnet for rock climbers, explorers and wine enthusiasts.

Montagu’s peaceful demeanour belies its role as a springboard to adventure pursuits. Spectacular rock formations make this one of the most popular destinations for rock climbers while the surrounding countryside lends itself to 4x4 and mountain bike trails, hiking, vineyards, orchids, bird sanctuaries, nature reserves and nature gardens. Closer to town you’ll find historic homes, museums, art galleries and the famous hot springs.

Accommodation varies from 5-star hotels to friendly B&Bs as well as guest farms, mountain retreats and good camping sites.

Riebeek Kasteel

At the heart of the Riebeek Valley on the slopes of the Kasteelberg lies the serene town of Riebeek Kasteel, one of the oldest in South Africa. Situated at 80 km north-east of Cape Town, sun-drenched Riebeek Kasteel is surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and wheat fields.

Quirky and cool, Riebeek Kasteel is something of a sub-culture among winemakers. Young, trend-bucking mavericks and highly skilled established winemakers are producing incredible wines from the Swartland and you’ll find a culture infused with a wild spirit inhabiting this wonderful town. Naturally, artists and artisans flock here.

Food and accommodation are excellent and the local produce, particularly the olives and wine, might keep you here a bit longer than expected. The Wine Kollective sells wine at cellar door prices, “the only wine outlet in Riebeek Kasteel, the Swartland and maybe even the known universe that is solely dedicated to the special wines of the small, the famous and the utterly unknown wineries situated within a two-hour donkey ride from Riebeek Kasteel.”

Hermanus

The best land-based whale watching location on earth and that’s just one aspect of the thriving town of Hermanus. Magnificently positioned between mountains and the ocean and drawing visitors exploring South Africa’s coastline in search of wine, whales, adventure, relaxation and holidays.

The once sleepy fishing village is now a thriving town and it’s easy to see why. A mild climate, terrific nature, the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley wine route, excellent facilities and amenities, pristine beaches and a huge range of accommodation make Hermanus irresistible. From June to December southern right whales punctuate the oceans off the coast of Hermanus, viewed from the excellent Hermanus cliff path that runs the length of the town.

Tulbagh

Nestled in an amphitheatre created by the Winterhoek, Witzenberg and Obiqua Mountains is the rural village of Tulbagh, another excellent base to explore the Cape Winelands.

Sleepy as Tulbagh may seem it has a good undercurrent of activities, particularly on the tasting front, from wine to fruit to chocolate, Tulbagh aims directly at your tastebuds. Then there’s the exploring. Starting with a walking tour all the way up to zip-lining, with hiking, biking and horse trails in-between.

The town suffered an earthquake in 1969, the most destructive in South African history. The renovation project that ensued has reestablished Church Street to its former glory after a massive communitive effort that contributed to the town becoming a tourist destination. The Earthquake Museum offers an insightful account of the 1969 natural disaster and the rebuilding of Tulbagh.

Elgin

Located in the Overberg and known for its fresh produce, Elgin is a quiet, well kept, secret destination. Surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the Elgin Valley, rich with apple and pear farms, the area is well known for its cool-climate wines.

With plenty of good accommodation and the world’s first biodiversity wine route, the Green Mountain Eco Route that encompasses Grabouw, Botrivier, Houw Hoek and Villiersdorp, Elgin is a gentle setting to explore the valley’s fantastic wines and produce. For the energetic there are mountain biking and quad biking trails, there’s fly fishing for more tranquil folk and an amphitheatre at Paul Cluver that regularly hosts high-quality live music.

The Elgin Railway Market is a steampunk station market converted from an old apple warehouse, bustling with local vendors and live music and is a gateway to this beautiful Overberg town.

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South African Wineries Worth Visiting

Mullineux and Leeu Family Wines, Swartland

Granite, Schist and Iron, Chenin Blanc and Syrah. Terroir and the discovery of old vineyards drew Chris and Andrea Mullineux to the Swartland. It was in the Rhone Valley in France, while working a harvest, that the couple found their style, and now, in the Swartland, their home. 

Founded in 2007, they quickly established themselves as some of our top winemakers. 'The Mulls' present a truly dynamic team, Chris focusing on viticulture and Andrea on viniculture. Biodynamics and precision rule on the farm and in the cellar respectively. 

Andrea was crowned International Winemaker of the Year 2016 by Wine Enthusiast, a monumental achievement for both the estate and South African wine in general. 

Springfontein Wine Estate, Stanford

Built on the concept of creating pure varietal wines from a single vineyard with a  simple philosophy, ‘Take what the sun and soil give us, and help it become the best possible reflection of this specific place.’

Springfontein boutique winery is a result of elements and personalities intersecting, and not just in winemaking terms, this synergy extends to an extraordinary restaurant that makes this farm one of the most compelling destinations in the area.

With the help of a cool Atlantic breeze, limestone-rich soil and small block vineyards, Springfontein wines exhibit a unique texture most aptly represented by the flagship single vineyard wines, Jil’s Dune Chenin Blanc and Jonathan’s Ridge Pinotage that are well-structured, balanced and elegant. Seven of Springfontein’s wines were awarded 4 Stars in Platter’s South African Wines 2014. The vineyards are made up of 80% red varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Shiraz, Pinotage and Merlot, and 20% white varietals such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Semillon and Chardonnay.

Springfontein Eats is backed by Michelin-star acumen, in the form of executive chef Jürgen Schneider and local, organic produce that is pulled from the earth only hours before reaching your plate. The 4, 5 or 6-course tasting menus are adventures that have become folklore all ably paired with magnificent wines.

Raka Wines, Stanford Area

On the R326, 17km from Stanford is Raka, named after a fishing boat by the fanatical owner whose elemental appreciation of the elements is echoed in the wines.

