The Cape Winelands, renowned as the centre of South African wine production, is situated only a short drive outside Cape Town, and is an area celebrated for its rich beauty and heritage. Here, one finds lush wine farms producing world-class wine, as well as some of the country’s top culinary venues. You can view our Restaurant Guide page for more information about these restaurants.

The area’s wide variety of wine farms makes it a blissful place to spend a few days, or to celebrate a special occasion. Thus, you’ll find plenty of Cape Winelands hotels, and other top Cape Winelands accommodation venues, when you journey to this picturesque region. Once you’ve checked into your Cape Winelands accommodation, you’ll no doubt want to take advantage of the gastronomic options at your fingertips! So what’s the best way to spend a day in the Cape Winelands?

Cape Winelands: A recipe for a perfect day in the vineyards

A wonderful way to spend a day in the Winelands is to visit two or three wine farms in the morning, sample some of their offerings, and follow that with a delectable lunch at one of the region’s top restaurants. Follow this with one or two wine-tastings in the afternoon, and you’ll have experienced a day of great food and wine in blissful settings!

Generally, the opening hours for wine-tasting are 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday, and 9am to 4pm on Saturdays. Few wine farms are open on Sundays. We highly recommend that you spend a few days here to have time to discover all that the Winelands has to offer. For more information on Cape Winelands hotels, and other Cape Winelands accommodation, please click here.
 
Most wine-tastings cost R10-R15, and this allows you to try five to 10 wines. Often, you’ll be given the wine-tasting glass as a souvenir. If you buy some wine, the cost of the tasting is normally deducted from your bill.

Cape Winelands accommodation and wine guides

A very good guide to The Winelands and South African wine is The John Platter Wine Guide which is published every year. The publication also includes some good maps of The Winelands, which gives you a good feel for how many wine farms there really are! The guide can be bought at Pick ‘n Pay supermarkets or in bookshops.
 
The Winelands is comprised of so many quality wine farms that it is impossible to visit every one! Hence, we’ve selected a few of our favourite wine regions and farms, and have described them below. We haven’t touched on the regions of Paarl, Wellington and Durbanville, which are also lovely wine regions.

Top Cape Winelands regions and establishments

Constantia

Constantia is an exclusive neighbourhood outside Cape Town, and also home to South Africa’s oldest wine farms. One farm not to be missed is Groot Constantia, founded in 1685 and South Africa’s oldest wine farm. You can visit the beautiful Manor House, a typical example of Cape Dutch architecture, enjoy a wine tasting, and have lunch at one of the lovely restaurants – Simons or Jonkerhuis – on the estate.

Also worthy of a visit in Constantia are Klein Constantia, Buitenverwachting, Steenberg and Constantia Uitsig.

Stellenbosch

A mere 40 minutes drive from Cape Town and the second oldest town in South Africa, Stellenbosch is regarded by many as the heart of South Africa’s wine industry. This is due to the fact that it is surrounded by so many of the country’s best wine farms. Stellenbosch is also home to one of the Western Cape's best universities, and there is a vibrant atmosphere thanks to the young student life and local residents. There are several very good golf courses, such as De Zalze Golf Club, where you also find the very popular restaurant Terroir.

Many of our favourite wine farms are in the Stellenbosch area. We highly recommend that you stay a few nights in Stellenbosch, or nearby Cape Winelands accommodation, where you can enjoy the picturesque walking town and the proximity to several wine farms, golf courses and restaurants.
 
Franschhoek

Franschhoek is a further 40 minutes drive from Stellenbosch, over the beautiful Helshoogte Pass – a road that takes you to many top-notch restaurants and wine farms along the way. Franschhoek is the gourmet capital of South Africa and known for its scenic setting, beautiful wine farms and world-class restaurants. Among others, Reuben’s, Haute Cabriére, Bread & Wine and Le Quartier Français are all deserving of their international food awards.

Franschhoek, meaning “the French corner” in Afrikaans, was founded by the French Huguenots who fled France to avoid religious persecution at the end of the 17th century. As a result, many of the wine farms in the area have French names. Franschhoek is today a very charming small town which definitely deserves a visit – and a few nights stay. Cape Winelands accommodation in Franschhoek is ideally situated near to other wine regions and some great golf courses amongst others Pearl Valley.
 
Our favourite wine farms in the Cape Winelands

Below, you’ll find a list of our favourite wine farms in the Cape Winelands region, in no particular order. We hope that this selection will help you to choose which beautiful establishments to visit, and lead you to some of the finest wines in the country.

Kanonkop (Stellenbosch)

Kanonkop only produces red wines, all ranked among the best in the country. Kanonkop’s Pinotage is very popular and the wine farm has been considered one of the leading producers of Pinotage in South Africa.

Zorgvliet (Stellenbosch)

Zorgvliet is a lovely wine farm on the Helshoogte pass, en route to Franschhoek. It’s known for its Cabernet Franc – a delicious wine to be enjoyed with fine food!

Ernie Els Wines (Stellenbosch)

Some of South Africa’s most exclusive wines are produced here. The wine farm is boasts a beautiful setting and fantastic views, and is owned by world-famous golf player, Ernie Els.

Groot Constantia (Constantia)

Groot Constantia is South Africa’s oldest wine farm, and you can still visit the Manor House, furnished as it was as an affluent home in the 18th and early 19th centuries. There is also a wine museum in the cellar, which means there’s plenty to see at the estate. Groot Constantia boasts two restaurants which offer delicious lunches – sample the Bordeaux Blend with your meal.

KWV (Paarl)

KWV is South Africa’s biggest wine co-operative and well worth a visit. We recommend one of their guided tours of the wine cellar – the Cathedral Cellar – where the brandy and wine production process is explained by knowledgeable guides. After this tour, you’ll be rewarded with an extensive tasting of their wine and brandy offerings.
 
Vergelegen (Somerset West)

Vergelegen is a sprawling wine farm situated just outside Somerset West. The farm produces top of the range wines and is considered one of the best wine farms in South Africa. Vergelegen has a lovely restaurant located in the rose garden, and serves light and tasty fare.

Rustenberg (Stellenbosch)

Rustenberg is an exquisite wine farm located just outside Stellenbosch. Here, you can taste very good red and white wines at a good price. Rustenberg’s Brampton Sauvignon Blanc is a favourite lunch wine for a warm summer’s day.

The Winelands’ best cheese and wine pairing

If you love cheese and are near the Paarl region, take a drive to Fairview to experience their decadent wine and cheese tasting. We suggest you visit the restaurant and order your favourite cheeses with your meal. The wine may not be some of the best in the country, but it does go well with their delicious cheeses.

Ready for your Cape Winelands adventure? Be sure to book a stay at one of the top Cape Winelands hotels, or other Cape Winelands accommodation venues, and revel in the beauty and culinary indulgences of the region.