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Cape Winelands South Africa

One of the most popular attractions close to The Western Cape Hotel & Spa is touring the wine estates in the Cape Winelands of South Africa. Even if you are not a wine enthusiast you will enjoy the lovely scenery, beautiful estates and often excellent cuisine. There are literally hundreds of South African wine estates to visit and some of the very best are virtually on our doorstep. The maritime ward of Walker Bay, cooled by winds from the Atlantic ocean, is known for its chardonnays, pinot and pinotage varieties.

Hamilton Russel Estate
Situated in the stunning Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven and Earth) valley, Hamilton Russel Estate is considered to produce some of the finest wines in the country, and have won numerous international awards for their distinctive Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Concentrating on only these two varieties has allowed them to excel. You can enjoy these fine wines with a picnic in the estates beautiful picnic area.

Bouchard Finlayson
Close by is Bouchard Finlayson, another acclaimed boutique estate, known for its Pinot Noir, considered by many to be the best in South Africa. The estates environmentally conscious owners have been recognized for their efforts to preserve and protect the wonderful natural environment in which the vineyards are situated, part of the earth’s smallest and richest plant kingdom.

Beaumont
Beaumont has been described as one of the most characterful wineries in the Cape Winelands of South Africa. The small, rustic cellar is situated at the foot of great mountains on a farm that dates back to the 1700s. It is now a family-run estate producing high-quality wines.

Whalehaven
Whalehaven is situated at the entrance to the Hemel-en-Aarde valley. According to their website the winery "has a very relaxed, homely and welcoming tasting room situated above the barrel-maturation cellar. In the winter a roaring log fire will keep you warm while you taste Whalehaven's delicious wines." These include a Cabernet Franc which recently was one of only 9 reds to win gold at the European Sante awards.

Other excellent wineries in the area include the off-the-beaten track Iona Vineyards, Newton Johnson Vineyards and Sumaridge Wines. Slightly further afield are the classic South African Cape Winelands areas of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, which provide almost unlimited opportunities for tasting and exploring.

Cape Winelands: Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek 

The most famous Cape Winelands areas of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl are within an easy 30 or 40 minute drive from your Cape Winelands luxury accommodation and offer a huge array of historic and scenic wineries as well as exceptional wines. Enjoy some wine tasting and sun out on any of these exquisite estates and wineries.
 
Stellenbosch Winelands
Blaauwklippen
Blaauwklippen dates back more than 3 centuries and has recently been restored to its former glory. This beautiful estate features a lovingly restored 18th century Cape homestead, a collection of antique carriages and furniture, a new tasting centre and superb restaurant and function facilities. It also has spectacular views and top quality wines. If the weather permits you can enjoy a leisurely carriage ride through the estate and vineyards.

Morgenhof
Set against the backdrop of the Simonsberg Mountains, Morgenhof Farm’s history dates back to grape growers in the 1600s. Madame Anne Cointreau from Cognac took over and upgraded the farm in 1993 and now the typically French architecture is set off beautifully by the centrepiece rose garden. There are daily tastings and tours through the hidden underground red wine barrel maturation cellar, while a la carte lunches can be enjoyed in the garden in summer or in the glass gazebo with a fireplace during winter.

Neetlingshof
A long, shady avenue of pine trees leads into the pretty gardens of the Neetlingshof wine estate. Guests are offered guided estate tours of the cellars and vineyards, dating back to 1692, on a tractor-drawn trailer, while private wine tastings are offered outside. The Neetlingshof restaurant offers traditional South African lunches, namely the barbeque, on the terrace overlooking the beautiful estate.

Spier Cellars
Spier is a more tourist-orientated estate and as such offers a wide range of attractions and facilities, making it a good choice if you have children. There is a choice of restaurants for lunch and dinners, the most popular being Moyo, which features tables in tree houses, tribal dancing and an African cuisine buffet. Picnic baskets can be ordered in the summer from the Spier Farm Stall for picnics on the grounds, and there is even a cheetah park.

Franschhoek Winelands
Boschendal
The oak-lined avenues and authentic Cape Dutch buildings give this well-established estate a graceful air of new world elegance and old world charm. The estate produces 3 collections of wines - the Estate Collection, the Historic Collection and Le Pavillon. A short morning drive from your Cape Winelands luxury accommodation, buffet lunches can be enjoyed at the Boschendal restaurant.

Cabriere Estate
Cabriere was the first South African wine estate to specialise in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. However, it also produces an exceptional range of brandies and dessert wines. Cellar tours given by proprietor Achim von Arnim on Saturdays at 11h00. The food served at the Haute Cabriere restaurant provides the ideal compliment to the estate’s wine.

La Motte
La Motte is where wine lovers can set their wine-tasting off with some fine music appreciation, as concerts are frequently held at this wine estate. La Motte has won a host of international awards for its highly sought-after wines, and its range includes some outstanding reds.

Paarl Winelands
Nederberg
Nederberg wines are famous worldwide, having won more local and international awards than any other South African wine estate. This lovely homestead is set against the dramatic Drakenstein Mountains and was built in the 1800’s. Informal wine tasting and cellar tours in a choice of languages are on offer, while summer picnics can be made by appointment between November and February.

Fairview Wine Estate
On the scenic slopes of Paarl Mountain, Fairview certainly lives up to its name with its beautiful surroundings. While its main focus is on its select but choice range of wines, this estate also produces an extremely popular range of cheeses made from sheep's milk, goat's milk and cow's milk. Wine and cheese tasting is open on weekdays, Saturday mornings and on public holidays.

KWV
The globally celebrated KWV Emporium (cellar complex) is the largest in the world. Over 100 wines and a range of various fortified wines and brandies are produced by KWV for the international market. KWV also houses the five biggest vats in the world under one roof and offer several tours each day.

There are hundreds more wineries close to your Cape Winelands luxury accommodation, and the exploration of lesser-known wineries is a wonderful adventure. So start with some of the above estates, and you may well want to continue exploring on your own.