Raka produces award-winning wines from its 68 hectares of vineyards with a wide range of plantings to yield sufficient varieties for the different blends the estate offers. Thanks to good coastal terroir, an enthusiastic workforce and a gravity-flow cellar, Raka continues to delight fans with their wines. In particular, their Michelangelo International Wine Competition 1st placed Raka Biography Shiraz (2007) continues to blow minds. Raka boasts 6 4-star wines in Platter’s Guide 2014, while the award-winning Biography Shiraz and the Cabernet Franc each have 4.5 stars.

Cape Point Vineyards, Noordhoek, Cape Town

There aren’t many wine farms that gift you a setting sun over the mighty Atlantic Ocean, framed by vines with mountains as a backdrop. It’s a pretty special setting, most festive on Thursday evenings from November through May for the weekly pop-up market. Locals and visitors flock to enjoy the festive atmosphere in front of the evening sun while indulging in fare from some of the country’s most iconic food vendors. Multiple picnic areas, a deli and a restaurant are available throughout the week.

If you’ve ever wondered how far Sauvignon Blanc can be taken, this is a good place to find out. Cape Point Vineyards focuses on 4 expressions of Sauvignon Blanc aimed at exhibiting the complexity of the grape and the minerality of the soils. It also makes a delicious accompaniment to the setting sun.

Bellevue Winery, Bottelary

Bellevue is one of the best places to sample South Africa’s signature varietal, Pinotage. The first Pinotage plantings made their way to Bellevue in the 1950s and the farm has been producing beautiful expressions of this varietal and other award-winning wines from the modern quality-driven cellar for many years. Their 1953 Pinotage comes from the original block.

The farm has a grand history with the original Cape Dutch homestead built in 1803 and declared a national monument. This is a great farm for relaxing, from facilities to atmosphere it’s all easy going, the restaurant is family-friendly and laid back with plenty of entertainment for kids with jungle gyms and bike tracks. The pizza and wine pairing is interesting thanks to imaginative toppings and great value for money, this value extends to their wines that deliver excellent bang-for-buck.

Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate, Franschhoek

A regal lady of over 300 years, Grande Provence’s character is composed of beautiful nature and fine art, it’s a place where old oak trees and young olive groves hint at the span of history on this piece of land.

The wine estate is synonymous with exquisite wines and fine contemporary art coupled with a friendly, laid-back atmosphere, home-baked goods and fresh, deli-style dishes.

Grande Provence offers a number of intriguing wine pairings, particularly the ‘Angels Tears and Nougat’ tasting sampled from the tractor seat bar stools. In addition to the tastings, Grande Provence offers a variety of unique wine blending experiences where guests receive three varieties to blend their own style of wine. Art lovers should place the estate on their radars as exhibitions in The Gallery rotate regularly. 

Fairview Cheese & Wine Farm, Paarl

This is a multifaceted Cape Winelands experience offering well-priced food, amazing cheese and wine tasting as well as housing a number of micro-businesses and as the name suggests - delightful views out towards Table Mountain from its location on the slopes of the Paarl Mountain.

Fairview aims to create artisanal and sustainable produce in a holistic environment. Their primary focus is directed towards their fine wine and cheese, with a philosophy of being honest, honouring our heritage and ensuring that ingenuity perpetually flows from their soils and cellars and straight into the heart of their relationship with you.

Fairview has an extensive, award-winning range of wines catering for a wide range of preferences and budgets. And then there are the goats, the curious mascots of Fairview who have their own tower, that’s alone is worth a visit. It’s easy to be charmed by this wonderful farm.

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Hottest Winemakers and Coolest Wineries 

Sadie Family Wines, Swartland

There is no single 'Sadie Estate Farm' in the Swartland. Eben Sadie, with the help of Rosa Kruger, has been seeking out and now maintains a vast portfolio of old vine blocks throughout the Swartland and beyond and is planting new vineyards, with climate and substrate leading the varietal selection.

Eben has moved into the viticulture side, leaving the cellar in the hands of Paul Jordaan, as of the last vintage. The brief remains the same: wine, honest to its soil and fruit, unadulterated in the cellar by additives or yeast inoculation. Wines not made to a style, but made to honour the terroir. Winemaking heralded a return to traditional methods, wines made for maturation as opposed to immediate consumption. That being said, every vintage thus far has been sumptuous. 

The wines are led by the Blends 'Columella' red and 'Palladius' white, but it's the 'Ouwingerd Reeks' (Old vine series) that hold the intrigue, each a singular bottling of specific sites. Mostly single variety, but some are field blends. 

AA Badenhorst Family Wines, Swartland

Adi Badenhorst holds the handle ‘@wynbefok’ on Instagram, which sums up the man. His farm, Kalmoesfontein, in the Sibrietskloof part of the Paardeberg in the Swartland, owned in partnership with his cousin Hein, was chosen for its genuinely old vines (planted in the 1950s and 60s) where they grow on diverse aspects and feature varied granitic soils. 

The 'revolution' mission statement is adhered to in Adi's cellar, making wines to illustrate their environment. Both white and red grapes are whole-bunch handled and naturally fermented in cement tanks, old oak barrels and 1000l foudres to give purity of expression. It's Grenache who flies the flag for the family Badenhorst. They have the country's oldest on the farm, from which they make the 'Raaigras' Grenache, arguably South Africa’s best version of this great variety. 

The opposite of Sadie, in the manner of making estate wine, they are aligned in the endeavour to make wine that tells a story of the place. 

Niels Verburg, Luddite, Botriver

This is a must for wine junkies, thanks to the excellent wines and entertaining wine-tasting experience by well-travelled winemaker Niels Verburg.

Niels and his wife Penny farm on the slopes of the Houw Hoek Mountains just outside the little town of Botriver making this farm a little off the beaten track, but still easily accessible. Niels makes wine with little intervention and as naturally as possible, not looking to hi-tech or cutting-edge techniques to create his wines, “When you go into a winery and see the centrifuges and reverse osmosis, it’s like going into the kitchen of a top restaurant and seeing a microwave, you think “Hey, that’s not right!”’

Because the vines aren’t irrigated, Luddite’s harvest is smaller and more concentrated.

