Last Updated on October 12, 2024 by Hannah Stephenson
Wine tasting is a quintessential Cape Town activity. The Western Cape is famous for its wine, and we locals drink it by the bucketload. So it would almost be rude not to visit one of the area’s fantastic wine routes while you’re here!
There are four main wine regions in and around Cape Town. I’ve visited each one several times (hey, it’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it!) In this guide, I’ll take you through each one and share the top wineries and best ways to visit.
Cheers!
About Wine Tasting in Cape Town
How much does it cost?
Cape Town is known for its fantastic and affordable wine. You really don’t need to spend a ton to find great vino here.
Most tasting fees fall somewhere between R80 and R175. However, I have done tastings that cost as little as R50!
The history of wine in Cape Town
The first wine grapes were actually planted in Cape Town back in the 1600s by Jan van Riebeeck, the (in)famous Dutch coloniser. Sailors would stop at the Cape of Good Hope on the way along the spice route, and the wine was intended to ward off scurvy!
However, South African wines didn’t receive a lot of international attention until the 1990s when Apartheid came to an end and market boycotts and sanctions were lifted. Since then, the country’s wine industry has caught up pretty fast!
What kinds of wine can I taste?
As for what you’ll be tasting, the Western Cape is particularly known for chenin blanc and pinotage. Lots of international grape varieties thrive here, too, though. The varied terroirs, hilly landscape, sunshine, and cooling ocean breeze mean that an impressive range of wines are produced here.
What are the main wine regions in Cape Town?
There are four main wine regions to explore around Cape Town, namely:
- Stellenbosch
- Franschhoek
- Constantia
- Durbanville
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are definitely Cape Town’s most famous wine regions. They’re located close together, about an hour from Cape Town. They’re their own separate municipalities, while Constantia and Durbanville are suburbs of Cape Town.
The latter two are definitely quieter, but trust me, they are just as worthy of a visit, so don’t discount them!
How to get around while wine tasting?
And as for how to get around while wine tasting, I usually book some kind of tour. That way, no-one has to be the designated driver and miss out on all of the tasting fun!
There are affordable and relaxed hop-on hop-off wine tours that you can take, which give you tons of flexibility and are so much fun. I LOVE these types of tours!
But if you’re classier than me, and are looking for a more refined experience, then there are plenty of private and small group tours available. These usually involve a private driver who will take you to several wine farms over the course of the day.
I’ll mention the best tour options later on in the blog as I take you through each wine region. However, my personal all-time favourites are:
And in case you were wondering, no, it’s not a good idea to Uber around any of the wine regions!
Usually, it’s easy to take an Uber out to said wine region, but once you’re there, it’s difficult to get around and get back. Honestly, who needs the stress?
I often find that using Uber works out more expensive than booking a tour, too, especially if prices surge.
Wine Tasting Regions in Cape Town
Constantia
Constantia is an affluent suburb of Cape Town. It’s the home of many wealthy families – and many wine estates! It’s actually home to Cape Town’s oldest wine farm, Groot Constantia, which was established in 1685.
Now, I’m no sommelier, but I think that Constantia has some of the best quality wine in Cape Town. It’s also easy to visit, since it’s close to the city.
It’s perhaps not quite as stunning as Stellenbosch or Franschhoek, but it’s still very pretty and the wineries here are lovely.
My favourite wine farms in Constantia
Beau Constantia
Beau Constantia is the most famous wine farm in Constantia! It’s situated on the slope of the Constantia Mountains. It’s sleek and modern, with amazing views. I love wine tasting here because the glass tasting room and spacious outdoor terrace offer beautiful views of the estate’s terraced vineyards, and Constantia’s rolling hills.
Groot Constantia
Groot Constantia has to be my favourite wine farm in Constantia! It’s the oldest winery in the whole of South Africa and I think that the wines here are hard to beat. Plus, you get a free wine glass to keep every time that you do a tasting!
Constantia Glen
Constantia Glen is a refined winery cradled between the Table Mountain and Constantiaberg ranges. I love the tasting room here because it has an old-world feel and offers lovely views. Oh, and the food is amazing.
Best wine tours of Constantia
The Constantia Wine Bus
Personally, I love the Constantia wine bus. I’ve got a full review and guide here, but basically, it’s a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus that transports you between wine farms, including Groot Constantia and Beau Constantia.
It’s flexible, affordable, and such a fun day out!
Click here to book your spot on the Constantia wine bus!
Constantia Wine Walk
If you would prefer a private experience, then I highly recommend this Constantia wine walk. This private walking tour is an awesome way to discover the history of winemaking in South Africa, as well as tasting at least 10 different wines along the way!
It begins at Groot Constantia and takes you on a loop around the area’s three oldest wine farms to discover Cape Town’s centuries-old winemaking traditions.
You can grab your spot here, with free cancellation!
Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch is a cute university town filled with white Cape Dutch buildings, and it’s surrounded by wine farms! In fact, a lot of Cape Town’s biggest selling wine brands have farms out here, including Spier, Simonsig, and JC Le Roux.
Stellies is roughly a 45-minute drive from Cape Town, and it’s most definitely worth a visit. There are some fantastic restaurants here, too, like Post & Pepper!
Another great thing about wine tasting in Stellenbosch is that it’s right next to Franschhoek, so lots of wine tours visit both regions.
My favourite wine farms in Stellenbosch
Waterford
Waterford Estate is home to a gorgeous Italian-style courtyard, so it’s always a pleasure to go tasting here! The last time I visited, I did the wine and chocolate pairing, which was so delicious.
