The Cape Winelands, South Africa.
We do enjoy good wine and have had the privilege of drinking wines in Tuscany (Italy), Portugal, here in the UK but in our humble (unbiased) opinion, you will drink the very best in the Cape, South Africa. Cape Town and the Western Cape has 2 693 Wine Grape Farmers, 45 Producer Cellars and 457 Private Wine Cellars. It’s safe to say the choice is endless and we have hardly scratched the surface. We’re so excited to share just a few gems from our time here. We hope you enjoy
It has to be said that if wine is not your thing, we still highly recommend making the trip, to experience both the natural beauty, the incredible towns, country roads & passes and the extensive food scene that is world renowned. We’ll cover what we consider the top 5 wine estates to visit, secondly we will move onto our top places to eat at and lastly end off with our summary of sites & scenes to experience.
A tip is to rent a car through Discover Cars and self drive. This allows you to explore where you like and of course there are many taxi options, the famous Wine Tram and of course Uber to get you around safely (Please don’t drink & Drive).
Whether this is your first trip or if you’ve been before, there is so much to discover and experience in this region, and this is where your own car is very helpful.
Where to Stay
We knew that we wanted to be right in the heart of the winelands, which is why we chose to stay at Boschendal. This iconic estate is approximately a 50min drive from Cape Town International airport. We chose Boschendal for its location, spectacular accommodation, wine and budget friendly. Before we move on, in 2023 Franschhoek’s gorgeous Boschendal has been dubbed the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Vineyard”
The renowned town of Franschhoek is just down the road and is another great area to stay, which offers an array of boutique hotels, B&B’s and airbnb’s. If you haven’t been to Cape Town, then perhaps divide your trip up to experience all that Cape Town has to offer. Don’t be fooled to commute from Cape Town to the winelands, you’ll spend more time driving than enjoying either of the areas. We would recommend staying in Cape Town, experience the Cape Town attractions and booking a tour out to the wine farms or book a tour and spend the day on the Winetram.
Boschendal is one of the oldest established estates in the area and we chose to stay at The Retreat, which is the latest addition to their accommodation offerings and we were blown away. From the tastefully decorated rooms, to the 5 star facilities, scrumptious breakfast and breathtaking views, we aren’t hyping this up, it is incredible.
Once you’ve feasted on an delicious breakfast, it’s time to get exploring... We suggest taking it one day at a time and to not try to do more than 3 wine estates a day. Each estate is unique, with various attractions centred around wine, food & culture. We have put together below a top 5 list of farms to visit, they produce incredible wine & their farms are spectacular.
Our Top 5 Wine Estates
Our Favourite Restaurants in the Cape Winelands
When it comes to food, this area doesn’t disappoint, offering a spectacular range of local and international cuisines. However, we are keeping this list focused on where we were in the Cape Winelands, ranging from magnificent fine dining to local restaurants, all of these will not disappoint…
Leopard's Leap Rotisserie Restaurant
Cafe Du Vin (Great Breakfast)
Things to experience
Franschhoek Pass
A short drive through and out the other side of Franschhoek is the Franschhoek Pass. Boasting incredible views of the valley, this is a must when in the area.
Exploring Franschhoek Town
Museums, historic memorial sites, local boutique shops, restaurants & bars
The Wine Tram
The wine tram is an experience to say the least. This tram & bus network has been established to create unique wine estate experiences, allowing you to safely enjoy as much wine as you like and take in the sights and facts about this historic region. There are various routes marked by different coloured lines, allowing you the flexibility to choose the the estates you want to visit.
If you are a car lover then this is your place. Even if you’re not, this is a fascinating morning/afternoon out. Boasting a privately owned collection of 220 vehicles, of all sorts, it is spectacular. You do need to book in advance for this and be sure to check it is open before doing so.
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Exploring Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch is a 20 minute drive from Boschendal, it is a university town with serious charm, history and culture. Founded in 1679, this town is full of Cape Dutch design buildings, magnificent oak trees and of course many world class wine estates.
Day trip to Cape Town (FULL DAY OUT)
Although we said we wouldn’t do it, it is possible and if it is something you’re interested in doing, please feel free to drop us an email and we would gladly provide recommendations of what to do in Cape Town.