The Luddite Shiraz leads the charge here, the first vintage in 2000 is described as ‘Niels Verburg contained in a glass; Niels is six foot four and his smile is the embodiment of a warm embrace.’

The dry-land approach means that each vintage is an acute expression of that year. A Saboteur red blend followed in 2009 – this is a Shiraz-driven blend with a Rhone slant and unashamedly new world. More recently the couple has planted and produced small-batch vintages of Chenin that readily sell out. The white blend, Saboteur, completed the quartet in 2015, made from grapes sourced from Botrivier and the neighbouring wine regions, making it a wine of origin from Cape South Coast.

Porseleinberg, Swartland

Callie Louw farms the Porseleinberg and Goldmine Syrah vineyards for Boekenhoutskloof, in the Swartland. For his troubles, he gets to take a portion of the Porseleinberg for his own wine. The terroir is extreme, schistous and unforgiving to farm. Callie loves it. His sense of humour is as dry as his farmland. Famously self-deprecating, but venomous when offered the chance to ridicule others. 

Hand-embossed and hand-labeled by Callie himself, the wine is made in small batches and is heralded as South Africa’s finest Syrah by many and by some, one of the best in the world. Once again made honest to its terroir and intervention in the cellar is minimal. 

Silwervis, Swartland

Ryan Mostert may be the most obsessive wine geek in the South African wine industry. He is engaging and supremely knowledgeable, with the required dose of humble to make him a one-man rabbit hole of wine discourse.

The 'Smiley' range is becoming a bit of a South African classic. On the interesting 'wine geek' side of things, the wines are NV (non-vintage), a Chenin and a red blend (Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Tinta Barocca and Syrah) both are a blend of vintages and fermentations.

These wines offer great value and make for superb drinking. They extend through their Silvervis Cinsault and Chenin, featuring great artwork on the label by Conrad Botes, into the premium Terracura Syrah and Chenin. 

Testalonga, Swartland 

'Made from Grapes' is the copy on the cap of every bottle of Testalonga wine.

Some of the original Swartland mavericks, the team of Craig and Carla Hawkins present site-specific, terroir-bound wines, unapologetically fresh, funky and low alcohol.

Their wines are all single block bottlings, organically farmed, naturally fermented, often with extended skin contact, putting them at the front of the 'Natural Wine' movement in SA. 

Lukas van Loggerenberg, Stellenbosch

Lukas tells a great story of being in the Loire Valley in France and tasting the Cabernet Franc, or Breton as it's known in those parts, at Domaine De La Chevalerie. The wine had such a profound effect on him he decided then and there that he was quitting his employment as a winemaker and striking out alone.

His Cinsault, 'Geronimo' echoes the move. Light yet serious, fresh yet structured and long in the palate. Serve chilled for maximum enjoyment.

But it's the Cabernet Franc where he made his name. 'Breton' to mark the moment - restrained and poised, classic in style. He makes 2 premium Chenin Blanc bottlings, one single block, 'Kameraderie' and a blend of terroirs, 'Trust your Gut'. There's a Cinsault/Syrah blend, 'Graft', but it's his lowliest wine. 'Break a Leg' Blanc de Noir (Rosé, for all intents and purposes) that has reached so many, it’s 100% Cinsault and one of South Africa’s top expressions.  

Tremayne Smith, Stellenbosch 

The winemaker at Fable Vineyards, where he makes some fantastic wine, and erstwhile assistant to Andrea Mullineux, Tremayne also has his own label, Blacksmith.

Hailing from the Eastern Cape, Tremayne started his education with an eye toward becoming a chef, but caught the wine bug and graduated from Elsenberg. 

Sourcing grapes from anywhere that catches his eye, Tremayne makes some of the most textured and interesting wines in South Africa. Durif, Colombard, unfashionable Sauvignon Blanc, even, the Blacksmith sees no boundaries in making fresh and fine wines. 

Sijnn Winery, Malgas

The arid wonder that is Sijnn sits at the end of a dusty road near Malgas on the banks of the Breede River about 3 hours drive from Cape Town. Sijnn, pronounced, ‘Seine’, is the original Khoisan name for the Breede River is a beautiful, pioneering estate in the middle of nowhere.

It’s remote on hardscrabble land with infertile soils and low rainfall, seemingly unsuitable for vineyards and that’s what makes it so remarkable. The aim here is high quality, elegant wines and they’ve hit the bullseye. Winemakers David Trafford and more recently Charla Haasbroek Bosman consistently produce some of South Africa’s most distinct, compelling and long-ageing modern style red wines.

Sijnn’s tasting room is open on Saturday’s where you can lap up the incredible views of the Breede River while you sample the brilliant wines paired with an excellent platter of locally sourced ingredients. Time seems irrelevant here, just amazing wine and great views.

An interesting way to approach Sijnn is via the last hand-pulled 'pont' (ferry) in South Africa at Malgas. For this route, you would push on to Buffeljags’ Oude Post Bistro and head south to the Malgas Pont-Ferry.

Savage Wines, Cape Town 

Working from The Saltcellar in Saltriver, Cape Town, Duncan Savage’s ever-increasing range is the darling du jour of the Cape wine scene.

Savage White and Red lead the pack, but it's the yearly travel of 70000 km to the far-flung vineyards he uses that capture the imagination. Beautifully labelled and storied, such as 'Follow the Line,' a Cinsault which got its name from the direction given to him by the farmer to find the vineyard, 'When you get to [the intersection], you see the telephone pole. Just follow the line and you'll get to the farm,' he said. 

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Best Organic Wineries in the Cape

Reyneke Wines, Stellenbosch

'We've made great progress. We're nearly back where we started', is the first thing you see when visiting the Reyneke Wines website. 

Johan Reyneke is seen as the leading light of the movement towards organic and biodynamic wine in South Africa. His tastings are renowned for veering off the wine and into the farming, often needing to be steered back toward the wine. 

