South Africa is known for a lot of things, such as its wild animals, culturally different people, and beautiful landscapes. It is also known as one of the best places in the world to make wine because the climate is great for viticulture in many different wine regions. South Africa’s most famous grape is pinotage, which is used to make red wine. Chenin Blanc and methodé cap classique (MCC) sparkling wines are also well-known.

Vineyards can be found all over South Africa, from the Agulhas coast to the Orange River valley. However, the most famous ones are in and around the Cape Winelands, especially in Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek, which are the most important winemaking areas. In this piece, we look at some of the best choices for wine lovers of all kinds, from experts to families out for a fun day.

Best Overall: Boschendal

Choosing the best farm in South Africa is, of course, a very personal choice. However, Boschendal in Franschhoek is not only one of the oldest wineries in the area (it was founded in the 17th century), but it is also one of the most loved. Set on a beautiful Cape Dutch farm in a beautiful valley, it has something for everyone. Under the trees, you can try award-winning wines. At The Deli, you can get a hearty meal, or at The Werf Restaurant, you can try farm-to-table fine eating.

From the farm shop and butchery, you can buy tasty treats to take home, and kids can run around freely on the large fields or in the treehouse playground. Keep an eye out for regular events like night markets and drive-in movies, or stay in one of the estate’s old farm cottages for a night or two.

Best Views: La Petite Ferme

Make your way to La Petite Ferme for the most beautiful wine experience. This hidden haven is in the Middagkrans Mountains, on the slopes of Oliphants Pass. From almost anywhere on the farm, you can see the whole Franschhoek Valley. Spend the afternoon tasting boutique white, red, and rosé wines on the terraced fields or eating seasonal food at the cozy restaurant.

On “Vine Orientation Tours,” you go out into the fields to learn about the farm’s different types of grapes by pairing them with small snacks. As day turns to night, the colors of the mountains slowly change, making a background that is never the same but always beautiful. The manor house and vineyard rooms at La Petite Ferme also have these beautiful views, which show off with floor-to-ceiling windows, a private splash pool, and a fireplace for cozy winter nights.

Most Romantic: Delaire Graff Estate

With its beautiful location in the mountains outside of Stellenbosch, Delaire Graff is one of the most luxurious and romantic vineyards in the Cape Winelands. It was made by the well-known watchmaker Laurence Graff and is a great place to propose or celebrate an anniversary. Enjoy a guided tasting in the wine room, which has a beautiful art collection and a great view of the mountains.

Two elegant restaurants provide a lovely setting for private dinners, and the boutique spa pampers guests with five-star treatments and an outdoor infinity pool with a whirlpool spa built right in. If you want to stay for the whole weekend, each of the luxury lodges on the land has a private deck and heated plunge pool. It’s hard to think of anything more romantic than going for a swim with a glass of wine in your hand as the sun goes down over a field. For special events, the farm even makes its own sparkling wine.

Best for Families: Franschhoek Cellar

When you have small children with you, wine tasting can be scary, especially in places where valuable things are always within reach of little hands. The worry goes away at Franschhoek Cellar because they welcome families with open arms. The first advantage is where it is. Most hotels and guesthouses in downtown Franschhoek are close enough to walk to the winery. Then there’s the great covered playground for kids, which has trained staff to keep an eye on things so you can focus on wine tasting while your kids play safely.

The winery has a wide selection of great whites, reds, rosés, and sparkling wines. You can also get chocolate and cheese to go with the wines. After that, have a relaxed cafe lunch in the Garden, which is next to the playground and has a menu just for kids.

Best for Foodies: Rust en Vrede

Rust en Vrede is another heritage Winelands vineyard. Its deed is from 1694, and all of its Cape Dutch houses are national monuments. Even with all of its history and beauty, the vineyard’s fine dining restaurant is what really stands out. In the old wine cellar, well-known chefs use the freshest, most sustainable local ingredients to make classic French food with bold nods to Italian and Brazilian cuisine.

