Last Updated on September 13, 2024 by Hannah Stephenson
Franschhoek and Constantia are two of Cape Town’s top wine regions, but which is better?
I’ve done the Franschhoek wine tram a few times and I’ve actually lost count of how many times I’ve gone tasting in Constantia. So if you don’t have time to read the full article, I’ll just say this: I love them both, but the wine tram is my favourite!
Honestly, I would recommend doing them both if you can. Still, if you only have time to visit one, then you’re going to have to make a choice so I’ve written this blog comparing the two, point-by-point.
Really, you’re going to have a great time whichever one you choose – so cheers to that!
- About Franschhoek
- About Constantia
- Which one is easier to get to?
- Which one has more wine farms?
- Which one is more beautiful?
- Which one is cheaper?
- Which one involves more planning?
- What are the best wine farms in Franschhoek?
- What are the best wine farms in Constantia?
- Which one is more fun?
- Which one has better quality wine?
- Conclusion – who’s the winner?
About Franschhoek
There are tons of wine farms to explore in the Franschhoek wine valley, and lots of them are connected by the famous (or should that be notorious?) wine tram.
In fact, as far as I am aware, this is the only wine tram in the world!
It’s not like the wine in Franschhoek is the best in the world. I think Constantia actually wins out on this point! However, Franschhoek is stunning, with a more dramatic landscape.
However, the wine tram is all about the experience. And trust me, it’s a blast! It’s such a unique thing to do, and it really has the novelty factor.
You can also read my full review of the Franschhoek wine tram here!
About Constantia
Constantia is a leafy, affluent suburb of Cape Town. It’s about half an hour’s drive from the central areas, and it’s known for its cool climate wines.
I think that Franschhoek is more beautiful than Constantia, but trust me, this area ain’t too shabby!
Unlike Franschhoek, Constantia doesn’t have a wine tram, but there’s a sightseeing bus that can take you between some of the farms. It’s easy, affordable, and a bit more flexible than the wine tram.
You can read my full review of the Constantia wine bus here!
Which one is easier to get to?
Constantia, but only marginally. There are a few caveats to this, so allow me to explain…
If you’re driving, Ubering, or using a private driver, then Constantia is much quicker to get to. It only takes half an hour, whereas Franschhoek is an hour away.
However, my favourite way to go wine tasting in Constantia is to use the wine bus, because using Uber can be a bit of a pain out there.
And for Franschhoek, I love doing the wine tram explorer tour. This includes tram tickets and return transport from Cape Town. This way, I don’t have to stay overnight there, or spend loads on a private driver.
With both of these tours, the journey to the first wine farm of the day ends up taking about an hour, so it doesn’t really make a difference. You do have a bit more flexibility with visiting Constantia though, as you can head back to the city early if you like.
Which one has more wine farms?
Franschhoek! There are WAY more wine farms here. I believe there are 10 wine farms in Constantia, although not all of them are open for tastings.
Meanwhile, there are about 45 wine farms in Franschhoek.
If you do the Constantia wine bus, you’ll be able to visit three wine farms in a day.
However, the Franschhoek wine tram allows you to visit up to five. Personally, though, I like to visit four and enjoy a long, leisurely lunch at one of the estates – usually Bartinney!
Which one is more beautiful?
I’d have to say Franschhoek. The scenery is more dramatic, with craggy mountains and stunning valley views. However, they are both really pretty.
Which one is cheaper?
I usually find that it works out a bit cheaper to go to Constantia, once you factor in transport, tastings, and food.
When I take the wine bus, I usually end up spending around R1000, whereas in Franschhoek it’s more like R1,300. It’s not a huge difference, but of course it depends on your budget.
Which one involves more planning?
To be honest, neither of them involves a ton of planning. I would definitely recommend booking the Franschhoek wine tram in advance, though.
For the Constantia wine bus, you can book online, but to be honest I’ve often just turned up at the visitor centre and bought my ticket on the day.
