South African wine farms in the Cape winelands

Breathtaking vineyards, elaborate tastings and luxury accommodation complemented by gourmet restaurants are all part of South Africa’s modern wineries.

While South Africa is yet to achieve the same recognition as its European counterparts, there are few more places in the world more alluring to discover wine than the Cape winelands. As one of the most prominent wine-producing countries in the Southern Hemisphere, South Africa has a history of over 300 years in winemaking that dates back as far as the early Dutch settlers in the 1650s.

Pinotage, a blend of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut that is almost exclusive to South Africa, is the country’s signature wine – while Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are also widely planted and the country’s Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc have grown in popularity on the international stage. South African wine farms pepper the lush yet rugged landscape of the Western Cape that encompasses several renowned wine regions including: Stellenbosch, the country’s leading wine region; Franschhoek, regarded as the region’s culinary capital; Constantia, where Napoleon Bonaparte’s favourite wine originated; and Paarl, which has successfully turned to an emphasis on red wines.

Since the first wine route was established in 1971, wine tourism has grown in popularity – luring visitors not only seeking quality produce but an opportunity to experience a breathtaking wilderness and wine tastings accompanied by exciting safaris. Today, many wine farms in South Africa cater for complete experiences, with wineries offering vineyard tours, elaborate tastings and luxury accommodation complemented by fine dining restaurants.

At Wine Paths, our local experts can organise exclusive tours of South African wine farms that can be customised to meet your specific requirements, ensuring every detail is taken care of. Among the prestigious wine farms in South Africa in our curated selection,  is the renowned Marianne Estate, which differs from its neighbours by taking a French approach to winemaking that pampers its grapes to produce Bordeaux-influenced wines.

Its privileged location in the heart of the Stellenbosch wine region amid panoramic views of the Cape winelands with Table Mountain in the distance, provides an idyllic setting for guests to sample the estate’s award-winning wines in a newly built Tasting Room.

The same estate offers a unique blending experience where a wine advisor will guide guests through tasting three blending components before being given an opportunity to blend their own wine that can be labelled and taken home. The property also features the Marianne Estate Guest House, eight unique guest rooms to accommodate visitors overnight, while the owner’s villa can be rented out in its entirety for large groups or families.

Another one of our South African wine farms members is the Anthonij Rupert Wyne L’Ormarins Estate in Franschhoek, which affords state of the art facilities and two exquisite tasting rooms, each one dedicated to one of the popular wine ranges. The Anthonij Wyne Estate Package is an ideal experience for groups, either as part of a company incentive tour or simply for friends enjoying an afternoon together. Alternatively, for a more intimate experience, the estate offers a food and sparkling wine pairing that couples the estate’s three L’Ormarins Méthode Cap Classiques (MCC) with handcrafted artisan nougat designed to bring out a certain characteristic in each wine.

Find more information on on wine farms in South Africa on our destination guide before you start planning the adventure of a lifetime in the world’s wildest wine country.

 

Winery Suggestions in South Africa

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