Wonderful Wine… and So Much More
Since first moving to Cape Town in 2018, we've been on the hunt toc find the most unforgettable and unique wine tastings around Cape Town and South Africa.
And it's not only about tasting the best wine.
It's more about the experience—the excuse to indulge in South Africa's unbelievably beautiful scenery, learn from winemaking experts, and take a sip of the luxury life at the wine farms' opulent estates.
And there are a lot of wine farms to visit.
We don't have indestructible livers nor the time to visit them all, so we have to carefully pick and choose.
Here are the best wine tastings around Cape Town and South Africa that we've experienced so far.
A Taste of What's to Come
Our Criteria
We're using six criteria to rate each of the best wine tastings in South Africa we've found so far:
✓ Setting
How spectacular are the drive in, the surroundings, and the views?
✓ Tasting Room
Does the tasting room take full advantage of its setting? Is it so old-world opulent you feel like the Queen of England might pop around the corner at any time? Or is it so over-the-top commercial that you feel like cattle being brought in for a drink?
✓ Service
How knowledgable, friendly, and engaging is the person who is leading the tasting for us?
✓ Value
The wider the selection of wines to be sipped, the more generous the pours, and the lower the cost of the tasting, the higher the grades for this criterion.
✓ Memorability
Altogether, how likely are we to remember the wine tasting experience years from now? Was it unforgettably unique or does it blur in with all the others in one hazy memory?
✓ Wine
We're far from master sommeliers. Not too long ago, Chris mistook a red wine for a chardonnay in a blind taste test. So we're generous with our scores on this criterion. Bonus points for originality and variety.
The Best Wine Tastings in South Africa
(…That We've Found so Far)
De Grendel
The Welcome to Cape Town Winery
Durbanville, +27 (0)21 558 6280, info@degrendel.co.za, Website
No wine estate screams, "Welcome to Cape Town!" better than De Grendel.
The 180-degree views of Table Mountain, Lions Head, Cape Town, and the sea from the patio of this Durbanville winery are truly iconic.
And since it's only a 25-minute drive from downtown, we recommend all oenophiles make it their first Cape Town wine tasting.
Or, go straight there from the airport! It's only a slight, 30-minute, detour.
Perfect Pairing
The only way to beat De Grendel's view during wine tastings is to see it at sunset, which is what you can do if you stay for a luxury dinner at their multiple-award-winning restaurant.
Or, to fill your belly with brunch before you start drinking wine, stop at Anna Beulah Farm (find it on our free only-in-Cape Town restaurant map) to enjoy some of chef Hendrick's hearty homestyle farm-to-table cooking. Maybe pick some produce fresh from the garden to take home, too.
Springfield Estate
Peaceful Paradise
Robertson, info@springfieldestate.com, +27 (0)23 626 3661, Website
Springfield is the type of place Kim and I would visit regularly if we lived nearby.
It doesn't have the grandeur of some of South Africa's more famous wine estates, but its low-key setting suited us just fine when we went there on our Hectic Route's Day of Indulgence.
As we sat under a tree by the lake tasting their famous white wines and eating warm, marinated olives from their farm, we were thankful that our friend and hiking guide Justin had recommended it to us.
And we were thankful all the crowds go wine tasting in Stellenbosch rather than here in the Robertson Valley.
Perfect Pairing
If you're out that way, stop by the stilted lake house tasting room at Excelsior Wine Estate, too.
After sampling their reds you get the opportunity to blend and bottle your own and make your own custom label.
Since we visited on the tail end of our Johannesburg to Cape Town road trip, we made a "Hectic Route Blend" to commemorate the occasion. We saved the bottle for half a year until drinking it on another road trip in Namibia.
Springfontein
Convention-Defying Quaffs
Stanford, +27 (0)28 341 0651, info@springfontein.co.za, Website
When our friends Tracey and Anton in Stanford raved to us about Springfontein and their unconventional wines, we knew had to go, even if the tastings were a bit expensive for our liking at R15 to R30 a wine.
It was definitely worth it to get inspired by Springfontein's Master Winemaker and COO, Tariro Masayiti.
Ever since he was the first black student to graduate in Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Stellenbosch, Tariro's been challenging winemaking convention. On top of his classic wines, he puts out a Daredevils' Drum line which features his star experiments like open barrel-fermented wines and white pinotages.
It was just about as fun to hear the stories of how the wines were created as it was to taste them.
Perfect Pairing
The village Stanford, which is twenty-five minutes east of Hermanus and two hours from Cape Town, has no shortage of fantastic food to go with its wine.
Try Sprinfontein Eats for a Michelin-worthy meal, Graze Slow Food Cafe for creative local lekker-ness, and Klein Rivier Cheese Farm for a picturesque afternoon picnic.
Strandveld
Southernmost Hospitality
Between Elim and L'Agulhas, +27 (0) 28 482 1902, info@strandveld.co.za, Website
We were so glad the lady at nearby Black Oystercatcher Wines told us they were closed because there's no way the wine tasting there could have been as good as the one we experienced at Strandveld instead.