Simonsig
Simonsig is a very well-known brand of bubbly in South Africa, so I loved being able to do a tasting here! I visited on the winelands tour, which meant that I also got to enjoy a cellar tour and sabrage display.
Dornier
Dornier is truly one of the most beautiful wineries I have ever been to. It’s nestled at the foot of the Stellenbosch mountains, and it boasts modern architecture and a beautiful balcony that’s ideal for al fresco wine tasting on a sunny day.
Best wine tours in Stellenbosch
The wine tractor
How much fun does a hop-on hop-off wine tractor sound?
For R390, this is a novel and cost-effective way to travel between wine farms. You get to decide which wineries you hop off and visit, but the tractor passes 8 different estates, so there’s plenty of choice!
Plus, if you’re coming to Stellenbosch from Cape Town, you can arrange a return shuttle for an extra R300 per person, so there’s no need to worry about a designated driver.
Grab your spot on the wine tractor here, with free cancellation!
Cape Winelands Group Tour
When my friend, Liam, came to visit, he was eager to explore the winelands and so we booked this group tour from Cape Town, which took us to Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl.
You can read my full review here, but we got breakfast, a cellar tour, and a sabrage demonstration at Simonsig in Stellenbosch, which was so much fun. Our guide also took us on a guided walk through the town.
As well as Stellies, we had time to see Franschhoek’s picture-perfect town centre and visit one of the area’s most renowned wineries. Then, we finished the day with an epic wine and chocolate pairing at a stunning winery in Paarl!
Find out more about the Cape Winelands tour here, and read over 2,000 5-star reviews!
Private wine tour of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek
This top-rated wine tour is my top choice for anyone who wants to do a private wine tour from Cape Town! It visits 4 wineries in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, and you’re in control of the itinerary!
You can ask your guide to take you to specific wineries if you’ve already got some in mind, or you can leave it all up to them and just go with the flow. Either way, the hundreds of glowing reviews promise that you’re in for a fantastic day.
You can book your private wine tour here, with free cancellation!
Franschhoek
Franschhoek is famous – or should that be infamous? – for its wine tram!
You don’t have to explore Franschhoek’s wineries this way, but as far as I know, it’s the only wine tram in the world, so why not take advantage? It really is so much fun, and a unique way to go wine tasting!
There are tons of wineries in Franschhoek, and the tram has several different routes you can take. My favourite overall is the Navy Line but to be honest, it doesn’t matter too much which route you take.
My favourite wine farms in Franschhoek
Bartinney (Navy Line)
Bartinney has a lovely balcony with fantastic views over the surrounding valley. I love the wine here and the cheese board was to die for!
Plaisir Estate (Navy Line)
Plaisir has some of the best wine in Franschhoek if you ask me, especially their bubbles! The sommeliers here were so friendly and there’s a food market on site, too.
Holden Manz (Blue Line)
Holden Manz is definitely up there in terms of views. I love sitting out on the balcony here, although it’s also nice and cosy inside when the weather’s bad. There’s also a pretty pond area where we all ended up lounging after a day of wine tasting.
Le Pommier (Navy Line)
Le Pommier is so beautiful that my photos actually look edited, but I promise, they’re not! I paid R55 for a wine tasting here, so it’s also a really affordable one to visit.
Le Lude (Red Line)
Le Lude is famous for its high quality bubbly. I loved doing a cap classique tasting here.
Vrede en Lust (Navy Line)
Vrede en Lust has a spacious outdoor terrace with amazing views, and the staff wear beautiful red dresses, so it has a very classy vibe. The wine here was fantastic and I would really love to stay in the luxurious on-site cottages here one day.
Best wine tours in Franschhoek
The Wine Tram
As far as I’m concerned, the wine tram is really the only way to do Franschhoek! If you’re going to be staying in Franschhoek then you can grab your tickets in person or reserve them online.
However, if you want to do the wine tram on a day trip from Cape Town, then I highly recommend booking the wine tram explorer tour. It includes tram tickets and return transport between Cape Town and Franschhoek for R750.
You can read my full review here, but I think that this is the easiest and most affordable way to experience the Franschhoek wine tram from Cape Town!
Grab your spot on the wine tram tour here, with free cancellation!
Durbanville
Durbanville is a suburb on the northeastern outskirts of Cape Town. It’s roughly a 35-minute drive from the city centre, and boasts 13 wine farms. It’s not as well known as the other areas that I’ve mentioned, but there are some real gems here that are definitely worth exploring.
This wine route is much less touristy than the others I’ve mentioned, so if you want to go wine tasting like a Cape Town local, this area is perfect!
My favourite wine farms in Durbanville
De Grendel
De Grendel was the first winery that I ever visited in South Africa, and for that reason, it will always have a special place in my heart. Well, that, and the fact that it’s reminiscent of a European chateau and boasts incredible views of Table Mountain.
D’Aria
D’Aria has a gorgeous terrace and an amazing on-site restaurant that makes the best cheesecake I’ve ever had.
Klein Rosboom
Klein Rosboom is a boutique winery that’s home to cosy tasting caves, made out of former concrete fermentation tanks. In some of them, you can see stain lines indicating where the wine levels once reached!
These caves are private and can seat between 1-8 people, but of course, everyone wants to sit in them so I recommend making a reservation!
Best wine tours in Durbanville
The Durbanville wine route is not as popular with tourists as Cape Town’s other wine regions, so you’ll need to plan your own day.
You can either arrange a rental car and someone will have to be the designated driver. Or, you can book a private driver. Howie’s Transport is a reputable local agency with lots of 5 star reviews on TripAdvisor, although I haven’t used them myself (yet).