6 Vineyards Not to Miss in the Cape Winelands


Cape Town is a city that just keeps on giving. It has oceans clearer than the tropics, mountains towering over the city, food tastier than your wildest imagination, and friendly locals who will always be willing to lend a bit of insider knowledge. But the city boasts yet another area of expertise—its wine farm scene.

Technically, many of the wine farms are located in the Greater Cape Town region, better known as the Cape Winelands. This area, which is located less than an hour’s drive from the city, unveils a world of breathtaking vineyards that give Tuscany and Provance a run for their money.

Before I dive into the six best wine farms in the Cape Winelands, I’ll offer up a bit more detail on the winelands in general. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur searching for the perfect Merlot or are just after a leisurely day trip from the beautiful city of Cape Town, these wine farms don’t just offer exceptional wines for relatively low prices, but incredible dining and accommodation options, too.

Vineyard Hotspots

The Western Cape and Greater Cape Town experience a mild Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Blessed with a fresh Atlantic breeze and deeply fertile African soil, the area is perfectly suited for viticulture.

Constantia

The Cape Winelands include the valleys and mountains stretching across Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek. But for the purpose of this article, I’ve added my home suburb, Constantia, into the mix.

Constantia is a suburb of Cape Town, just a 25-minute drive from the city center. It makes for easy afternoon wine-tasting trips from the city, where you can fit in a day at the beach with an afternoon sipping wine. Other than its convenient location and incredible wines, Constantia is also home to some of the oldest wine farms in South Africa.

With the coastal air, Constantia is famous for its Bordeaux Blends and dessert wines made from Muscat Blanc.

Stellenbosch

About a 45-minute drive up the N1 highway, Stellenbosch is the closest town to Cape Town in the Cape Winelands. It’s a student town with a highly-ranked university and houses some of the most famous wine farms in the region, including Jordan, Spier, Delaire Graff, and Lanzerac.

The small town center is just as worthwhile visiting as the farms surrounding it. Here, you can dine at quirky street cafes, check out the historical buildings from the Dutch colonial era, and stroll the stunning university campus.

You can find just about every wine varietal here, but the most popular tend to be Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Bordeaux Blends.

Franschhoek

About fifteen minutes further along the N1, Franschhoek is arguably the Cape Winelands’ most recognizable region. It’s a hotspot for wedding venues, and once you see the stunning mountain backdrops, you’ll understand why. French Huguenots initially settled in this gorgeous valley in 1688, and it still has a distinctly French flair.

Franschhoek is best known for its Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon but also produces a delicious Methode Cap Classique. Locally dubbed MCC, this is a sparkling wine made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blends. You could call this area the Champagne of South Africa.

Paarl

Paarl is less popular with international tourists but just as impressive when it comes to local wines. The town is basically an extension of Cape Town, with a large residential city surrounded by endless wine farms as far as the eyes can see.

The area connects Klapmuts, Wellington, and Du Toitskloof through dramatic mountain passes and tunnels. The region is known to produce some of the most full-bodied and spiced wines. While most famous for its Shiraz varietals, Paarl also puts some exceptional Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and Pinotage on the table.

1. Constantia Glen

Tucked away at the top of the Constantia Valley, Constantia Glen is most loved for its exceptional views of the surrounding mountains, relaxed tasting room, and casual snacky vibes.

On weekends, this farm sees a constant flow of locals and tourists, who visit to relax in the glass conservatory or on picnic blankets on the lawn, order wine-tasting floats, and enjoy delicious cheese boards. The boards come with a selection of cheeses, cold meats, fresh French bread, flavored butter, and homemade jams and jellies. They cost just $15 and easily feed two. Wine tastings start at $8 per person.

Driving through this farm is one of my favorite drives, as it winds through the vineyards, old groves, old Cape Dutch houses clad with pink bougainvillea, and herds of sheep.

Pro Tip: Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the vineyards on foot and stock up on your favorite wines from the wine tasting. If you spend more than $42 on wine, your wine-tasting fee will be waived!

2. Groot Constantia

Translating to Big Constantia, Groot Constantia is the Western Cape’s oldest wine farm, with a History dating back to the 17th century. Besides tasting the wine, I recommend you spend as much time as possible exploring the vineyard, walking through the vines, towards the old Cape Dutch bath, and visiting the stunning historic farmhouses.

