Cape Winelands

Rows of vines climb toward jagged mountains, gabled Cape Dutch manor houses gleam white in the sun, and lunch has a way of stretching into the late afternoon. The Cape Winelands rank among the most beautiful wine regions anywhere, and their history runs deep: vines were first planted at the Cape in the 1650s.

Three valleys, three moods

Stellenbosch, South Africa's second-oldest town, is a lively university town of oak-lined streets and galleries, surrounded by estates known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends. Franschhoek, settled by French Huguenot refugees in the late 1600s, sits in a spectacular mountain valley and is famous for its restaurants, boutique hotels and wine tram. Paarl, beneath its giant granite domes, is more relaxed and less visited, with excellent estates and the Afrikaans Language Monument.

Across the region you can taste Pinotage, South Africa's own cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault, alongside the Chenin Blanc for which the Cape is internationally known.

More than tastings

Beyond the cellar doors, you can join cellar tours and blending sessions, cycle or ride horses through the vineyards, hike in mountain nature reserves and explore a thriving food scene. The region's history is also being told more fully, including the stories of the enslaved people and farmworkers whose labor built the estates, and a new generation of Black winemakers and wine brands is reshaping the industry.

How we plan the Winelands

Two or three nights in the Winelands pair naturally with Cape Town, whether as a relaxing finale to a safari or a honeymoon highlight. We arrange a private driver or guide so you can taste freely, choose estates to suit your palate and reserve tables at the restaurants that book up fastest. It's an easy addition to our Cape Town + Kruger journey.