The overarching point, when faced with the relevance of organics, is the importance of the carbon content of the soil, which preserves our scarce water supply. One might even get the impression the wines are an afterthought with Johan, but the scarily good quality speaks another story with their 'Biodynamic Syrah' demonstrating possibly the best value red wine available. 

Stellar Winery, Vredendal

Built on innovative winemaking, eco-friendly farming and fair trade, Stellar Winery is South Africa’s largest producer of organic, vegan-friendly wines.

The Stellar Winery Multi-Estate is made up of 14 independent farms that supply the winery with organic, fair-trade grapes. The farms are situated in the Lower Olifants River Valley, from Trawal in the South to Koekenaap, close to the mouth of the Olifants River on the Atlantic Coast. The diversity of these independent farms is reflected in the wines coming out of the cellar, from the rich reds of the Nama Karoo to the cool coastal crisp white wines, infused with the Namaqualand where carpets of flowers bake under sunny skies and cool nights glitter with stellar skies.

The cellar is the first organic producer in the country to achieve FLO Fairtrade certification and the first in Africa to produce "commercially viable no-sulfur-added wines." Stellar Organics is the No.1 organic wine brand in the UK and an Ethical Consumer Best Buy. They also produce no-added-sulfur wines and are the largest global producers in this niche category.

Best Wine Bars in the Cape

Publik, Cape Town

For wine fanatics that like interesting wines from sustainably farmed vineyards made with minimal intervention in the cellar, Publik will make you swoon. Their criteria is, ‘wines that let you taste the land.’

Publik serves a range of charcuterie and cheeses from some of the best local artisan producers, along with some international products to pair with the wines.

• Publik is open Monday – Friday: 16h00 – 23h00 and Saturday: 12h00 – 18h00
• 11D Kloofnek Road, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town

Montegray & Independents, Stellenbosch

Recent Stellenbosch addition, Montegray & Independents, offer a selection of wines from Montegray Vineyards as well as other small independent producers that are sourced according to a motif on a bi-monthly basis.

The bar theme is decadent relaxation that translates as welcoming, featuring weekly specials and a daily happy hour.

Simple wine-friendly plates are available that include cured ceviche, seasonal spring rolls, prawn tempura and homemade bellinis.

• Montegray & Independents is open Monday – Saturday: 11h30 – 21h00
• 6 Bird St, Stellenbosch Central, Stellenbosch
• *Happy Hours Monday to Saturday 4pm-6pm

Openwine, Cape Town

Run by an Italian/French husband/wife team, Openwine is a city centre enoteca only serving South African wine, in an Italian and French style.

Split into 3 sections, the Kitchen is a bar counter experience, the Lounge a more relaxed setting to while away the evening and the magnificent Cellar is wallpapered by wine.

Owners Raphael Paterniti and Marta Gobbo have an intricate wine selection policy, that is they endeavour to not only taste the wine and visit the winery of the wines they stock, but also meet the winemaker. Story and relationships are relevant to Openwine and it shows in the meticulous detail poured lovingly into Openwine.

There is a wine-lovers menu comprising of four dishes, each paired with a suggested wine: one for the bubbly-lover, the white-fanatic, a light red wine drinker as well as for the full-bodied red devotee. There’s an interesting slant on corkage at Openwine where you pay a charge on food brought in, provided it isn’t fast food, which has no place here.

• Openwine is open Monday - Friday: 12h00 – 20h00 | Times may adapt with events and seasons
• 72 Wale Street, Cape Town

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Best Wine Shops in South Africa

Caroline’s Fine Wine Cellar (Central Cape Town)

This specialist wine retailer is owned and managed by the vastly knowledgeable Caroline Rillema who has 38 years of industry experience and has run Caroline’s Fine Wine Cellar for over 20 years. With two locations, in central Cape Town and Tokai, Caroline’s broad range of local and imported wines continuously bring exciting finds for wine lovers as well as hosting tastings and wine courses.

• 62 Strand St, Cape Town City Centre
• Forest Glade House, Tokai Rd, Tokai, Cape Town

La Cotte Inn (Franschhoek)

Representing 35 Franschhoek wineries, at cellar door prices, and a wide range of wineries outside the Franschhoek area, La Cotte offers worldwide delivery on their wines. They also stock imported French cheese to pair with your wine.

• c/o Main Road & Louis Botha Street, Franschhoek

The Wine Village (Hermanus)

Opening in 1998, The Wine Village is a wine destination conveniently located at the entrance to the Hemel-en-Aarde Wine Route at the foot of the Raed-na-Gael Mountains and boasts one of the largest collections of South African wines under one roof (over 3000 South African wine labels from nearly 800 producers) hand selected by an enthusiastic and charismatic staff and they offer international wine delivery.

• R320, Onrus River, Hermanus, 7200

Vaughan Johnson (V&A Waterfront Cape Town)

With more than thirty years in the South African wine industry as an accountant, winemaker, journalist and retailer, Vaughan Johnson is a learned resource for wine purchase and international shipping. His first wine shop, in Johannesburg, opened in 1985. His current retail shop in the V&A Waterfront, where he services heads of state, royalty and well-known celebrities, opened in 1992

• Dock Road, The Waterfront, Cape Town

Norman Goodfellows (countrywide)

A stalwart amongst wine shops, Norman Goodfellows is a nationwide retailer with almost 40 years presence in South Africa. With an emphasis on customer experience and attention to detail, the shopping experience is geared to personal interaction from knowledgable staff.

Norman Goodfellows Stores:

• Illovo, Johannesburg - 192 Oxford Road, Cnr Chaplin Road, Illovo, Johannesburg
• Melrose, Johannesburg - Melrose Arch Shopping Centre
• Kyalami, Johannesburg - Shop 2&2A, Kyalami Corner Shopping centre, Kyalami ext 3
• 3 Anchor Bay, Cape Town - Bay Point Centre, Cnr Beach Road & Stanley Place, Three Anchor Bay
• Gardens, Cape Town - Gardens Shopping Centre, Mill Street
• Granada, Durban - 16 Chartwell Dr & Ocean Way, Umhlanga Rocks, Umhlanga

Wine Menu (Johannesburg)

Owner, Corlien, is a regular guest lecturer on all wine matters at The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and The Private Hotel School.

