Stunning Cape Town wineries to visit right now

From oceanfront venues to biodynamic farms with exquisite organic wines, I round up the best wineries at your fingertips in Cape Town.

For casual diners, Cape Town’s diverse wine cellars offer an ideal escape from the city—a place to savor fine wines in spectacular locations. But for connoisseurs, there are few wine regions in the world that can compete with those of the Western Cape for quality, diversity, value, and natural beauty.

Stroll in Stellenbosh and Franschhoek

Stellenbosch was founded in 1679 by the Governor of the Cape. It is a small town full of charm and life where epicureans, tourists, and university students mingle (what a dream to study there!). The small streets of the old town center, which are lined with beautiful white Cape Dutch-style houses, can be walked.When it comes to sitting on a nice restaurant terrace, you’ll be spoiled for choice…

For a little trip back in time, you can visit the Village Museum (very nice with children), which gathers a group of houses dating from 1709 to 1850, perfectly restored and decorated according to the different eras.

Franschhoek

Franschhoek, a pretty little village where Huguenots settled more than 300 years ago, bringing with them their vineyards, The region is proud of its French roots, and many estates, streets, restaurants, and stores have names that will be familiar to you.

The center of the village is a pretty street lined with excellent restaurants, small stores, and art galleries. It’s the perfect place to have lunch before embarking on a tour of the surrounding wineries.

If you don’t want to drive to these wineries (and sometimes that’s a good idea! ), you can buy a ticket for the streetcar tour in the center of Franschhoek that will allow you to stop at some of the excellent wineries.

Visit the most beautiful wineries and taste the best restaurants

There is no lack of choice since the region has nearly 300 vineyards!

I could spend weeks there. So here is, in all subjectivity, my small selection! And if you still lack inspiration after that, go to Wine&Only, the French website specializing in the discovery of this region.

Be careful: if you plan to have lunch or dinner in some of these domains, most of these tables (and even picnics) have to be booked well in advance!

Boschendal

Superb winery built around one of the oldest farms in the country (1685). This place has a lot to offer: beautiful surroundings, tastings of their delicious wines, 2 excellent restaurants using almost exclusively local products, a visit to the old historic house, a rose garden, and one of the best picnics in the region (see below).

Babylonstoren

This is a special estate because it is much more than a vineyard! It is also a working farm and above all an incredible vegetable and fruit garden inspired by the famous East India Company vegetable garden built in the heart of the Cape in the 17th century.

The walk through these red dirt paths is pleasant and full of surprises (tree houses, animals roaming free, secret paths and labyrinth). You can also of course participate in a wine tasting, have lunch or an ice cream in the shade of the Green House café or try Babel, one of the best restaurants in the country.

Vergelegen

Another superb estate with beautiful views of the mountains Like most wineries, it hosts wine tastings and gourmet picnics and has two excellent restaurants: Camphors (gourmet) and The Stables (more casual and also very family-friendly with its large playground). You can also take a tour of their winery, which is quite rare in the region.

La Motte

A long driveway of ancient trees leads to this beautiful estate at the gateway to the small village of Franschhoek. The immaculate white Cape Dutch buildings are home to the excellent Pierneef restaurant, which has a gastronomic menu but a relaxed atmosphere since children are even welcomed like kings.

When I went there, they had set up easels and painting equipment in the shade of the big trees so that the kids could paint and have fun while I enjoyed our delicious meal. What else?

Tokara

Without doubt, this is one of the most beautiful views in the region. The Tokara estate is perched on top of the Helshoogte Pass, facing the gentle valleys covered with vineyards and olive trees as far as the eye can see. The gourmet restaurant is extremely famous, but I personally love the deli, which is more casual and really delicious! There is even a nice wooden playground for the kids.

Delaire Graff

If you’re into contemporary art, this is definitely the place to stop. The passion for art of Laurence Graaf, a famous diamond dealer, has allowed him to assemble an extraordinary private collection that is displayed in the gardens and buildings of the estate, which is one of the most luxurious in the region. There are two restaurants on the vineyard: one more gastronomic and the other more casual (Indochine).

