The Cape Winelands has become world-renowned for its incredible wines. With more than 300 vineyards, it is one of the top ten wine-producing regions of the world!
Cape Town has no shortage of wine farms to visit and enjoy. So, in this blog, we’ve compiled a list of the nine best wine farms within 30 minutes of driving from the city centre for you to experience. Keep reading to find out where you can sip some of the best varietals on earth!
Cape Town’s best wines
With so many vineyards, you’ll have no issue finding your favourite varietal of wine. But if you are looking for recommendations on what to try, here are three varieties I’d recommend from Cape Town’s wine farms.
Sauvignon Blanc
If you are a fan of white wine, the Sauvignon Blanc wines polished by the sea breeze of the nearby Atlantic Ocean are amazing. Sauv Blanc is a particular favourite of South Africans in the summertime as they are refreshing and fruity. Best served very chilled with a block or two of ice.
Chenin Blanc
The most widely grown white wine varietal in the Cape, Chenin Blanc is incredibly versatile, covering a range of sweet and dry-style wines as well as sherry and sparkling wine. Chenin Blanc pairs well with many dishes, adding to its versatility and easy-drinking nature.
Pinotage
This is South Africa’s signature varietal. It was created in 1925 as a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (known as ‘Hermitage’ at the time, hence the name Pinotage) by Professor Perold, the first Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University. This variety offers deep red wines with notes of tropical fruits and bananas. It’s fantastic!
Cape Town’s best wine farms
Beau Constantia
Location: Beau Constantia
Hours: Tuesday to Thursday from 11h00 – 18h00; Friday to Sunday from 11h00 – 19h00
Contact: +27 21 794 8632
Nestled in the low pass connecting Constantia to Hout Bay and overlooking the valley of False Bay, the Beau Constantia wine farm offers an escape for wine enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. The tasting room is ideally situated against the slopes of the Table Mountain Nature Reserve, offering its visitors stunning views of its manicured vineyards framed by Table Mountain.
Being just a short 20 minutes from Cape Town CBD, it is a great choice for those looking to enjoy the afternoon sunlight.
My personal favourite of their reds has to be the Pas De Nom Red, a blend of Cabernet Franc and Syrah. It’s balanced, offering red cherry and plum flavours on the palette. A white recommendation would be the Cecily, a Viognier which is rather uncommon in South Africa but done so wonderfully here at Beau Constantia.
This fine farm is also home to the Chef’s Warehouse, a kitchen with one of the most inventive and experimental menus I’ve seen. Chef Ivor Jones is constantly looking for new inspiration and adapting the kitchen’s flavours to suit the season. I’d highly recommend trying the Chef’s Warehouse set menu if you can!
Constantia Glen
Location: Constantia Glen
Hours: 10:00 – 18:00 everyday, 20:00 on Friday
Contact: +27 21 795 5639
You’re going to start to notice a trend here, and Constantia Glen is not the exception. This beautiful wine farm and vineyard can be found just below Constantia Nek, affording its visitors panoramic views of the valley while enjoying the lush greenery of this natural setting.
The Constantia Glen wine tasting room offers five different wine-tasting options for you to choose from, and they range in price from R120 ($6.5) to R180 ($9.5). My recommendation would be the Full House Tasting, which includes seven delicious wines. Pair this with a tasty cheese or charcuterie platter, and you have yourself an amazing afternoon to look forward to.
And if all of this wasn’t enough, the food menu is mouth-watering. All the food on their menu is available in the wine-tasting room, so you can enjoy the wine, the views, and their scrumptious food, all at the same time. It is highly recommended that you book in advance if you plan on going the full nine yards, as they can be particularly busy in the afternoon and on weekends.
Groot Constantia
Location: Groot Constantia-Trust
Hours: 09:00 – 17:00 every day
Contact: +27 21 794 5128
Groot Constantia is a historical landmark when it comes to wine farms in Cape Town. It is the oldest wine-producing farm in South Africa and a world-class international tourism destination. This esteemed wine farm is so seeped in rich heritage that it’s difficult for me to imagine it as a wine farm but rather a museum of cultural legacy.
It is because of this that I’d highly recommend visiting the farm with sufficient time to participate in the Visitors Route Experience. This includes a wine-tasting experience as well as opportunities to explore the Manor House, the famed Cloete Cellar, which is the birthplace of the Grand Constance (rumoured to be Napoleon’s favourite wine), and see the wine museum and cultural history museum. There are audio walking tours available here as well, but honestly, those are kind of boring.
If history and culture are not your vibe, fret not! Groot Constantia boasts an awesome chocolate and wine pairing for those with a sweet tooth. Alternatively, the Jonkershuis eatery boasts an exceptional Cape Malay-inspired menu that is packed with flavour and heartiness.
Klein Constantia
Location: Klein Constantia Estate
Hours: 10:00 – 17:00 everyday, 16:00 on Sunday
Contact: +27 21 794 5188
If you’re looking for a delectable Sauvignon Blanc or a crisp Riesling, Klein Constantia is the wine farm to visit. Following our trend thus far, Klein Constantia is situated against the Constantiaberg Valley and has some of the coolest climates of Cape wine farms due to the low sun exposure it receives.