• 3 Desmond Street, Kramerville, Sandton

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Best South African Wine Guides

Books

Platters Wine Guide - Everything you want to know about South African wine, brought to you by the country's most recognised wine adviser.

The Essential Guide to South African Wines – A must-have Guide to South African Wines addressing the important aspect of terroir and wine-tourism.

Best Wine Apps for South Africa

Vivino - over 30 million users, this is the largest wine community with wine ratings and it’s free to download. A simple scan of a label provides the price, average rating, information about the wine and reviews.

Wine23 - tasting notes, accolades, ratings and reviews for thousands of South African wines and user vs industry ratings.

Platters Wine Guide – The app version of the South African wine bible with easy access to tasting notes, trusted ratings and producer notes on over 7 000 South African wines.

Best Wine Farm Stalls & Restaurants

Babylonstoren, Paarl

Situated between Franschhoek and Paarl, Babylonstoren is a luxury destination. Home to excellent estate wine, luxury accommodation, 2 restaurants, a bakery, a tea ceremony and The Garden of Diversity that forms the centre of Babylonstoren’s appeal with over 3km of pathways meandering through the 3.5 hectare Eden.

Babel at Babylonstoren

Laidback and sophisticated, Babel is housed in the original homestead’s cowshed, this farm-to-fork treat is herbivore heaven. That’s not to say carnivores aren’t catered for, the meat fare is excellent, it’s just that the fresh produce, grown metres from the kitchen with a principal of ‘pick, clean, serve,’ is utterly spectacular.

• Babylonstoren, Klapmuts Simondium Road, Simondium
• Breakfast: Open daily, 8h00–9h30
• Lunch: Open Wednesday - Sunday, 12h00–15h30
• Dinner: Open daily from 19h00
• * Reservations recommended

The Greenhouse at Babylonstoren

A simple, no-fuss refreshment station under the trees at the rear of Babylonstoren’s garden serving picnic-style foods in the form of home-baked treats, wood-fired breads, fresh garden salads, cold meats, teas, coffees and fresh juices. On rainy or cold days the custom French-built greenhouse is a beautiful environment.

• Babylonstoren, Klapmuts Simondium Road, Simondium
• The Greenhouse is open Monday - Sunday from 10h00 - 16h00

La Boheme, Sea Point

Over 60 wines by the glass from an impressive wine list, La Boheme is something of an institution on the Atlantic Seaboard. Elegant inside with a rustic atmosphere in the outside seating area, this modern bistro has an imaginative menu that changes weekly according to what’s freshly available.  Mediterranean tapas dishes are available and vegetarians are catered for, albeit sparingly.

This is a casual and tasteful meeting place with a wine menu that suggests a taxi ride home.

• La Boheme is open Monday - Saturday: 12h30 – 22h30
• 341 Main Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
• *Reservations recommended

Bouchon Bistro, Central Cape Town

The restaurant is a collaboration between Christophe Durand, owner of Dorrance Cellar, and Faisal Khakoo of La Boheme in Sea Point.

The wine list is notable with a ‘Travel Through Your Glass’ section transporting you across the national and international world of wine, one glass at a time.

• Bouchon Bistro is open Monday - Saturday: 18h00 – 23h00
• 95 Hout St, Cape Town

Belthazar Restaurant & Wine Bar, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Belthazar has anointed itself as the biggest wine by the glass bar in the world, serving over 250 wines by the glass with 600 different wines in stock. Situated in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront this is a modern décor restaurant with excellent views of Table Bay and the buzzing ambience of the waterfront.

The steakhouse has excellent repute amongst locals and visitors and they only stock grain-fed Karan beef sourced from Gauteng and while this is a meat-forward restaurant, vegetarians are catered for too.

It’s referred to as a fantasy by some of its patrons, while claims of the best steak in the world are not uncommon.

• Belthazar Restaurant & Wine Bar is open daily: 12h00 – 23h00
• Shop 153, Victoria Wharf,  V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
• *Booking advised

Peregrine Farm Stall, Grabouw

Home to legendary pies, Peregrine is, for many travellers, a mandatory stop into or out of the Overberg.

The farm stall’s excellent reputation is over 50 years in the making, propped up by a casual restaurant with a seasonal menu composed of fresh local produce and ready-to-eat meals for those on the go; an excellent shop housing locally sourced artisanal goods, responsibly farmed, fresh produce and cold-press juices; a bakery; barista coffee and a great little regional wine shop. More recently the addition of a park area with shipping-container pop-up style shops next to the kids' play area, so there’s no need to hurry this driving break.

Peregrine has a tradition of homemade quality, as notable as the delicious bakery aromas that greet visitors on arrival. From the fresh breads and glorious produce to the deli foods, preserves and quiches, tarts and cakes that inhabit the entrance tables, this is a necessary, and possibly waist-expanding, pit-stop. Don’t miss the freshly squeezed apple juice.

• N2 & R321, Grabouw
• Peregrine Farm Stall is open everyday 07h30-18h30

Houw Hoek Farm Stall, Grabouw

Peregrine’s chief competition in the Best Farm Stall Pie rankings and while this competition is subjective, Houw Hoek’s history is much deeper, the Houw Hoek Inn that sits opposite the farm Stall traces back to 1834.

Fresh fruit and veggies are supplied by the local farmers and all manner of baked delights cloud the air. If you can manage past the bakery’s intoxication you’ll find a deli, a wine boutique selling Elgin Valley and Cape wines and a restaurant.

Set in scenic mountains there’s always time to put your feet up and welcome the view as you pick your way through the many, many treats sold and served at Houw Hoek. There’s a kids play area and the nearby trout fishing practically make this a destination in itself.