Have a picnic in the middle of the vineyards

Many wineries organize picnics, and it is one of the most pleasant ways to discover these vineyards: a beautiful setting, a big basket filled with a multitude of dishes, often very refined, tables in the shade or big blankets under the trees, hammocks, sometimes games for the children, small concerts… All of this accompanied by a chilled bottle of domain…What a great way to spend an afternoon!

The list of wineries that organize this kind of picnic is long, and you will find the main ones in this article. Having tested several of them, my favorite is the one in Boschendal. But those organized by Mont Rochelle, Vergelegen, Spier, and Warwick (which are very kid-friendly with a playground and water games) are also very pleasant.

Horse riding in the mountains

You know I love it in the family! Whenever I was in the area, I never failed to book a horseback ride in the countryside and mountains around Franschhoek. The landscapes are extraordinary, and you are alone in the world!

All levels are welcome, but they don’t take children under 12 (unless they are experienced riders).

They also organize 4-hour tours with stops at two excellent wineries for wine tasting.

There are also simple cottages available for rent on the property.

Spier

It’s a massive estate with a surprising number of activities, including bird of prey shows, guided or unguided hikes, picnics, wine and chocolate tastings, and even grape juice tastings for kids.Art is also a big part of this beautiful estate, where it is really nice to walk around.

You can even stay on the spot, and again, many services and small attention are planned for the families (several playrooms, adapted menus, babysitting, etc.). In short, it’s the ideal place to spend some quality family time where both parents and children will have a good time!

Vergenoegd Wine Estate

The place is especially known for its “duck parade,” which is very appreciated by families. The ducks have been used since 1984 on this estate to naturally control the proliferation of certain pests and have become a charming tourist attraction. Three times a day, you can watch hundreds of ducks parade through the estate. Children love it, and you can even feed them!

The estate’s restaurant is very nice and offers food and picnic baskets designed for children. There is even an indoor playroom if the weather is not good.

This domain, which has the particularity of being very close to Cape Town and therefore easily accessible, also organizes family runs (3- to 5-kilometer races open to all) every Saturday morning, a nice market on the same day, and concerts on Sunday.

There’s no way to get bored there!

For more market ideas in Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, and the surrounding area, go here.

No time to go to Franschhoek? Spend an afternoon in the Constantia vineyards!

If you don’t have time to spend a few days in Franschhoek or Stellenbosch, you can still get a nice taste of the good life in the middle of the vineyards, only 20 minutes from the center of Cape Town.

The Constantia Valley is a little slice of paradise on the other side of Table Mountain from the city of Cape Town, which boasts some of the oldest and most prestigious vineyards in the country. For example, you can visit Klein Constantia (Napoleon’s favorite wine), Groot Constantia, have lunch at Steenberg, dine at La Colombe gourmet restaurant, or have a picnic at Eagle Nest…

For more information, visit the Constantia Valley website.

Boschendal

This estate has it all! In addition to being a beautiful vineyard, hosting the best picnic in the area, and housing a delicious restaurant, it is also a great place to stay!

They offer different cottages depending on your group size and budget. For a very exclusive stay, book the Rhodes Cottage, which was the second home of this historic South African figure. The house is located in a secluded, quiet setting with a private pool and bicycles available.

Lower Provence

A very nice guesthouse in the middle of a beautiful vineyard. beautiful pool with views of the mountains and the hundred-year-old oaks of the domain. Their country cottage is a perfect option for families.

The only drawback is that the estate is not very close to the main road for my taste.

La Cotte

Very nice place at the gates of Franschhoek that offers a luxurious villa and its outbuildings with a private pool and view of the valley to welcome a large group (up to 14 persons) as well as cute little independent cottages at more democratic prices that can welcome 2 to 4 persons.

