Day trip to the Cape Winelands

Are you dreaming of visiting wine country? A day trip to the Cape Winelands is well within reach of holidaymakers in Cape Town.

Franschhoek

The beautiful Franschhoek wine valley nestles between dramatic mountains. The gourmet capital of South Africa is a 45-minute drive from Cape Town. Some of the country’s best restaurants and chefs have found their home in this village. Award-winning wineries complete the picture. The Huguenot Memorial Monument in the town bears testimony to the arrival of the French refugees in the Cape between 1683 and 1756.

Paarl

The Boland town of Paarl is about a 40-minute drive from Cape Town. It has a rich history. Here you will find the “Afrikaanse Taalmonument” (monument to the Afrikaans language) next to the impressive Paarl granite rocks. Paarl, named from the Dutch word for pearl, found its name thanks to these huge rocks.

The Drakenstein Correctional Centre in Paarl has historical significance. That is the prison, previously known as the Victor Verster Correctional Centre, from where they freed Nelson Mandela in 1990. Top-quality Shiraz and Chenin Blanc grapes are grown in the Paarl region. These grapes sun-ripen in the hot valley. The Paarl region produced excellent quality olives and olive oil too.

Wellington

This town is the original valley of the wagon makers. French Huguenots settled here at the end of the 17th century. Wellington is about 45-minutes from Cape Town. It is an agricultural town known for its wine and table grapes, deciduous fruit and brandy industry.

The town leads to Bain’s Kloof Pass, one of the country’s oldest mountain passes. Wellington gained prominence thanks to the James Sedgwick Distillery’s international success with Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky. This single grain whisky won the title of World’s Best Grain Whisky, awarded in London in 2018.

Somerset West

This town is at the foot of the Helderberg Mountain. It originated as a cattle post established by Dutch soldiers in 1672. The town, about 35 minutes from Cape Town, developed around the Lourens River and the historic Cape Dutch farm Vergelegen. Somerset West is within easy reach of the beaches at Strand and Gordon’s Bay.

Stellenbosch

Vineyards surround this famous university town. No wonder that wine tasting in Stellenbosch is a prevalent activity among students – and anyone visiting the area! This historic town is a 40-minute drive from Cape Town.

The 17th-century Governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel, gave it its name. This busy little town is charming with oak-lined streets and Cape Dutch architecture.

Montagu

The small town of Montagu is on Route 62. It is about 180km from Cape Town in the western regions of the Little Karoo. Known for its hot mineral springs and scenic mountains, the farming area to the north of this town is the “Koo”.

Excellent quality apples, pears, apricots and peaches are grown here. The rock formations around Montagu makes it one of South Africa’s foremost rock climbing spots.

Robertson

Since 1853, the town of Robertson budded in its fertile valley of wine and roses. This town is 160km from Cape Town. Wine and fruit farming bloom in the area. It is also home to several successful racehorse stud farms. The town has many of the Western Cape’s provincial heritage sites.

Worcester

This large town in the Breede River Valley is 120km northeast of Cape Town. Access from Cape Town is via the N1 and Du Toitskloof tunnel. It lies near the scenic Hex River Mountains. This town is home to the Karoo National Botanical Gardens. View flora unique to the arid regions of South Africa here.

Tulbagh

The charming town of Tulbagh lies in a basin fringed on three sides by mountains. It is 120km from Cape Town. The area, known as the Witzenberg Valley, has outstanding fauna and flora. Cape Dutch Architecture adorns the town streets. This town made it into South African history books in 1969 when an earthquake caused considerable damage.

View of the Cape Winelands

1. Do wine tours and tastings

Wine tasting has to be at the top of the list. Do a self-drive wine tour or take a private tour to Stellenbosch. Visit unique wineries, from tiny boutique outfits to multi-national wine exporters. Many wineries offer food and wine pairings. These tasting treats can include chocolate and wine tasting or cheese and wine tasting. Wine tasting prices are affordable and often waived when participants buy some wine.

2. Go on gastronomic adventures

A culinary experience awaits at a myriad of restaurants in the Winelands. From traditional South African food, “boerekos” (old farm-style food) and braaivleis (barbecued meat) to French, Asian, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. There are many places to eat in Stellenbosch.

3. Visit festivals on weekends

Festivals are big news in the Cape Winelands. Every weekend there are festivals in different towns, all year round. Look out for harvest festivals in February and March. You will find food and wine festivals, bubbly festivals, beer festivals, chocolate festivals and cheese festivals. There are also poetry and book festivals, fynbos festivals, flower festivals and various music festivals.

