Stellenbosch Wine Tractor – Everything You Need to Know! 

Last Updated on March 21, 2025 by Hannah Stephenson

The Stellenbosch wine tractor is the latest and greatest way to explore the winelands. It’s a hop-on hop-off experience that allows you to roam around one of South Africa’s famous wine regions in a novel way. 

As soon as I learned about the wine tractor, I knew I just had to try it! So my friends and I headed out to Stellenbosch on a gloriously sunny Saturday and had a blast visiting some fantastic wineries.

So if you’re curious about how the Stellenbosch wine tractor works or are just wondering if it’s the right experience for you, stay tuned. I’ve got all the need-to-know info, from prices and start times to the best wineries to visit. Cheers!

Is the wine tractor new?

Yeah, baby! It launched in early 2024. So even if you’ve been to Cape Town before, the wine tractor may not have been available then. 

It’s basically Stellenbosch’s alternative to the Franschhoek wine tram, which has been carting tourists between wine farms since 2012. I was so excited when this was launched because previously, wine tasting in Stellenbosch either required someone to stay sober, or a private driver.

How does the Stellenbosch wine tractor work?

The wine tractor is a hop-on hop-off experience. It’s super flexible and staff are always on hand to help, so there’s no need to stress about timetables. 

The tractor is based at Eikendal Vineyards. When we arrived, the staff gave us some information and helped us decide which wineries we wanted to visit. Then, they told us which order to go in, since different wineries open and close at different times.

The tractors go back and forth between Eikendal and the other wineries all day long. We never had to wait too long for our next ride!

Some of the tractors shuttled us between Eikendal and a single winery while others followed a longer route and stopped at multiple estates. It all depends on the schedule for the day but the good news is that you don’t have to figure it out for yourself! The staff keep track of everything and let you know which tractor to hop on and when. 

How many wineries can you visit on the Stellenbosch wine tractor?

The route covers eight wineries, and you’ll be able to visit three to five of them, depending on the start time you choose. We started at 10:30 am and had time to visit four wineries. For us, that was just right! 

Pros of the Stellenbosch Wine Tractor

• Convenience – It’s an easy way to explore the Stellenbosch wineries without having to organise anything yourself
• Affordability – Doing the Stellenbosch is cheaper than hiring a private driver to take you between wineries 
• Great atmosphere – The wine tractor is a great way to meet new people! I even found some fellow Cambridge natives on this tour, which NEVER happens to me
• Fun experience – Being ferried between wineries on a tractor and trailer was a blast! The views were beautiful, too. 
• Beautiful wineries – I discovered some truly incredible wineries on this tour that I never would have visited otherwise. 
• Great guides – The guides were so friendly and patient. 

Cons of the Stellenbosch Wine Tractor

Honestly, I can’t think of any! The only thing I would say is that if you’re looking for a really refined day out with dignified company, you might be better off going for a private wine tour instead.

While the wine tractor is not designed to get rowdy but it’s a full day shared wine tasting tour. It’s a given that there will be a pretty lively atmosphere after the first one or two stops!

When does the Stellenbosch Wine Tractor operate?

The wine tractor operates every day except Monday! There’s a range of start times, which are as follows:

• 9:30 am 
• 10:30 am 
• 11:30 am 
• 12:30 pm 

The last tractor of the day gets back to Eikendal at 6:35 pm, but you can head back earlier if you wish! 

We went for the 10:30 am start time, as that’s the option you have to choose if you want a shuttle transfer from the city. 

Tip: If you want your day to last for as long as possible, choose Peter Falke as your final winery of the day. It’s the last one to close!

How much does the Stellenbosch wine tractor cost?

The wine tractor costs R300 per person, which includes your tractor rides and a welcome glass of rosé at Eikendal. 

If you would like return transport from Cape Town city center, that will cost an extra R350 per person. 

Then, there are some optional extras, such as celebration cupcakes. You can also go for an all-inclusive package for R600 per person, which includes 4 wine tastings and lunch.

How much do wine tastings cost?

There are often different tasting options available so it does depend on what tickles your fancy, but everything that we did fell within the range of R100 – R150 (before tip). This usually covers 4 – 5 wines. 

I spent R695 in total on three tastings, lunch, and a shared bottle of bubbly at Peter Falke (our palettes had all but evaporated by the end). That includes tips – for more on South Africa’s tipping culture, check out this article.

So with all food, wine, and transport totted up, I spent R1,345 on the wine tractor. 

Is the shuttle service worth it?

For us, it definitely was! We met our friendly driver, Garth, outside the Gardens Bowling Club. He was super nice and even checked in on us throughout the day to make sure that we were getting on okay. 

Having our own shuttle meant that we didn’t have to wait around for Ubers. It was so much easier, not to mention cheaper.

How do you book the Stellenbosch wine tractor?

We booked the wine tractor online, via the official website. I would suggest booking at least a few days in advance, perhaps more if you’re in a large group. 

Which wineries can you visit on the Stellenbosch wine tractor?

