Cape Winelands Holidays
Cape Winelands holidays are one of the best ways to explore South Africa’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage while enjoying award-winning wines and delicious cuisine. Cape Town’s dry and sunny climate makes this location perfect for cultivating wine.
Hop-on-hop-off The Franschhoek Wine Tram on a Cape Town Winelands tour and explore Franschhoek Valley. Many of the region's wineries have been around for centuries so you can spend the day learning about the history of these picturesque vineyards whilst sampling award-winning wines and world-class
cuisine. Including towns, such as Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, this South African wine region offers Cape Dutch architecture, boutique hotels and world-class wine tasting at wine estates that are centuries old. The Cape Winelands region is set amongst a belt of majestic mountains which create a remarkable backdrop and deep valleys filled with vineyards and fruit farms.
A relaxing day filled with wine, cheese and biltong
Take the Franschhoek hop-on-hop-off tram tour and indulge in all that Franschhoek’s vineyards have to offer. Known as the gourmet capital of the country, this is a must for those looking to try some of the best food and wine in South Africa. History lovers will enjoy a visit to Huguenot Memorial Museum, dedicated to the French settlers who arrived at the Cape in the seventeenth century.
The Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve offers beautiful hikes for those looking to immerse themselves in nature or why not take a leisurely day tour sampling wines from each region? Start with wine tasting in Stellenbosch and make your way through to the beauty of Paarl.
A Cape Winelands holiday pairs well with a Cape Town visit. Enjoy vibrant culture, golden beaches and epic views of Table Mountain or embark on an exhilarating drive along the iconic Garden Route. To organise an unforgettable tailor-made Cape Winelands holiday, speak to our Destination Specialists to help you create your perfect South Africa holiday itinerary.
Destination Highlights
Great sample itineraries
We have a selection of Cape Winelands tour available, give our Destination Specialists a call to discuss the right ones for you. Some of our most popular options are listed below.
Discover the Cape, Whales and Winelands
Guide Price £1,999 pp
South Africa is known for its enviable natural beauty; magnificent mountains, incredible beaches, lush forests and sweeping vineyards. Our Discover the Cape, Whales and Winelands tour lets you experience South Africa’s incredible scenery and immerse yourself in the country’s rich...
Adventure holidays
South Africa's Garden Route in Luxury
Our South Africa Garden Route holiday takes in four locations along the south coast between Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay. This 300km stretch of coast is known for its wild beauty, and our trip offers an exceptional range of contrasts;...
Honeymoons
Grand Tour of South Africa
Guide Price £3,799 pp
It’s easy to see why South Africa is one of our most popular destinations on the African continent. This fascinating country is rich in adventure, history, wildlife and wonderful food - an ideal location if you’re looking for a unique...
Wildlife holidays
Cape Town and Eastern Cape Multi Centre
Guide Price £2,899 pp
One of the most popular South Africa itineraries twins a visit to the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town with the game reserves in the Eastern Cape province. Cape Town is the oldest city in South Africa and has been voted...
Couples Holidays
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Wineries and Vineyards
South African wine is famous around the world, and there's plenty of top wine estates and local vineyards for you to discover – many of which offer tastings or tours, and even fine dining, in stunning surroundings. Try the award-winning Groot Constantia, just outside Cape Town, and Spiers Estate, in the heart of the Stellenbosch winelands, which is also home to a cheetah sanctuary and birds of prey centre – both have excellent restaurants.
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Visit Franschhoek
The ultimate lunch stop, this stylish, picturesque town is known as the gourmet capital of South Africa. From tapas to tasting menus paired with the locally produced wines, you can dine like a king in Franschhoek's award-winning restaurants and cute pavement cafes. The main street is also home to quaint boutiques, chic hotels and attractive Cape Dutch architecture, served with a side dish of gorgeous valley views.
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Visit Stellenbosch
The historic heart of the Cape Winelands, pretty Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa. With its friendly feel, tree-lined streets and charming Cape Dutch buildings, this genteel town is home to wine, gift and antique shops and art galleries, as well as the oldest university in South Africa.
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Visit Paarl
Surrounded by rolling vineyards and mountainous landscape which provides a multitude of varied hiking and mountain biking terrain, visit Paarl for antique shops, beautiful old buildings, and fine wine and cuisine in cosy bistros.
Cape Winelands Events and Festivals
With a variety of events and festivals held throughout the year, the South Africa wine region has something for everyone. Here are our top picks.
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Robertson Wacky Wine Weekend
The ‘Wacky Wine Weekend’ is a popular event held in June across 40 wineries in the region. There are lots of activities from food and wine tasting to boat cruises on the Breede River, perfect for taking in the scenic setting of the Robertson Wine Valley.
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Delheim Wine Estate Jazz & Fondue
Delheim wine estate's popular Jazz & Fondue event runs from June to August in Stellenbosch. If you love wine, warm melted cheesy dip and mellow jazz sounds, this one is for you
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Cap Classique Champagne Festival
One for the bubbly lovers, enjoy an array of gastronomic delights presented by local restaurants and an opportunity to taste a range of champagnes from around the world. This annual festival is held in December in Franschhoek.
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Paarl Harvest Celebration
A music festival held in March which is suitable for the whole family. Here you can enjoy wine tasting or gourmet pairing session with some of the best chefs and winemakers of the region.
Local Cuisine
Along with many traditional South African dishes such as Braai, curries and stews, you’ll find freshly baked bread and locally produced cheese and olives, along with many incredible fine dining options.
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Biltong
Probably one of South Africa’s most popular and best-known foods, this delicious cured meat is air-dried and often flavoured with various different spices. A great snack, high in protein, that can be enjoyed any time of day, especially with wine or beer.
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Tapas
The Cape Winelands region offers an array of fabulous restaurants which pair a delicious variety of tapas dishes with local wines. Enjoy fresh seafood, exotic game, vegetarian dishes and more.
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Cheese
Explore a huge range of fresh and locally made cheeses whilst sampling some of the best wines in the country. Dalewood Fromage is an award-winning cheesemaker located close to Paarl, here, you can sample award-winning signature cheeses that are unique to South Africa.
Types of Cape Winelands holidays
Frequently Asked Questions
You can take a non-stop flight from London Heathrow Airport to Cape Town International Airport which is around 11 hours and 30 minutes. From Cape Town airport, it's then approximately 173 kilometres to drive to the Cape Winelands district.
Each season is distinctive and brings something special to see and experience in the Cape Winelands; soak up the sunshine while enjoying al fresco dining and chilled wine in the summer (between November and January); discover the region in autumn, when the vineyards turn to stunning shades of orange and gold; wait until winter and cuddle up next to a roaring fire with a glass of fruity red when the sun sets; or visit in spring, when beautiful wild flowers adorn the valleys and mountains.
We highly recommend the popular wine-making towns of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl. They are all within easy reach of each other and offer different sights and experiences. A prime spot for whale-watching, coastal Hermanus is also within easy reach of the region.
