Cape Winelands wine tasting
Winelands
3 tours
Cape Winelands
Stellenbosch, Franschhoek & the valleys between.
Cape Dutch estates, mountain-ringed vineyards and some of the finest restaurants in the country, under an hour from Cape Town.
Explore the tours
Winelands
Ways to build a Winelands trip
An hour inland, the mountains rise steeply around valleys planted with Chenin Blanc, Cabernet and Pinotage. Stellenbosch is the historic university town with oak-lined streets; Franschhoek is the smaller, French-Huguenot village with a single main road lined with restaurants.
Staying in the Winelands, rather than visiting on a day trip, changes the experience completely: long lunches, sunset tastings on the stoep and no need to rush back to the city. We pair you with a private driver so nobody has to count glasses.
Private wine route
A driver-guide tailors a day around your taste, from old-vine Chenin to Bordeaux blends and bubbly (Méthode Cap Classique).
Chef's tables
We secure tables at the valley's best restaurants, which can book out months ahead.
Active mornings
Guided hikes, horseback rides through the vines, or e-bikes between estates.
Art & gardens
Sculpture gardens, galleries and centuries-old estate grounds.
When to go
Best time to visit Winelands.
Harvest runs February to April, the most atmospheric time to visit. Winter (Jun–Aug) is green, cool and cosy, with fireside tastings and quieter estates.
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayGood
- JunMixed
- JulMixed
- AugMixed
- SepGood
- OctGood
- NovBest
- DecBest
Seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere.
- Cape Town’s winter rains fall June to August
- Kruger’s dry season (May to September) is peak game viewing
- Summer rains fall November to March in the north and east
- Whale season on the Cape coast runs June to November
Highlights
- Private tastings at family-owned estates
- Long lunches at award-winning farm restaurants
- Cycling or e-biking between vineyards
- Franschhoek's wine tram (hop-on, hop-off)
- Historic Stellenbosch and its Cape Dutch architecture
Practical tips
- Book a private driver or wine tram, and never self-drive between tastings.
- Many top restaurants close one or two days a week. We plan around that.
- Two nights is the sweet spot; three if you want a slower pace.
Experiences
Things to do in Winelands.
Honeymoons
Cape Town · Winelands · Sabi Sand
6 tours
Stellenbosch or Franschhoek?
Franschhoek is compact, romantic and walkable; Stellenbosch has more estates and a livelier town. Many of our guests split two nights between them, or base themselves in one and visit the other.
Stays
Where to stay in Winelands.
Franschhoek valley
Klipkop Wine Estate
From $310 per person · night
Helderberg, Stellenbosch
Fynbos Ridge Estate
From $260 per person · night
Tailor-made trips
Tours including Winelands.
Duration
Budget
3 of 3 tours
Most requested · 12 days · Cape Town & Winelands · Kruger & private reserves
Classic South Africa
Daily breakfast, all meals on safari · 8 guided activities · All transfers & domestic flight
- Table Mountain, Cape Point and the Boulders Beach penguins
- Two nights on a Franschhoek wine estate
- Four nights in the Sabi Sand: leopard country
- Private guides throughout
From
$7,950
per person, complete package
From $15,900 for two · international flights excluded
8 days · Cape Town & Winelands
Cape Town & Winelands Escape
Daily breakfast · 5 guided activities · All transfers
- Private Table Mountain and Cape Point touring
- Stellenbosch and Franschhoek estate tastings
- Day trip to Hermanus (whales Jun–Nov)
- Boutique stays in the city and the vines
From
$3,450
per person, complete package
From $6,900 for two · international flights excluded
Most requested · 11 days · Cape Town & Winelands · Kruger & private reserves
Cape & Safari Honeymoon
Breakfast daily, all meals on safari · 6 private experiences · All flights & transfers in SA
- Sea-view suite in Camps Bay
- Helicopter flip over the Cape Peninsula
- Private tasting and dinner on a wine estate
- Bush dinner for two in the Sabi Sand
From
$11,200
per person, complete package
From $22,400 for two · international flights excluded
Speak to a South Africa specialist
Ready for Winelands ?.
Tell us when, who's coming and what you're hoping for. One named specialist designs the rest.