• N2 National Rd, Elgin, Grabouw
• Houw Hoek Farm Stall is open everyday 07h30-17h30

Mooiberge, Stellenbosch

Scarecrows, strawberries and wine mark Mooiberg’s presence on the farm stall map. The former are friendly and brightly coloured, the latter in abundance and the strawberries, which can be picked yourself, are an enjoyable summer activity.

The style here is French colonial meets rustic countryside comfort amidst wonderful views. The restaurant has, as you would expect, precedence for strawberries that cleverly make their way into the menu. Friendly staff, good food, a pleasant ambience and a temperature-controlled underground cellar of wine, carrying vintages as far back as the 70s, make this farm stall a favourite for travellers in the Stellenbosch area.

• R44, Stellenbosch
• Mooiberg is open everyday 08h00-18h00

Stellenbosch Slow Market, Stellenbosch

Every Saturday at the historic Oude Libertas estate in Stellenbosch, rain or shine, the Stellenbosch Slow Market exhibits over 100 local farmers, grocers, artisan bakers, organic merchants, fine food purveyors, butchers, artisan crafts, local fashion, craft beers and estate wines.

This is a revival of the public marketplace and has just about everything that is produced locally in Stellenbosch, accompanied by musicians and if it rains the whole market is covered in Bedouin tents.

• Oude Libertas, Oude Libertas rd, Stellenbosch
• The Stellenbosch Slow Market is open on Saturdays 09h00-14h00

Rambling Rose, Montagu

Situated on the scenic Route 62, the Rambling Rose is a straightforward old-fashioned farm stall that does everything well. Homemade jams, biscuits, preserves, rusks and chocolate backed by a bakery with artisanal breads on the weekends. The restaurant has some unexpected favourites like Mozambique-style prawns as well as burgers and the traditional pie that seems to be the culinary benchmark among South African farm stalls. Ingredients are all fresh and of local origin and this dictates the menu.

Rambling Rose has invested heavily in coffee with 5 baristas on site to brew your favourite style of coffee that pairs well with the freshly made croissants, cakes, muffins and breakfast that is served till 4pm. Fires in the winter, a curio shop and a wishing well keep everyone cosy and entertained throughout the year.

• 36 Long St, Montagu
• The Rambling Rose is open Wednesday to Monday 08h00-17h00

Dassiesfontien, between Caledon and Botriver

The treasured Dassiesfontein is often preceded by the advice, “Don’t stop here if you’re in a hurry,” such is the curious array of eclectic goods collected in this favourite of farm stalls.

Dassiesfontein started as 2 caravans selling homemade goods on the side of the road. In 1995 the farm stall was built, adding a restaurant a year later. This is a literal treasure chest, except much, much bigger. You’ll find most of what you can imagine here and a fair deal of what you can’t. Rooms spill into each other and have items ranging from wine and clothing to enamelware, cast-iron stoves and local products.

The fully licensed restaurant is as real as farm-style South African cuisine gets with proper ‘boerekos’ (farmers' food). Recently a dairy has opened and the cheese comes from a delicate blend of the rich fullness of Jersey milk and the low-fat quality of Holstein.

• N2 between Botrivier &, Caledon
• Dassiesfontein is open every day from 08h30-17h30

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Best Winelands Activities 

Visit the Rasta House, Mbekweni

Mbekweni is best experienced with a local guide and this unexpected gem located off the beaten track is worth seeing.

Birds of Prey at Eagle Encounters, Spier, Stellenbosch

Eagle Encounters is a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, education and eco-tourism centre based at Spier Wine Farm. Focusing on birds of prey the centre receives birds that have been injured, poisoned or illegally removed from their nests to rehabilitate and release as healthy, hunting raptors into the wild.

You’ll encounter a variety of eagles, hawks, falcons, kites, buzzards, vultures, owls as well as some other feathered friends putting on interactive displays including falconry demonstrations, secretary bird stomp displays, and mock hunts.

This is an incredible close-up experience, particularly for kids.

Butterfly World, Paarl

Is an exotic animal sanctuary just outside Paarl on Route 44 featuring butterflies, birds and reptiles that cannot return to their natural habitats for various reasons. Here you’ll find pythons, bearded dragon lizards, hedgehogs and tarantulas as well as a riot of butterflies.

Set in lush tropical gardens, Butterfly World is a land of fascination for kids.

Cheetah Outreach Programme, Somerset West

This cheetah conservation programme is in response to the wildcat’s shrinking environment which has seen a drastic reduction in cheetah numbers. Personal encounters with hand-reared ambassador cheetahs aim to educate visitors on conservation ethics and appreciation for these wild cats. The special cheetah experiences allow visitors to spend 30 minutes in a large enclosure with the cat allowing them to observe the cat in a more natural environment than the encounters allow.

In addition to cheetah encounters, visitors can book for bat-eared fox, meerkat and caracal encounters.

Balloon Over the Vineyards, Paarl

One of the most peaceful ways to experience the Cape Winelands. Hot-air ballooning allows an almost silent experience suspended above some of the most beautiful aspects of the Western Cape - hanging above the brilliant shades of the Winelands with views to Table Mountain and, on a clear day, all the way to Cape Point.

Flights take place early where the morning light makes for exquisite photography.

Breede River Wine Cruise

Viljoensdrift offers river cruises along the Breede River from their flat-bottomed riverboat. Assemble your picnic basket from their deli and wine shop for the hour-long cruise meandering along the Breede River, flanked by yellowwood trees and wild olives and teaming with birdlife. This is a cruise to put your feet up, sip on some wine and soak up the atmosphere.

Winelands Horse Trails

Experiencing the Winelands on horseback is the stuff of fairy tales. Ride through vineyards, taste wine and see the land from an elevated pitch far from the madding crowd.

Multiple routes are available and stretch from Plettenberg Bay, through the Winelands and all the way to Noordhoek. These can be shorter rides, catering for beginners, or longer excursions and multi-day trips for experienced riders.

Wine Tasting by Bicycle

Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, in particular, are excellent bike hubs for arranging tours exploring the Winelands and wine farms. There are multiple cycling tours available from short half-day excursions and vineyard meanders to full-day tours and high-end adventures.