Diners can choose between a six-course meal with wine pairings chosen by a sommelier or the one-of-a-kind Experience meal. The second is made just for you on the day you go, and the foods are kept a secret until you eat them. Rust en Vrede also offers guided wine tastes in the cellar Tasting Room, which can be paired with a simple but tasty winemaker’s lunch of steak or salmon.

Best for Unique Pairings: Creation Wines

Creation Wines is outside of the typical Cape Winelands area. It is near the town of Hermanus, which is on the coast. But this vineyard’s pairing menus are so good and offer such a wide range of choices that it’s worth getting off the beaten path. The 10 a.m. brunch pairing is especially interesting because it starts with a glass of methodé cap classique and then serves a different expensive Creation wine with each of the four breakfast courses.

Then there are six different tapas combos that give traditional South African food a gourmet twist. Imagine a viognier with fish bunny chow, a pinot noir with waterblommetjie risotto, or a sauvignon blanc with um fino and goat’s cheese. Do you like sweets more? Creation also has a wine and chocolate pairing called “Paradoxical.” So that no one is left out, there is also a pairing for kids with cordials instead of wine and an adult pairing with tea for people who don’t drink.

Best for Organic Wines: Laibach Wines

In the world-famous winemaking area of Simonsberg, which is about halfway between Stellenbosch and Paarl, Laibach is our top pick for those who want small-batch, sustainable, and 100% organic wines. Every step of the production process is carefully thought out to have less of an effect on the local environment. For example, less water is used for irrigation and toxic farming chemicals aren’t used. So, Laibach wines have a taste that is fully true to the local terroir and is also better for you. They are also confirmed as being vegan.

The farm has its own tasting room and wine shop, and guests are welcome to take a walk through the vineyard to learn more about how organic wine is made. You can even stay the night in one of five simple flats with private bathrooms. Each apartment has a great view of Table Mountain and access to a swimming pool and braai facilities.

Best for Bubbly: Villiera Wines

If you like fizzy wine, you’ll feel right at home at Villiera Wines, which is just outside of Stellenbosch. This farm is run by a family, and its methodé cap classique wines are especially well-known. In the 1980s, these grapes were grown for the first time with the help of French Champagne expert Jean Louis Denois. Now, they are responsible for 35% of what the winery makes. Villiera MCC has standard brut and rosé brut wines, as well as wines with less alcohol and no additives, and a vintage Villiera Monro brut from the Prestige cuvée.

You can try some of these wines during the bubbly and nougat tasting or the MCC and chocolate tasting at the farm. Villiera also has monthly wine tastings. The estate focuses on sauvignon blancs, chenin blancs, merlots, and cabernet sauvignons. After you’ve tried the vineyard’s products, you can sign up for a two-hour guided game drive through its private wildlife reserve.

Best for Immersive Experiences: Waterford Estate

Waterford Estate is another well-known place in Stellenbosch. It has great views of Blauwklippen Valley and gives visitors a chance to learn more about how wine is made. In addition to the usual cellar-door wine tasting (which takes place in a beautiful courtyard with a fountain), the estate offers two vineyard experiences: the wine drive safari and the porcupine trail walk. The first is a safari-style walk of the 296-acre wine estate that takes three hours.

On the way, you’ll stop to try wines in the fields where they were grown, while your guide tells you how they got from the seed to the bottle. On the porcupine trail walk, you will start out on one of three trails that will take you through the wineries and endemic fynbos in the area, stopping for wine tastings and a light lunch. Both tours end with a combination of wine and chocolate, and you should book them a week ahead of time.

Conclusion

South Africa is known for its wild animals, cultural diversity, and beautiful landscapes. It is also known for its winemaking, with the most famous grape being pinotage. Wineries can be found in and around the Cape Winelands, particularly in Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek. Some of the best wineries for wine lovers include Boschendal in Franschhoek, La Petite Ferme, Delaire Graff Estate, Franschhoek Cellar, Rust en Vrede, Creation Wines, and Laibach Wines.

Boschendal is one of the oldest wineries in the area and offers award-winning wines, farm-to-table fine dining, and farm-to-table fine eating. La Petite Ferme offers stunning views of the Franschhoek Valley, while Delaire Graff Estate offers luxurious and romantic vineyards.