Stellenbosch, Franschoek, Paarl - the best wines in South Africa are to be found in the Winelands.
Stellenbosch, Franschoek, Paarl - the best wines in South Africa can be found in the Winelands. This is where the South African wine scene began in 1659, and today there are more than 200 wineries in the region, most of which are open for cellar tours and wine tastings.
Wine tastings directly at the winery are particularly popular. I have been to this region three times and have visited some wineries, explored places and done other activities besides wine tasting. Here you will find everything you need to know about South Africa's most famous wine region.
The Winelands are located in the Western Cape Province, just an hour's drive from Cape Town. The best time to visit is during harvest time (February to April), when you can watch the grape harvest and pressing and enjoy the festive atmosphere at the many open-air markets and wine festivals.
Wine tastings directly at the winery are particularly popular. I have already been to this region three times and have visited some wineries, explored places and done other activities besides wine tasting. Here you will find everything you need to know about South Africa's most famous wine region.
Wineries I visited:
Kleine Salze, Stellenbosch (+1 night).
Boschendal, Franschhoel
Solms Delta, Franschhoek
Mont Rochelle Wine Estate, Franschhoek (owned by Sir Richard Branson)
Delheim Wine Farm, Stellenbosch
Tasting at Brampton (in Stellenbosch)
There are three main wine routes in the Winelands
Each with its own unique character. The Stellenbosch Wine Route is the oldest and most famous and has a long tradition of producing fine wines. Franschhoek is the destination for gourmet food and wine, while Paarl is known for its brandy and port.
Whichever route you choose, you'll find plenty of opportunities to sample some of South Africa's finest wines. And with so many beautiful places to explore, you'll want to extend your stay in the Winelands far beyond a day trip!
The Stellenbosch Wine Route is the oldest and most famous, with more than 50 wineries.
The town of Stellenbosch, which gives the route its name, is also the second oldest town in South Africa. The well-preserved Cape Dutch and Georgian buildings bear witness to the area's rich history.
The route winds through the picturesque Jonkershoek and Helderberg valleys to the coastal town of Somerset West. Along the way, there are plenty of places to stop and sample some of the region's signature red wines such as Pinotage and Shiraz. If you're looking for a more intimate wine tasting experience, many of the wineries offer private tastings by appointment. The scenery becomes even more breathtaking when you head to Franschhoek, which lies in a valley surrounded by the towering Drakenstein and Wemmershoek mountains. This is the ideal place to enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the many world-class restaurants .
Paarl, with Table Mountain in the background, is the third largest town in the Western Cape. The town is best known for its massive granite rocks, but it also has a thriving wine industry. Paarl produces some of South Africa's finest brandies and ports.
If you want to learn more about winemaking, many wineries offer tours and tastings. And there are plenty of wineries that offer accommodation so you can really enjoy the Winelands!
Whether you're a wine connoisseur or just starting to explore the world of wine, the Winelands are the perfect destination for a holiday in South Africa. With its stunning scenery and abundance of fine wines, it's easy to see why this region is so popular with visitors from all over the world.
The Franschhoek Wine Route is situated in one of South Africa's most picturesque villages.
The scenery becomes even more breathtaking when you head to Franschhoek, which lies in a valley surrounded by the towering Drakenstein and Wemmershoek mountains. This is the ideal place to enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the many world-class restaurants .
The route winds through the picturesque Franschhoek Valley, home to some of the country's finest wines. The route takes in more than 30 wine estates, each with its own character.
Franschhoek is not known as the food and wine capital of South Africa for nothing. There are dozens of world-class restaurants and many opportunities to sample the region's signature red wines. If you are looking for a more intimate wine tasting experience, many of the wineries offer private tastings by appointment.
Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa. It owes its fame mainly to the first-class wines, the beautiful white Cape Dutch Victorian houses and a first-class university.
You can explore all this on foot along the oak-covered streets. Either on your own (there are excellent maps in every accommodation) or as part of a city tour (tip: Bites and Sites).
If you only have a short time for the wine region, you should choose Stellenbosch as your starting point. It's a great place to stay, there's plenty of accommodation (also outside the wineries) and very good restaurants in the town itself.
My tips for wineries and things to do in Stellenbosch:
Slow Market Stellenbosch
The Slow Market in Stellenbosch takes place every Saturday. The farmers' market offers everything from good coffee and bread to cheese, smoked sausages and cakes. We ate our way through it for hours. Only the oysters were not to our liking.
Address of the market: Oude Libertas Estate, corner of Adam Tas and Oude Libertas Street, Stellenbosch.
Foodies on Foot
I highly recommend the "Foodies on Foot" tour. Apart from historical places, you will visit great cafés, restaurants and shops. The half-day tour is enough to give you an overview.
Kleine Salze Winery
I spent a night at the Kleine Salze wine estate. Very worthwhile is the associated restaurant
View over the vineyards of Kleine Zalze 
Welcome drink in the room de Kleine Zalze
Delheim Winery
A special highlight at Delheim is a wine tasting with cupcakes. Highly recommended! For those who do not speak English: The owners are German, and German is also spoken.
Wine tasting with cupcakes at Dellheim Wine Farm 
Franschhoek
Boschendal
Founded in 1685, the Boschendal Wine Farm is a pearl of Cape Dutch architecture. Tourists mainly undertake wine tastings here. Cellar tours and vineyard walks followed by tastings are also offered here.
Here you can enjoy wine tasting, cellar tours, vineyard walks and French cuisine.
Solms Delta
Mont Rochelle Wine Estate
Mont Rochelle Wine Estate is owned by Sir Richard Branson and is situated in the Franschhoek Valley. The estate has 22 hectares of vineyards and offers a fantastic view over the valley.
There are also several walking trails on the estate that pass by some of the vineyards.
Mont Rochelle Wine Estate, Frankschhoek (owned by Sir Richard Branson)
Paarl
Paarl is considered the cradle of South African wine and is home to some of the oldest vineyards in the country. The area is known for its full-bodied red wines and many of the wineries offer tours and tastings.
Paarl is home to a number of excellent restaurants offering everything from traditional Cape Malay cuisine to French fine dining.
Brampton Wine Estate offers one of the best wine tastings in Paarl. Here you can sample up to six different wines, including some of the award-winning vintages. The winery also has a restaurant that serves gourmet dishes, and a
More info on Stellenbosch
Getting there
From Cape Town it is best to drive your own rental car via the N1 or N2 in less than an hour. Alternatively, there are day trips from Cape Town. Bookable at Get your Guide.
For backpackers there is the Baz Bus, which also serves Stellenbosch.
Best time to travel
The best months are from September to April. Temperatures average 25 - 34 degrees. September is the coolest month, February the hottest. Especially during the South African summer holidays around Christmas and New Year's Eve it is very crowded here. From the 2nd week of January, prices plummet.
Safety
I find Stellenbosch very safe. We have driven ourselves at night than walked through the idyllic town.
What are your highlights in the Winelands in South Africa?
Have you been to the Winelands and have any other tips? Tell me where you stayed and which wineries you visited. Leave a comment at the end of the article. We would really appreciate it!