The wine tractor route covers the following Stellenbosch wineries:

• Alto
• Annandale 
• Peter Falke 
• Webersburg
• Longridge 
• Grangehurst
• Eikendal (base)
• Avontuur

We did tastings at four of these wineries: Avontuur, Longridge, Alto, and Peter Falke. I highly recommend having lunch at Alto! 

Alto and Peter Falke were my favourites of the day. I did really enjoy Avontuur, too. I wasn’t overly impressed with Longridge, I must say. 

It wasn’t bad at all, but the tasting wasn’t paced quite right so we waited ages for our final glass and then had to down it because the tractor turned up. The tasting room didn’t have views to match the other wineries, either. 

Can I buy wine en route?

Yes, of course! Best of all, you won’t even have to cart it around with you all day. 

At the start of the day, the staff will give you a pamphlet with an order form. You can fill it in as you discover new wines throughout the day, and then at the end of the day the staff at the ticket office in Eikendal will arrange to ship it back to either Cape Town for you, or your home address.

Yup, that’s right! No need to stuff wine bottles in your suitcase and pray that they don’t break. 

My experience on the wine tractor 

My friends and I took an Uber to Gardens Bowling Club in the morning, ready to meet our driver at 9:30 am. We got there at about 9:15 am and as we were the only three people in the shuttle, we took off straight away! 

On the way, Garth told us that he would happily bring us back to the city early if any of us started to feel unwell – clearly, he’s seen his share of wine-loving tourists! Then he dropped us up at Eikendal and we went to the ticket office to get our wristbands.

We were greeted with a welcome glass of rosé and had some time to chill out in the garden before climbing aboard the tractor. Before we departed, we chatted with the guides, who advised us on which wineries to visit.

Avontuur

We ended up visiting Avontuur first, as they were closing for a wedding at midday. This was a beautiful winery with a tasting terrace shaded by beautiful red foliage. We enjoyed a tasting of four different wines here before the tractor came back to pick us up after about an hour. 

Longridge

The tractor then took us back to Eikendal, where we waited for a different tractor to take us to our second winery. We were going to visit Grangehurst, but the tractor stopped outside Longridge first. Our guide introduced it as an organic, vegan winery that specialises in red wines and with a red wine-loving vegan in our group, we felt like we just had to hop off here!

In hindsight, I wish we had continued onto Grangehurst after all. Longridge was nice but the tasting experience was just okay. It didn’t wow me like the other wineries did!

Alto

However, our next stop was Alto which more than made up for it. We ended up spending a LONG time here. I actually thought we had missed the tractor! The views were gorgeous, the red wine was fantastic, and they served incredible Mediterranean food. I loved everything about it. 

Unfortunately, Alto is closed for renovations until June 2025. Watch this space!

Peter Falke

Then, we ended on a high note at Peter Falke. It’s a beautiful winery with a gorgeous tasting garden. There are bean bags and games here, and I would genuinely come and spend an entire day here just drinking wine in the sunshine. We decided to share a bottle of bubbles here instead of doing another tasting, and it was the perfect way to end the experience. 

After that, it was back to Eikendal one more time. We met Garth here and headed back to the city, feeling tipsy but cheerful! 

How does the Stellenbosch wine tractor compare to the Franschhoek wine tram?

Well! I love them both, and in many ways they’re pretty similar. In terms of price, there’s not much to it. You also get to visit a similar amount of wineries. 

However, the wine tractor has less travel time between wineries, which I think is a big plus. Nothing kills your buzz like half an hour in a tram bus.

Speaking of which, the wine tram actually has you traveling on a bus for much of the time, which some people find a bit misleading. However, the wine tractor has you on a tractor the whole time. 

The welcome drinks also differ! With the Franschhoek wine tram, we got plastic tasting glasses, whereas we were welcomed with a proper glass of crisp rosé at Eikendal with the Stellenbosch wine tractor. 

The wine tractor also offers more flexibility, which is a big pro. The Franschhoek wine tram is a hop-on hop-off experience but it feels a bit more rigid, whereas things just felt more laissez-faire in Stellies.

But of course, the wine tram is iconic, whereas the wine tractor is a newer experience. But I reckon it’s definitely here to stay because it’s just so much fun!

Are you affiliated with the Stellenbosch wine tractor?

Nope! I don’t work with them and haven’t been compensated for this review in any way. None of the booking links in this post are affiliate links, either. This is a totally independent review!

Would I do the Stellenbosch wine tractor again?

ABSOLUTELY! I would definitely visit Alto and Peter Falke again, too, and then try two other wineries on the route. 

I think it’s great value for money, super convenient, and so much fun. In fact, I can’t wait to hop aboard the wine tractor again soon. 

You can book your spot on the Stellenbosch wine tractor here!

Thanks so much for reading this blog post! Wine tasting in Cape Town is so much fun, and I hope you have a great time. For more on exploring the Mother City, be sure to check out the following articles:

• Hiking India Venster – What You Need to Know!
• Where to Find the Best Views in Cape Town – A Local’s Guide
• How to Visit the Langebaan Lagoon in West Coast National Park 
• What to SKIP in Cape Town
• The 25 BEST Things to Do in Cape Town at Night 
• Champagne Sunset Cruise in Cape Town – Is It Worth it? (Honest Review!)