Depending on what you select these tours typically take in several wine farms where cyclists are introduced to the farm’s wines and produce through cellar tours, wine tasting and food pairings and a lunch stop all neatly woven together through excellent cycle routes that take in views, vineyards and landmarks.

E-bikes are available making this an inclusive excursion for all age groups and given the delicious fare, battery-powered travel might be a wise choice.

Mountain Biking in the Winelands

Stellenbosch

As Stellenbosch is widely considered the mountain biking capital of South Africa it’s little surprise that it offers innumerable routes, tracks and options when it comes to exploring the Winelands. It’s also arguably the finest activity pairing available, a day of pristine mountain bike routes followed by excellent cuisine matched with superb wine.

The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup was held in Stellenbosch in 2018 and the track is available for the intrepid mountain biker. Some of the renowned Stellenbosch mountain bike routes include G-spot MTB Trail, the Jonkershoek Trails, the Eden / Paradyskloof MTB Route and the Bottelary Hills MTB Trail and various gradings allow beginners and experts to hit the trails.

Whatever your requirements, numerous local operators, bike shops and mechanics support this mountain biking mecca.

Franschhoek

From beginner to expert, the Franschhoek Valley accommodates racing snakes and novices alike. For the more experienced the Matoppie MTB Route is a local favourite, short and sharp, while the undulating Robertsvlei Loop is an excellent track for beginners. Riders looking for a climb can find it as they make their way up Franschhoek Pass. The views are worth the exertion, as is the descent.

Paarl

Similarly, Paarl is well suited to all riders, offering rides as manageable as 4km up to 35km routes that include the ancient granite rocks of Paarl and keep your adrenaline peaked.

Hero Adventure Rhebokskloof is located on the slopes of Paarl Mountain and has an extensive network of trails for all abilities.

Hero Adventure Spice Route located on the Southern slopes of Paarl Mountain, Spice Route and Fairview has over 50km of trails that include technical sections, flowing trails and forest areas.

Durbanville Hills Another mountain biking hub, Durbanville is home to the largest mountain biking club in the country, that level of commitment should give you an indication of the enthusiasm this area generates for two-wheeled off-road fun.

Day passes give you access to the 120km of trails that are in the process of opening across multiple wine farms at very affordable prices. The track options cater for rookies and experts. Meeredal has featured as a Cape Epic prologue and Bloemendal, Hillcrest and Hoogekraal are all notable routes to explore in this area.

Cape Cross Cycle Route

For a full spectrum experience, the Cape Cross Cycle Route is a multistage backroad cycle tour from Plettenberg Bay to Stellenbosch, or vice-versa, covering the route of the original Cape Epic, minus the technical aspects so it caters to all levels of cycling. The route can be done in parts, or as an A to B over 7-8 days with overnight stops in small towns, villages or wine farms en route.

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South African Wine Festivals & Events

Bot River - Barrels and Beards

Botrivier (13 April 2019)

Each year the eclectic Botrivier Winemakers challenge each other to grow the most luxuriant beard during harvest to enter the annual Beard Parade. This is an opportunity for the public to meet the winemakers, taste new vintages and party!

Calitzdorp Winter Festival

Calitzdorp (15-17 June 2019)

Celebrating South Africa’s fortified wine capital, the Klein Karoo town brings out its best wines and ‘ports’ for this annual festival. The Klein Karoo winters promise bright blue days and cosy evenings around the fire where the local tipple goes down a treat.

*2019 Programme not yet available.

Cape Town – Tuning The Vine Inner City Wine Route

(March, April, May 2019)

This midweek wine tasting takes wine enthusiasts and trendsetters through the streets of Cape Town to participating venues where winemakers host wine tastings, this is a great way to sample the winelands from the buzzing streets of Cape Town. Tuning the Vine takes place every Wednesday following the first Thursday events.

Cape Town - Stellenbosch Wine Festival

V&A Waterfront (6-7 April 2019)

Music, food and wine from Stellenbosch are experienced at the water's edge in the V&A. Two days, where wine lovers can enjoy a large selection of wines from the Stellenbosch region.

Cape Town - Noordhoek Crush Wine Festival

Noordhoek Farm Village (13 April 2019)

Noordhoek’s famous farm village hosts this family-friendly event. All the tried and trusted food stalls are open as well as some event-specific pop-up stalls and over 100 wines from 22 wine farms available for tasting. R150 gets you unlimited tasting, so best to designate a driver or book a taxi. Most wines are at cellar door prices too, which is nice.

Book tickets here.

Cape Town – Noble Vice

Neighbourgoods Market, Woodstock (TBD September 2019)

Iconic chefs and hand-picked winemakers come together to create an opulent experience. Live and demonstrative, engaging and interactive, the day represents a liberated exploration into the noble vices of food and wine.

Cape Town – Constantia Fresh

Buitenverwachting, Constantia (February 2020)

With over 45 wine labels and some of the country's top chefs exhibiting their craft, the now decade-old Constantia Fresh is one of South Africa’s most prestigious wine festivals. Freshness is the title aspect here and is pivotal in the preparation of the food, everything is created fresh, from fresh ingredients and paired with local wines.

Elgin Cool Wine and Country Food

Elgin Valley (27-28 April 2019)

This is a wine route festival at the end of the annual harvest with each of the 13 wineries putting on unique wine tasting,  wine pairings, food offerings and entertainment.

Join in the festivities as the farms celebrate their extraordinarily busy harvest seasons and dive into their creative wine-centric experiences.

Franschhoek Bastille Festival

Franschhoek (13-14 July 2019)

This week-long event is an exclamation mark in the South African festival calendar. Every year throngs of Francophiles flock to Franschhoek in its red, white and blue glory to celebrate France’s national day and the town’s French heritage. The Food & Wine Marquee, set against the Huguenot Monument and crowded with beret-wearing, french loave toating revellers, is the hive of activity, but the celebrations extended through the entire valley where live music colours the air.

