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Stellenbosch is a picturesque university town in the Cape Winelands, a 45-minute drive from Cape Town, filled with historic Cape Dutch buildings, ancient oak trees, art galleries and laid-back cafés. A short drive in any direction, along one of the many Stellenbosch Wine Routes, will take you through gorgeous vineyards and imposing mountains. Nestled in the valleys and mountain slopes are some of the most beautiful wineries in the Western Cape. Here are twelve Stellenbosch wineries that I’ve visited and loved, not just because of their fabulous wines but the unique experiences they offer:

Stellenbosch wineries to visit

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A Delaire Graff sunset and wine! A wonderful experience!

Here’s a map of the Stellenbosch wineries mentioned in this post:

Check out a road trip route and the best places to visit in the Cape Winelands.

Lanzerac

Lanzerac Wine Estate is one of the oldest, most luxurious wine estates and hotels in Stellenbosch. It’s also the home of the famous Pinotage varietal. This stunning estate boasts beautiful Cape Dutch architecture, a wine cellar and terrace (for meals and wine-tasting), restaurants and bars. If you’re looking to splurge, I recommend Lanzerac! Read about my stay at Lanzerac.

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Lanzerac vineyards and the Jonkershoek mountains.
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The Lanzerac Hotel & Spa lobby with its stunning wooden beams.
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The lunch platter at the Lanzerac Deli.

Delaire Graff Estate

The Delaire Graff Estate is arguably one of the most spectacularly located wine estates in Stellenbosch. Perched at the top of the Helshoogte Pass, this sprawling estate is a Relaix & Chateaux property and boasts a stunning art collection, beautiful terraces and breathtaking views, lodges, a spa and top-notch restaurants.

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The spectacular view from Delaire Graff.
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Have a glass of Chenin Blanc and enjoy the sunset!

If you’re not staying at Delaire Graff, I suggest making a dinner reservation at the Delaire Graff Restaurant or the Asian-inspired Indochine Restaurant, but arrive just before sunset to enjoy a glass of wine (try the terrific Chenin Blanc or the sublime Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve) on the terrace. The view of the mountains as they changed colours during the sunset is something I’ll never forget!

Vergenoegd Wine Estate

This beautiful estate is one of the first Stellenbosch wineries you’ll pass when you exit the N2 Highway from Cape Town for Stellenbosch.

What makes Vergenoegd absolutely unique is its large population of ducks! The ducks were brought to the estate to assist with pest control and it worked! The duck population is now around 700-800 and they keep the vineyards free of snails and bugs. Drop by at 9:45am or 3:30pm to watch the amazing duck parade (daily). Then grab an artisanal picnic basket and have a relaxing time on the estate’s gorgeous lawns. There are also wine-tasting and wine-blending experiences to choose from. The Vergenoegd duck parade is one of my recommended things to do in Stellenbosch.

 

Jordan Wine Estate

The Jordan Wine Estate covers 164 hectares and is situated in a tranquil corner of Stellenbosch, with rolling landscapes draped with row upon row of vines, and stunning mountain views. Guests can stay at the Jordan Luxury Suites, making this estate a great base from which to explore the winelands. I definitely recommend booking a table for dinner at the Jordan Restaurant. The food and wines are simply exquisite! Read about my stay at the Jordan Wine Estate.

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The vineyards of Jordan Wine Estate.
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The terrace with its beautiful panoramic views.

Dornier Wine Estate

I stayed at Dornier Wine Estate, in their gorgeous villa, and kicked off my stay with a delicious lunch and a wine-pairing. The sun shone brightly, illuminating the spectacular mountains in front of me. When I took that first sip of Chenin Blanc, I tasted its crisp freshness with fruity undertones and smelled its tantalising bouquet. I leaned back in my chair and smiled. The feeling was just heavenly!

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The Cape Dutch architecture of Dornier Wine Estate.
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A delightful Chenin Blanc and superb mountain scenery at Dornier.