It was a blast.
As is often the case with smaller tasting rooms, the lady who led our tasting was super congenial, generous, and helpful. We enjoyed the stories she told us about the winery, which has the southernmost wines in Africa.
And we enjoyed the wines. A lot.
The next day we went to a few wine estates around Stanford and Hermanus' Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and they tasted plain in comparison.
Even better, the basic tasting is free and the R40 for the reserve tasting was deducted from the wine we bought, which most wineries in South Africa don't do.
Perfect Pairing
A visit to Strandveld's wine tasting room obviously pairs well with a trip to the Southernmost point in Africa, Cape Agulhas, since it's on the way from Cape Town. Swing through the cute houses of Elim, too.
Reyneke and Haut Espoir
Biodynamic Duo
Reyneke: Stellenbosch, Tastings by appointment only, lizanne@reynekewines.co.za, +27 (0) 21 881 3451, Website
Haut Espoir: Franschoek, Tastings by appointment, wine@hautespoir.com, +27 (0) 021 876 4000, Website
You can't help but feel better after doing a wine tasting at Reyneke in Stellenbosch and Haut Espoir in Franschoek.
You'll feel good spiritually. The enthusiasm and passion for biodynamic farming that Rob at Haut Espoir and Lizanne and Johan at Reyneke have inspired Kim and me to continue pursuing our own unconventional route and make us want to start a biodynamic farm some day, too.
(As for what exactly "biodynamic" means, it has to do with making the farm a closed-loop system that works in harmony with nature instead of fighting it with pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. Rob, Johan, and Lizanne will fill you in on the details.)
You'll feel good physically, too. The biodynamic wines from both farms are as rich and complex and as the ecosystems they come from. And, if you overindulge, the lack of chemicals may help you feel not quite so bad the next day.
Haut Espoir Ratings
Reyneke Ratings
Perfect Pairing
Hire a driver or find a sober friend to tipple till you topple at the many, many nearby Stellenbosch wine farms like Jordan, De Morgenzon, Spier, and De Toren.
Cederberg
Unbelievable Desert Wines
+27 (0)27 482 2827, info@cederbergwine.com, Website
Cederberg, a desert mountain wilderness area about 250km northeast of Cape Town, is paradise for people looking for a getaway from the city.
And no South African getaway is complete without wine, of course.
At first, we couldn't believe it when we saw Cederberg Wines' bright green vines growing out of the otherwise barren desert.
Then we couldn't believe how busy their middle-of-nowhere tasting room was on a Saturday afternoon.
But after an extensive, informative, and unbelievably tasty sampling of, by our count, ten different wines it all made sense.
Perfect Pairing
Cederberg Brewery's beers are delicious, too. Buy some at the Sanddrif reception next door, drive over to the campsite, then walk 25 minutes to the swimming hole for a dynamite desert day.
Or, if you're feeling adventurous, energetic, and brave, hike (and scramble) the surprisingly challenging Wolfberg Cracks Trail.
Fryer's Cove
Seriously West Coast
Doringbaai, +27 (0)27 215 1092, admin@fryerscove.co.za, Website
Of all the unlikely locations for wine tastings in the Western Cape, Fryer's Cove takes the cake.
The fish cake.
Better yet, the abalone cake.
Fryer's Cove's cellar is located on a pier below a lighthouse and right beside an abalone farm. And if you look past the fishermen across the bay, you can see the grapes being grown just off the shore.
You'd be hard-pressed to find such a unique wine tasting location anywhere in the world. And their wine's sea-salt-infused flavors are equally unique.
Perfect Pairing
Seafood, duh.
The Jetty Restaurant, on the same site as Fryer's Cove's tasting room pier, is a community project that recently opened so that tasters can sit on the pier and enjoy West Coast South African flavors along with their wine.
Vergelegen and Babylonstoren
The Great Estates
Vergelegen: Somerset West, +27 (0)21 847 2100, infovergelegen.co.za, Website
Babylonstoren: Paarl, +27 (0)21 863 3852, enquiries@babylonstoren.com, Website
The extra emphasis is on the word "estate" at these two. Their opulence, grandeur, and gardens are next level.
At Vergelegen, it's about the history, the old trees, and the mega rose and hydrangea gardens.
And at Babylonstoren, the appeal is in their vegetable gardens and artisanal shops of farm-fresh meats, cheeses, pastries, chocolates, and homeware.
You can spend hours exploring either wine estate.
And of course you can taste their wine. But you don't even have to.
Babylonstoren Ratings
Vergelegen Ratings
Perfect Pairing
Not surprisingly for wine estates famed for their gardens, both have renowned restaurants.
Babylonstoren's Babel and Greenhouse restaurants made our best restaurants in Cape Town for 25 unique occasions.
We haven't had the opportunity to eat at Vergelegen's Camphors, one of the country's top fine dining experiences, but will happily accept invitations.