4. Explore nature

There are many adventurous things to do in and around Stellenbosch. Trail running and mountain biking are popular activities. The stunning natural scenery ensures plenty of mountain trails to discover.

5. Keep the kids entertained

Children’s entertainment is big news in the Cape Winelands. Hazendal winery recently introduced Wonderdal, an interactive play centre for children. You can also visit Water Park in Strand, Gracelands Venue in Paarl and Bugz Playpark in Kraaifontein for a variety of fun water activities on hot days.

6. See uniquely African animals

Find an animal encounter at Vredenheim Animal Farm, Cheetah Outreach, Le Bonheur Crocodile Farm, Drakenstein Lion Sanctuary, Monkey Town, Giraffe House and Eagle Encounters.

7. Watch movies under the stars

Plan a romantic evening under the stars. During the summer months, The Galileo Open Air Cinema operates on different venues in the Cape Winelands.

8. Enjoy a day at a market

Visit the popular Root 44 Market, Blaauwklippen Family Market, Stellenbosch Slow Market and Vergenoegd Market around Stellenbosch. Somerset West brings you the Lourensford Harvest Market. The Franschhoek Village Market is on every Saturday, weather permitting. Wellington Farm Market is on the last Saturday of the month.

9. Traverse wine farms

Take a private tour to go horse riding or quad biking in the Paarl Mountain. Rhebokskloof wine farm is home to Wine Valley Adventures. Go for a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride and wine tasting through the vineyards at Vrede en Lust Winery.

10. Picnic in exquisite gardens

Picnics, farm stalls and gardens are some of the delights waiting in the Cape Winelands. Get your hands on locally produced delicacies. Arts and crafts are also available at farm stalls dotted along the Cape Winelands.

Recharge by spending your day in beautifully kept gardens. Enjoy a picnic on the lawn at Warwick or Delheim near Stellenbosch. We recommend a visit to Babylonstoren or Boschendal.

11. How about a bonus idea?

Take the Franschhoek Wine Tram from the Franschhoek Village to visit farms around the Franschhoek valley.

Best vineyards in the Cape Winelands

Recommend below are some of the best wine farms in the Cape Winelands. This is not a definitive list. We have narrowed it down to only five farms per area.

Discover and explore other worthwhile vineyards on your journey through the Cape Winelands with the help of this handy wine route guide.

Laborie Estate in Paarl

Franschhoek

• Lynx Wine Estate
• Black Elephant Vintners
• Glenwood Vineyards
• La Motte Wine Estate
• Boekenhoutskloof

Robertson

• Bon Courage Estate
• Springfield Estate
• Graham Beck Robertson Estate
• Fraai Uitzicht
• Zandvliet Wine Estate

Paarl

• Landskroon
• Spice Route Destination
• KWV Wine Emporium
• Avondale
• Ridgeback Wines

Tulbagh

• Saronsberg
• Theuniskraal
• Rijks Wine Estate
• Lemberg Wine Estate
• Waverley Hills

Somerset West (Helderberg)

• Waterkloof Wines
• Morgenster Wine Farm & Olive Estate
• Rust en Vrede Tasting Room
• Flagstone Winery
• Journey’s End Vineyards

Wellington

• Diemersfontein
• Imbuko Wine Cellar
• Doolhof Wine Estate
• Dunstone Wines
• Linton Park Wines

Stellenbosch

• Peter Falke Winery
• Delaire Graff Estate
• Tokara Wine Estate
• Thelema Winery
• Asara

Worcester

• Aan De Doorns Wine Cellar
• De Wet Cellar
• Nuy Winery
• Alvi’s Drift
• Eagle’s Cliff Wines

Montagu

• Cabrieres
• Kranskop
• Montagu Cellar
• Drie Berge Winery
• Kleinhoekkloof Wines

You’ll want to return, often

You have all the information you need; now it’s up to you to make it happen. Organise your day trip and discover why visitors to the Cape Winelands can never get enough. But be forewarned, there is not nearly enough time in one day to do and see everything on offer. Thus, there is always a bunch of good reasons to return to the beautiful Cape.

We hope exciting day trip options like this will ensure that you put a trip to Cape Town on your bucket list. And with that, book your luxury accommodation with Nox Rentals.

Ready to start planning your trip? Find the answers to your travel-related questions in our handy, one-stop Cape Town holiday planning hub.