Cape Town - Stellenbosch Wine Route Travel Guides | Cape Town | Sub Regions | Cape Town - Stellenbosch Wine Route

This was the first wine route to open in South Africa, in April 1971. It was the idea of three local farmers: Neil Joubert, Frans Malan and Spatz Sperling. It has been hugely successful, attracting tens of thousands of visitors every year, and today the membership comprises 42 private cellars. It is possible to taste and buy wines at all of them, and the cellars can arrange for your purchases to be delivered internationally. Many of the estates have developed excellent restaurants as well as providing very popular picnic lunches – at weekends it is advisable to book if you wish to eat at a particular place.

T 021-8851756, http://www.delairewinery.co.za Mon-Sat, 1000-1700, Sun, 1000-1600. Cellar tours by appointment only.

Delaire is a small estate which has managed to produce some very high-standard wines. During the last five years their Chardonnay has been a popular export label. On a clear day visitors are rewarded with views of the Simonsberg Mountains.

T 021-8822033, http://www.delheim.com Sales and tastings Mon-Fri, 0830-1700, Sat, 0900-1500, Sun, 1100-1500 (Oct-April only). Cellar tours Mon-Fri, 1030 and 1430, Sat, 1030.

Delheim is one of the more commercially orientated estates and may be a little too impersonal for some visitors. However the Vintner’s Platter Garden Restaurant has a beautiful setting with views towards Cape Town and Table Mountain. Tastings are conducted in a cool downstairs cellar.

Off Bottelary Rd, T 021-8652541, http://www.hartenbergestate.com Mon-Fri, 0900-1700; Sat, 0900-1500; closed Sun.

Hartenberg is an old estate, founded in 1692. It is currently privately owned with a wide variety of red and white wines produced from 16 different grape varieties. During the summer, lunches are served in the shade and peace of the gardens; come winter the tasting room doubles up as a restaurant with warming log fires. Their Semillion blended white has been well reviewed.

T 021-8838988, http://www.neethlingshof.co.za Mon-Fri, 0900-1700/ 1900; Sat and Sun, 1000-1600/1800. Cellar tours by appointment. Vineyard tours 1100, 1200 and 1300 (Nov-Apr only).

Neethlingshof, a traditional Cape Dutch H-style homestead, houses the Lord Neethling restaurant. The approach to the manor house is via a unique stone pine avenue. The new owners have invested in the latest cellar technology and replanted the vineyards – the results have won awards throughout the last decade. Ones to look out for are the Cabernet Sauvignon ’95 and the Lord Neethiling Pinotage ’97.

T 021-9036113, http://www.saxenburg.co.za Mon-Fri, 0900-1700; Sat, 0900-1600; Sun, 1100-1700 (Sep-Oct only).

Saxenburg, off the M12, is close to Kuils River. It is only in the last decade that it has been developed into a showpiece on the Wine Route. The estate only produces a small number of cases each year, but some of the Private Collection is very good. The Guinea Fowl restaurant attracts most of the visitors.

T 021-8844416, F 8844717. Mon-Fri, 0900-1700, Sat, 0090-1230, closed Sun.

Uittyk is a very fine wine estate but not a member of the Stellenbosch Wine Route. A fine Georgian-style manor house dating from 1712 is the centrepiece. Wine tastings are conducted in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. A visit here is highly recommended. Two of the finer wines on offer are their Sauvignon Blanc ’97/98 and Cabernet/Shiraz ’94.

T 021-8471344. 0930-1600. R7, fee includes wine tasting and a cellar tour. Cellar tours: 1030, 1130 and 1430, closed Sun.

Vergelegen Estate is one of the Cape’s finest estates, and you should allow several hours for a visit. The highlight is a visit to the magnificent manor house and its octagonal garden. The house is full of period furniture and paintings, similar to the collection at Groot Constantia. Between October and April you can have an alfresco lunch overlooking a collection of rose bushes. The modern cellars are buried on Rondekop Hill, overlooking the estate – there are good views from here of the mountains and False Bay.

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