Marianne Wine Estate

A beautiful estate located between Stellenbosch and Paarl. Marianne is distinguished by its breathtaking views and its owners’ French influence in winemaking and hospitality. Many lodging options (rooms, family suites, self-catering) in a lovely setting. Don’t miss their wine tastings and guided tours of the vineyard and winery.

La Petite Ferme

Very nice estate with a gourmet restaurant as well as a more casual deli (which serves tapas and children’s menus). Very nice rooms with views of the vineyards and sometimes a private pool.

Keermont Vineyards

Keermont boutique winery is located in the wine-rich Stellenbosch region, in the heart of the Blaauwklippen Valley, just an hour’s drive east of Cape Town.

The estate dates back to 2003, when the owners purchased two adjacent wine farms to form Keermont Vineyards. Although a small place, the beautiful estate punches well above its weight. They are situated in an epic location among the mountains. And Alex Starey is an incredible winemaker, really capturing the essence of the Blaauwklippen Valley.

Walk-ins are welcome in their tasting room on Fridays and Saturdays, but it is possible to call ahead and book an after-hours tasting. Accommodation is also available on the farm; you can opt for a modern apartment or a classic farmhouse.

Waterkloof Wine Estate, Cape Town

Waterkloof is one of the most famous and visited wine farms in the Western Cape. It is located on the outskirts of picturesque Somerset West, and there is no shortage of incredible views and interesting activities on offer within the large facility. It has a tasting room, horseback riding, guided walks, and full winery tours for you to enjoy all that it has to offer.

They have an amazing restaurant and also focus on biodynamic farming. As a result, all the fruit on the estate is harvested and sorted by hand, and there is a strong emphasis on producing naturally balanced wines with minimal intervention. Waterkloof winemaker Nadia Barnard is very good.

Newton Johnson Vineyards

Newton Johnson is a family-run wine farm in the spectacular Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, about 90 minutes’ drive from Cape Town. The family built a winery and planted the first vineyards on the property in the mid-1990s, and their passion for wine (particularly Pinot Noir) and the surrounding valley has been passed on to the younger generation of owners and winemakers.

Winemakers Gordon and Nadia Newton Johnson are also a formidable team. And along with Bevan Johnson, they are true custodians of the Hemel-en-Aarde valley.

Aa Badenhorst Vineyards

This family-owned wine estate in the Swartland wine region is probably best known for its range of Secateurs wines. As with many estates in the Swartland region, tastings are by appointment only, and for those wishing to extend their stay, there are several impressive accommodation options to choose from.

All of this includes access to pre-booked wine tastings and tours of the estate, so you can really experience the biodynamic wines they produce at the estate, one of the finest vineyards in the country.

Sijn Vineyards

As far as wine estates in the middle of nowhere go, Sijn is right up there with the best, located near the southern tip of Africa at the end of a long, bumpy dirt road. Growing conditions here are tough, and, as a result, Sijn is the first estate to attempt something of this nature in the Malgas region.

But the results so far have been spectacular, and this is precisely why it should be visited. The estate is in an incredible part of the country. They also have extreme vineyards, with master winemaker David Trafford and winemaker Charla Bosman at the helm. There is a quiet tasting room open on Saturdays, and the surrounding Malaga region is also beautiful and rich in history.

Mullineux Vineyards

Mullineux Wines has received visits from travelers from all over the world due to its range of famous wines that have won multiple international awards.

The opening of a tasting room in the heart of the Franschhoek wine region makes their award-winning wines much more accessible to travelers and gives them a recommendation as a winery that is at the top of the industry. The Wine Studio at Leeu Estates in Franschhoek offers a complete tasting experience and is extremely popular, so booking in advance is recommended.

Conclusion

South African wineries of world-class quality, panoramic beauty, and stunning architecture; these vineyard destinations will delight even non-wine enthusiasts.

With Cape Dutch manor houses mixed in with ultra-modern cellars and fine dining restaurants, naming a few of the best South African vineyards is difficult. However, it’s clear from this list that if you want to visit a variety of top-tier wineries all at once, you should head to the Western Cape and try some Cape Town wineries.