Spier Wine Farm

Spier Wine Farm is one of the most renowned and oldest (founded in 1692) wine estates in Stellenbosch. It produces a great variety of excellent wines and is also home to a fantastic restaurant, Eight, which strictly adheres to a ‘farm to table’ policy. The produce from the Spier Farm is incredibly fresh and tasty (their salads are a real treat!); one of many great reasons to visit or stay at Spier. Another great reason is the estate’s magnificent collection of African art that can be found in and around the hotel. The highlight of my stay here was without doubt the Segway tour through the vineyards (with sweeping views of the Stellenbosch mountains) and the vegetable gardens.

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The Spier Wine Farm
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I loved the art collection at Spier!
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Segway tour through the Spier Wine Farm. The Segway guides wear a t-shirt with this photo on it!



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Warwick Wine Estate

Warwick Wine Estate is a lovely winery situated at the foot of the imposing mountains just outside Stellenbosch. There’s plenty to do here: you could opt for a traditional wine-tasting and/or a meal, the Big Five Wine Safari, or a picnic on the green lawns. The Big Five Wine Safari takes visitors up into the hills, past the vineyards and accompanied by expert commentary by the sommelier. There are breathtaking views from the top of the hill. During my visit, we sat at a long table atop the hill and tucked into a variety of home-made tapas whilst enjoying the wine-tasting. It certainly was one of the most memorable wine-tastings I’ve ever done!

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My kind of forecast! 🙂
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A picnic and wine-tasting at a breathtaking spot!
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A panoramic view of the Warwick Wine Estate.

Waterford Estate

I thought the wine-tasting at Warwick was unforgettable but I soon got to experience another unique wine-tasting, this time at the grand Waterford Estate. This winery is simply stunning but it’s the wine-tasting, paired with specially-made chocolates, that made it an unforgettable experience. Chief winemaker, Kevin Arnold, teams up with chocolatier, Richard von Geusau, to create this unique wine-tasting experience. I highly recommend it.

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Waterford Estate
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Wine-tasting at Waterford Estate.
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The wine/chocolate pairing at Waterford Estate.

I also highly recommend a wine safari around the estate. Kevin personally takes his guests in the safari jeep for a drive through the stunning estate, stopping for a wine-tasting between the vines.

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Stunning scenery along the way.
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Wine-tasting in the vineyard, with Table Mountain in the distance.

Middelvlei Wine Estate

My visit to Middelvlei Wines was surely was one of my most memorable experiences in Stellenbosch. I got to blend my own wine and the ‘boere tapas’ (farmer’s tapas) was delicious. You can easily spend an afternoon here, sipping on their superb wines (the Pinotage is my favourite) and feasting on grilled specialties prepared by Middelvlei’s braai master.

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Getting started with the wine-blending session.

Tokara

Perched on the crest of the Helshoogte Pass, one of the most dramatic mountain passes near Stellenbosch, Tokara is a wine and olive farm that’s also home to one of South Africa’s best fine-dining restaurants. From here, the panoramic views of the vineyards, False Bay and Table Mountain in the distance are just gorgeous. The chef uses only the freshest ingredients and expertly blends flavours and aromas to create dishes that are nothing short of spectacular!

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The Tokara experience!

Morgenster Wine & Olive Estate

The Morgenster Estate is situated in Somerset West, about a 20-minute drive from Stellenbosch. This estate has been a wine and olive farm since 1711 and excels in Bordeaux-style wines and superb olive oils. The olive oils are truly outstanding and I can definitely recommend an olive-oil tasting followed by a wine-tasting on their beautiful terrace.

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The lovely terrace has beautiful views of the lake and mountains.
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Olive oil tasting at Morgenster.

Lourensford Estate

This large estate at the foot of the Helderberg Mountains is just up the road from Morgenster. Lourensford Estate boasts a large and modern cellar, a beautiful tasting room, extensive gardens and an excellent restaurant: Millhouse Kitchen. I enjoyed lunch at the Millhouse Kitchen in the shady garden – try the risotto! Every Sunday, you’ll find the Harvest Market, with local vendors selling all sorts of organic produce and arts and crafts. This estate, with its beautiful lawns is perfect for families with kids.