Groot Constantia has a couple of great restaurants. Simon’s is set overlooking the vineyards and offers delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. My favorite restaurant, however, is called Jonkershuis. Set in one of the Cape Dutch buildings with outdoor seating overlooking the Constantia Valley with the ocean in the distance, Jonkershuis is a casual day-time cafe that turns into a romantic dinner restaurant come evening.

I usually visit for breakfast and coffee, where you can order avocado toast on freshly baked sourdough with a cappuccino for around $10.

Pro Tip: This farm has a Homestead and Wine Museum where you can explore how the affluent farm owners of the 18th century lived. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and costs $1.50 for adult entry.

3. Buitenverwachting

Buitenverwachting translates to ‘beyond expectation’ in Afrikaans, and it truly lives up to its name. The farm produces award-winning wines in an intimate setting surrounded by gardens and Cape Dutch buildings.

The farm has two main restaurants. Beyond is a fine dining establishment that celebrates the area’s local flavors using sustainably sourced ingredients from nearby farms. Their tasting menu changes seasonally and costs $40 per person for a three-course meal or $65 for a six-course meal. Wine pairing is recommended for an extra $44 for the six-course meal.

For a more casual experience, Coffee Bloc is a cozy cafe with a courtyard and comfortable seating. I like to bring my laptop to work here, although, heads up, they don’t offer Wi-Fi. During summer, the best place to be is on the lawns in front of the Buitenverwachting Restaurant.

Here, you can order wine by the glass or bottle and different charcuterie/harvest platters to share and lounge about in the sunshine.

Good to Know: Getting to the farms in Constantia is easy and quick. It’s about a 20 to 25-minute drive from the city center, and an Uber in one direction could cost between $8 and $13.

4. Babylonstoren

One of South Africa’s most famous farms, Babylonstoren, is renowned not for its wines but for its exquisite gardens. About a forty-five-minute drive from Cape Town, an Uber to this farm costs around $25 to $30 in each direction.

Babylonstoren is located in the Drakenstein Valley on the edge of Franschhoek. With a garden overflowing with indigenous plants, fresh fruit orchards, berry hedges, and vegetable patches landscaped and curated so beautifully, it’s no surprise they find themselves on the pages of Travel and hospitality publications worldwide.

Babel, the fine-dining restaurant on-site, requires advance booking and is well worth the wait. Casual diners can eat at The Greenhouse, which serves farm-to-table dishes with ingredients grown on the property from breakfast through afternoon tea time.

While their wine offering is outstanding, I recommend checking out the farm stall for fresh cheeses, artisanal bread, and handmade jams and preserves.

5. Vrede en Lust Wine Estate

A few minutes from Babylonstoren, on the periphery of Franschhoek town, Vrede en Lust is a huge wine farm known for its wedding venue offerings. The farm extends into the Simonsberg mountains and has a tasting room with an outdoor terrace overlooking the valley.

Pair your tasting with a cheese and charcuterie platter prepared with locally sourced meats, cheeses, and vegetables. This farm also has a variety of on-site accommodations, from the Manor House to the modern Vineyard Rooms to the Jonkmanshuis Cottages, the options are endless!

6. Boschendal

One of Franschhoek’s most magical wine farms, Boschendal has a History dating back over 300 years. Other than its impressive wedding venue, wine-tasting offerings, five-star accommodation, and stunning scenery, the farm hosts a weekly Friday night market where local food vendors and traders come to sell their food offerings under the oak trees.

Boschendal is also popular for its delicious pre-packed picnics, which allow you to create your own al fresco dining experience against the stunning backdrop of the Franschhoek Valley. The property has plenty of accommodation options, making this an incredible place for a weekend trip.

Beyond picnicking, you can take advantage of activities ranging from fly-fishing in the farm ponds to horseback riding and mountain biking. One of the standout features of this farm is its commitment to sustainability and responsible farming. You can learn more about their organic and biodynamic principles and even engage in an eco-friendly initiative yourself.
Pro Tip: Check the farm schedule for any farm-to-table dinners, festivals, and events like live musical performances that happen throughout the year.