This results in their spectacular white wine selection as well as a delicious dessert wine known as the Vin de Constance, which I cannot recommend enough. There are four tasting options available for you to choose from.
Following a wine tasting, The Bistro at Klein Constantia should be your next stop. Here, you’ll find a delightful range of foods to suit your tastes. These come in two or three courses, and vegetarian options are available as well.
Constantia Uitsig Wine Estate
Location: Constantia Uitsig Wine Estate
Hours: 08:00 – 17:00 every day, Opens 09:00 on Saturday and Sunday
Contact: +27 21 794 6500
Constantia Uitsig is a fantastic example of a wine farm that incorporates modern techniques, conversation, and social development into its wine production. Their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives have sparked multiple opportunities for the support of local and international NGOs, including the Vuvus Kitchen, Bhejane Trust, and the Village of Hope Zambia.
Not only is Constantia Uitsig committed to giving back, but their Heritage Market allows visitors to try something different when exploring the Estate. Kristen’s Kick-Ass Ice Cream, Sushi Box and Nest Deli are just a few of the restaurants open in the market.
Eagles’ Nest
Location: Eagles’ Nest Wines
Hours: Permanently closed
Contact: +27 21 794 4095
This beautiful wine farm originally formed part of the Groot Constantia wine estate formed by Simon van der Stel in the late 1600s, one of the oldest wine farms in South Africa. Due to the steep nature of the estate, this farm was initially established to grow fruit for export and vegetables for local markets. Now, it produces some of South Africa’s best red wines.
The Eagle’s Nest Tasting Room is currently closed and is undergoing a new creative venture. It is not yet certain when the tasting room will become available again, however, their wines are available for purchase via their website.
Buitenverwachting
Location: Buitenverwachting
Hours: 08:00 – 17:00 every day, Closed on Sunday
Contact: +27 21 794 5190
This beautiful wine farm is nestled against the Constantiaberg on the east-facing slopes. It has an incredible range of activities waiting to be explored! There is so much to do here that you could spend the entire day on this farm.
Starting at the Coffee BloC, their in-house cafe, meandering through the jewellery studio and gift shop, experiencing their wines in the cellar, enjoying delicious food at the Beyond Restaurant, and wrapping up the day with some freshly baked goods and yummy sweet treats from the Take-away Deli.
I recommend bringing along a picnic blanket or grabbing one of theirs and plonking yourself under the shade of the lush oak trees on the well-maintained and manicured lawn, enjoying the summer sun and sipping on their delicious wine shared with friends and family.
Steenberg
Location: Steenberg Tasting Room
Hours: 10:00 – 17:00 every day
Contact: +27 02 713 2211
The Steenberg winery is a complete destination, home to the luxurious 5-star Steenberg Hotel and Spa, a sunny terrace at the Tryn Restaurant, a curated wine-tasting experience as well as the Bistro Sixteen82 featuring a flavourful and interesting tapas menu. Along with the 18-hole golf course, Steenberg is a playground and the perfect base from which to explore the city and the iconic Cape Atlantic seaboard.
There are a variety of wine-tasting options to tickle your tastebuds. These include a bubbly tasting of 4 sparkling wines; my personal favourite from Steenberg – a classic tasting of 1 sparkling wine and 4 wines from the classic range; a red wine tasting of 4 elegant Steenberg red wines; and the flagship tasting, which offers a Pinot Noir Cap Classique followed by the 4 flagship wines. Reservations are required when visiting the tasting room.
This 300-hectare wine farm also offers its visitors the opportunity to explore with the use of mountain bikes. If this is not your thing, the Peter Matkovich golf course is one of the best-conditioned courses in South Africa.
Be aware that Steenberg is a cashless wine farm. Only card and Spanscan facilities are available.
Hout Bay Vineyards
Location: Hout Bay Vineyards
Hours: Available by appointment
Contact: +27 83 790 3303
Hout Bay Vineyards is a family affair, with family, friends, and visitors getting involved in picking. Tastings and sales are only available via appointment, so if you’re interested in trying their amazing bubbly, be sure to contact Cathy at 083 790 3303 or cathy@4mb.co.za.
Hout Bay gets a special place on this list because of the story of the wine farm. It is the dreamchild of Peter and Cathy, the farm owners, to produce their favourite drink, bubbly.
The first vineyards were planted by Peter and Cathy in 2003, but sadly, just before their first harvest, herbicide was sprayed on their crops instead of pesticide. Three years of arduous work now decimated before their eyes. With vehement determination and strength of character, they purchased grapes in 2004 and persevered to produce their maiden vintage in 2007.
Go wine tasting at Cape Town’s best vineyards
Cape Town has no shortage of delicious wines and gorgeous wine farms to choose from. Whether it is crisp whites, rich reds, or tasty bubbles, there are plenty of options for wine enthusiasts. And since you cannot go wrong with an option on this list, we know that you’ll have an incredible wine-tasting experience in Cape Town.