Our Wishlist
South Africa Wine Tastings We Can't Wait to Visit
Our fellow wine farm fanatic friends and the staff and winemakers at the places we've been to have told us the following are some of the best wine tastings in South Africa, so they're atop our must-visit list:
- De Trafford, Waterford, and Delaire Graff in Stellenbosch
- Saronsberg and all the other wine estates around Tulbagh
- David & Nadia, Sadie Family Wines, Allesverloren, and many more in Swartland
- Damascene Vineyards in Elgin (once construction is complete in mid-2020!)
- Kirabo near Worcester
- Arendsig, De Westhof, Esona, and Weltevrede in Bonnievale
- More Plettenberg Bay wine farms
Please share what others we should add!
Wine Tasting Map
As you can see, our picks for the best wine estates in the Western Cape are all over the map, so if you manage to visit them all, you'll have seen a good chunk of the province as well.
Tip: See our Google Maps tips for simple instructions to save these locations to your phone.
Love the list guys!
A few others I would highly recommend (in no particular order):
-Domaine des Dieux (Hemel-en-Aarde) for MCC and stunning views of the valley
-Le Lude (Franschhoek), again for MCC, in a stunning tasting room attached to an apparently delicious restaurant!
-Boschendal (Franschhoek): I did not get to a tasting there myself but bought many of their bottles during my travels and loved every wine they made!
-wine tasting your way through Franschhoek in general!
AND, I would also HIGHLY recommend visiting Publik in either Cape Town or Joburg. The "tasting" experience is more expensive (200R) but they source amazing wines from, largely organic/biodynamic/natural, smaller wine producers. They are superbly knowledgeable and really passionate about the wine and where it comes from! It's a great way to try wine from regions you didn't get to visit yourself. They, of course, have delicious cheese boards, and the setting is lovely. Hot tip: make them your friend and they will happily to pour you little sips of many wines before you commit to a glass, or if they've just happened to open an interesting bottle they might just give you a sample as well!
Thanks Rebecca! We'll check these out as soon as we can and, if they're as good as you say, have to extend this list to a top 20, 25 or something.
Great comments on the wines. We are truly fortunate to have so many wines "on tap". It is difficult to choose all of our favourites but a few to consider for your next trip : Villiera & Muratie (Stellenbosch / Paarl), Cavalli (Stellenbosch / Somerset West, Graham Beck (Robertson), Boplaas & DeKrans & Peter Bayly (Calitzdorp) and for something different Mons Ruber (De Rust) where they make sweet wines.
Thanks Anton. Looking up all these places has us ever more excited for our return to SA. Hopefully we can see you guys again in Stanford, too! All the best.
We are waiting for you at Kirabo!
All right! See you in Nov/Dec Karen!
Enjoyable article – Glenelly one of my favourites .
Thanks Douglas. We hadn't heard of Glenelly. It looks to be conveniently close to central Stellenbosch so we'll definitely check it out when we're back in the summer.
Wonderful experiencing the wine estates with you. What about Longridge wine estate at Stellenbosch ? Beautiful interesting place with delightful wines and food.
Thanks Fan. I've added Longridge to my ever-expanding list of wine estates to visit. Hopefully we'll be back in SA in Jan to be able to check it (and dozens more) out. And hopefully you're enjoying some great wine wherever you are now!
Try The Giant Periwinkle
http://www.giantperiwinkle.co.za
Will do!
Mitre's Edge on R44 just outside Stellies
Noted. Thanks, Mark.
Tokara should definitely be on that list. Awe aspiring views with award winning wines including the worlds best Sauvignon blanc currently.
Other farms I would add is Stark Condé wines, situated in Jonkershoek Valley, and then I would also consider La Motte and Delair Graff as top 10 wineries in South Africa. Infect Delair was top 30 wineries in the world in 2019 and last year.
Thanks for chiming in Mario. Kim thought Tokara was too "modern" for her tastes, so we didn't include it. But maybe we'll have to give it (and their Sauv Blanc) a second chance. Delair's high on our to-visit list and just across the road, so we'll make it happen.
Agreed on Stark Condé. A super refresher after hiking Jonkershuik. When I update this post, I may include it.
Great article guys. I would definitely take a look off the beaten track in Botriver! Beaumont Family Wines in particular. Great spot and they have recently change their offering in terms of food and tastings, they have an awesome new Deli and great outdoors and indoor space for tastings.
Hi Jen. Thanks for the recommendation. Another expert, Fred from Top 12 Wines, also recommended Beaumont to us, so we'll definitely make a stop there next time we're in the area. Plus, there's an awesome Airbnb in the area we'd like to go back to. Thanks for the inspiration!
Again – I would appreciate a map with these indicated. And a note on how you got there (car? uber? train? walked?).For those of us without cars – very helpful.
I can't remark much more because – I got frustrated and stopped reading.
I do, generally, like your reviews, however.
Thanks Suzie. To get to most wine farms in South Africa you need a car or a driver.