Franschhoek Cap Classique & Champagne Festival

Franschhoek (30 November-1 December 2019)

Sit back, relax, sample the wide range of local MCC’s select French Champagne on offer and let the bubbles work their magic.  This is a glamorous affair that is enthusiastically embraced by fans of Champagne-styled drinks. Don something elegant and stylish and head in the French-flavoured valley for a delicious weekend.

Hemel-En-Aarde Pinot Noir Celebration

Nidderdale Farm, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge  (24-25 January 2020)

The Hemel-En-Aarde Valley specialises in Pinot Noir. Each year 2 days are dedicated to revealing the subtle differences of each appellation in a stunning display of Pinot Noir. Talks from experts and local farmers and lunch pairings from the country’s leading chefs make this irrefutable for Pinot Noir lovers.

Hermanus FynArts Festival

Hermanus (7-17 June 2019)

Ten days of exhibitions, shows, recitals, workshops and demonstrations in the dreamy seaside village of Hermanus and if this isn’t entertaining enough the festival offers dozens of food and wine experiences, tastings and tours. All this slap-bang in the middle of the whale-watching season.

Johannesburg RMB Wine X

Sandton Convention Centre (30 Oct – 1 November 2019) This is Joburg’s premier wine show, attended by 10,000 wine lovers tasting wines from 150 exhibitors from big brand names to boutique wineries and wine routes, as well as all the wine paraphernalia you can throw a stemless glass at. This is a great place to buy wine.

Paarl Harvest Celebration

Paarl (March 2020)

Celebrate the harvest with the Paarl wine farmers! Every year 9 Paarl wineries open their doors for the Harvest Feast, a festive event that gets visitors up close and personal with the farms, the farmers and their harvest. Activities include grape stomping, barrel tastings, guided cellar and vineyard tours. Food and wine is in abundance and live music keeps things flowing.

Pinotage On Tap - Roadshow

KZN (27 July) Gauteng (24 August) Wellington (28 September )Clarens (02 November) 2019

Initially designed as a new vintage celebration for Coffee Chocolate Pinotage, the runaway success of the festival has grown into a roadshow held in 4 key locations: KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng, Wellington and Clarens.

The idea is that phenomenal wine, being Pinotage, is poured abundantly from the barrel taps. This with delicious food and big-band entertainment resulted in POT receiving the title, “Best Wine Event in the World,” by Drinks International in 2014.

Robertson Wacky Wine

Robertson Valley (7-9 June 2019)

Aptly named, this festival is a fun-first approach to wine along the scenic Route 62. The estates of the Robertson Valley, comprising of the towns Ashton, Bonnievale, McGregor and Robertson, fling open their doors and put on full throttle festive fun for 3 days in June. Into its teen years, the festival is joyfully attended by a large number of visitors, looking to celebrate wine, socialise, dance, eat and party.

Robertson Wine on the River

Goudmyn Farm, Robertson Valley (11-13 October 2019)

Celebrate spring on the banks of the Breede River. Unwind and relax to good music, food and wine from over 30 wineries. Wine tours are available from several wine trucks, wine tuition is on tap and, naturally, boat cruises attract plenty of custom.

Stellenbosch – Street Soirees

Drosty Street (November 2019 - March 2020)

Presented by the Stellenbosch Wine Routes these traffic-stopping events are held several times each month on #WineWednesdays, between November and March, in Stellenbosch. Each soiree sees different winemakers exhibit their wines for tasting in exchange for wine tokens available on the day. This is a street party so naturally, there is amazing food and local entertainment to keep the wine company.

Stellenbosch For the Love of Craft

The Woodmill Lifestyle Centre (October 2019)

Celebrating the meticulous and praising hand-crafted products, objects and services, this festival has its roots in authentic expressions of skill in the form of food and drink. Treat your taste buds as artisanal mavericks challenge conventional pairings across beer, gin and 20 expertly selected wines.

Soweto Wine & Lifestyle Festival

Walter Sisulu Square, Soweto (September 2019)

Showcasing 10 of the best Soweto eating places and restaurants, paired with good wines from the Cape. This is a distinctly African experience, celebrating some of the products and produce that reflect this diverse land and people in one of the most vibrant neighbourhoods in South Africa.

Riebeek Valley Olive Festival

Riebeek Kasteel  (4-5 May 2019)

This is South Africa’s oldest olive festival and it is set in arguably the most exciting wine region in the country. Started in 2000 this festival pulls a good crowd happy to respond to any call to visit the Swartland and its humming mecca of brilliant winemakers, excellent restaurants, craft brewers, and hospitable locals. Eight venues participate in the festival and between them, they’ve done everything imaginable to olives.

Swartland Heritage Festival

Paternoster Fish Market (November 2019)

A festival where classic greatness meets the avant-garde. These are the wines of the Swartland, home to many of the country’s top winemakers. In 2018 the festival relocated from the Swartland’s heart, Riebeek Kasteel, to set up shop in the seaside town of Paternoster. Although there were food issues reported in 2018, the wine and discourse is unmistakably interesting.

Tulbagh Christmas in Winter

Tulbagh (22 -23 June 2019)

Traditional Christmas dinners, streetlights and all things festive adorn the town of Tulbagh for this whimsical festival. Craft-market stalls, food stands, lots of wine and even Christmas dinner turn the middle of the year into a festive season with a wonderful South African touch.

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How to Ship Wine Home from South Africa

Most wineries and wine shops offer international shipping, though costs can be high for the safe transport of the precious stuff and of course there are import duties to consider too. There are a couple of options here that’ll keep you within arms reach of your favourite South African wines once you’re back home.

Enquire about local distributors in your home country/town – this may often work out cheaper than buying in SA and shipping wine home.

Use a wine agent in South Africa to assemble mixed cases for you so that you can take a good variety of wines home and not have to shop and ship by the case. The following reputable wine agents offer this service:

• Vino Pronto
• Concierge Wines
• Caroline’s Fine Wine Cellar
• Wine Village

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