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Lourensford Estate.
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Autumn colours at Lourensford.

There are many other beautiful wineries in Stellenbosch, each with a unique wine offering and ditto experiences. These wineries go above and beyond a typical wine-tasting, combining superb wines with unforgettable moments, the ones that make travel truly special.

Tip: Don’t drink and drive. The Stellenbosch Wine Route is perfect for a road trip from Cape Town but you might want to hire a driver for the winery visits. Uber taxis are cheap and abundant in the Stellenbosch region. Alternatively, you can book a full-day private tour of the Cape Winelands from Cape Town in which you can choose some of the above wineries to visit.

 

 

Note: this post was created as a result of the #Stellenblog campaign, a collaboration between iambassador and Stellenbosch Wine Routes. As always, all opinions expressed above are mine, and mine only.

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21 Responses

  • […] The Stellenbosch winelands near Cape Town are one of my favourite places in the world. I’ll never tire of the magnificent mountain scenery, gorgeous vineyards, beautiful Cape Dutch architecture, the friendly locals and their big smiles. Hence, it’s always a treat to return to this stunning part of the world – and I count myself very fortunate that I get to visit every year. On my recent visit, I decided to spend a weekend in Stellenbosch before heading to Cape Town to attend a travel trade fair. Lanzerac Wine Estate Hotel & Spa offered to host me for the weekend and I didn’t need to think twice! I’d been to Lanzerac before, albeit for a lunch and wine-tasting, and absolutely loved it! Situated in Jonkershoek Valley, just outside Stellenbosch town, Lanzerac is one of the oldest, most luxurious wine estates and hotels in the Stellenbosch winelands. […]

  • […] I stepped out onto the terrace of my suite at the Jordan Wine Estate. The birds chirped excitedly as the sun slowly disappeared behind the hills, blanketing the rows of vines with a soft orange glow. In the distance, the Stellenbosch mountains were a warm pink. It was a such a serene moment and I felt myself relax. Just a 30+ minute drive away from the bustle of Cape Town (map), the Jordan Wine Estate is a little paradise surrounded by expansive vineyards and gentle rolling landscapes. The best part is that guests can spend one or more nights at the Jordan Luxury Suites on the estate grounds, making it perfect for a vineyard stay and a base from which to explore the Stellenbosch winelands. […]

  • […] The drive from Stellenbosch to Franschhoek through the Hellshoogte Pass is stunning. You’ll pass mile after mile of vineyards set against the dramatic backdrop of the towering Groot Drakenstein mountains. On the way to Franschhoek, you’ll pass some of my favourite wine estates: Zorgvliet (gorgeous Cape Dutch houses with wonderful mountain views; excellent wines & cuisine; there’s also a beautiful lodge and a spa which I can recommend), Delaire Graaf (a stunning vineyard with excellent restaurants and luxury lodges) and Boschendal (totally breathtaking location; fabulous wine-tasting/lunches in the garden; try the intriguing Pinot Noir/Chardonnay blend). Read about my recommended wineries to visit in Stellenbosch. […]

  • Hi Renuka,
    The views are indeed phenomenal. The whole region, from the mountains to the coast, is just stunning! Truly is one of my favourite places in the world. Thank you for your comment.

    Cheers,
    Keith

  • That sounds heavenly! Although I’m not much of a wine lover, the views along the way are fabulous.

  • Beautiful setting indoors and out – no wonder they create such a wonderful product.

  • We got trapped in Stellenbosch for an extra 5 days on our honeymoon by an SAA strike. The lady at SAA wondered why we were so calm when everyone else was yelling at her. We were disappointed when they found us a flight through Europe! Love the wine country! Great post by the way!

  • Great round-up of wineries. My only regret of my time in the Cape Winelands was that I didn’t have more time to experience the amazing wines.

    One winery that -needs- to be added to this list is Delaire Graff Estate. The view across the vineyard and the mountains is just beautiful and the food is among the best I experienced in South Africa.

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