What are the best wine farms in Franschhoek?
Bartinney
Bartinney is my favourite wine farm ever!
The views are stunning, I love the MCC here, and the cheeseboard was out of this world.
We chose to stay here for two hours when we did the wine tram because we were all just enjoying the wine and the scenery so much. This one’s on the Navy tram route.
Plaisir Platform
Plaisir Platform is another gem on the Navy route! We started on the tram, rather than the tram bus, so it was our first wine farm of the day and it definitely kicked things off on the right note.
The staff were lovely, the wine was some of the best I’ve had in Franschhoek, and there was also a food market on site so we were able to grab some breakfast to line our stomachs with.
Vrede en Lust
I can’t remember her name, but I have to give a huge shout out to the sommelier at Vrede en Lust got a group of eight slightly tipsy people through a deluxe tasting in just under an hour. She was fantastic and didn’t make us feel rushed, even though the tasting we chose was quite ambitious for the timeframe.
Again, the views here are just beautiful and we managed to snag the best table! We only spent an hour here but I could have happily stayed for two. Again, this one’s on the Navy route.
Le Lude
Le Lude is on both the Blue and Green wine tram lines, and it’s known for its fantastic cap classique, which is essentially South African champagne.
Because, you know, the whole champagne-only-comes-from-France thing.
Anyway, the bubbly at Le Lude is super nice and it’s pretty fancy, too! It’s also a very elegant setting for a tasting. I absolutely loved doing a bubbly tasting here, and so if you choose either the Blue or Green route, I would highly recommend stopping here.
You can book the Franschhoek wine tram explorer tour here!
What are the best wine farms in Constantia?
Beau Constantia
Beau Constantia is the grand dame of this leafy suburb. The first time I saw the views here, I was absolutely blown away. You just can’t beat them!
It’s a gorgeous, modern wine farm and the staff really know how to conduct a great tasting. Plus, this is one of the stops on the wine bus route, so it’s really easy to visit.
Constantia Glen
I think of Beau and Glen like twins. Both have stunning views, but Beau is more chic and modern, whereas Glen has old-school charm in spades.
I really enjoyed the white wine tasting here, although the Olivia Grace wine did taste a bit like Ritz crackers.
My friend and I took an Uber out to Constantia Glen, but you could always visit on a day out on the wine bus. Just keep an eye on the time because it’s a 25 to 30 minute walk to the bus stop, but I think it’s totally worth it.
Groot Constantia
Groot Constantia stakes a claim at being the oldest wine farm in South Africa, and it’s always a pleasure to visit.
My friends and I usually start our day out on the wine bus here. It’s a great option for everyone because the tasting menu offers lots of flexibility, and the staff here are always really attentive.
Plus, you get to keep your glass after you’ve finished tasting – my friend, Liam, ended up taking about five of them back to London with him!
You can book the Constantia wine bus here!
Which one is more fun?
It’s a tough call because honestly, they’re both great, but I’d have to say Franschhoek. The tram is a lot of fun, and it’s such a unique thing to do!
Which one has better quality wine?
If you’re serious about wine, Constantia is probably the better choice. Groot Constantia’s wine is fantastic and Beau Constantia’s wines are very experimental, especially the ones that were produced during the pandemic.
Franschhoek relies more on the novelty factor of the tram. Having said that, I did really like the wine at Plaisir Platform and Bartinney.
Personally, I’m not a wine connoisseur, I just like fun days out at beautiful wine farms, so I’d go with Franschhoek. But if you’re doing this to find some truly excellent South African wines, you may prefer Constantia.
Conclusion – who’s the winner?
Drumroll please!
Overall, I have to say… Franschhoek.
I honestly believe that it’s worth visiting both wine regions if you can. I’ve had fantastic days out in both Franschhoek and Constantia. However, if you only have time to do one, I would say go with Franschhoek.
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