South Africa’s Napa – the Cape Town Winelands

cape town travel guide wine tasting cape town winelands travel blog sher she goes shershegoes.com Boschendal Franschhoek Winerycape town travel guide wine tasting cape town winelands travel blog sher she goes shershegoes.com Boschendal Franschhoek Winerycape town travel guide wine tasting cape town winelands travel blog sher she goes shershegoes.com Boschendal Franschhoek Winerycape town travel guide wine tasting cape town winelands travel blog sher she goes shershegoes.com Boschendal Franschhoek Winerycape town travel guide wine tasting cape town winelands travel blog sher she goes shershegoes.com Boschendal Franschhoek WineryOn my trip to Cape Town, we took a half day tour of the famous Cape Town Winelands and explored three vineyards. The Cape Winelands are not to be missed – even if you’re not a wine drinker! The scenery itself is absolutely gorgeous as most cape wine estates have classic Cape Dutch style buildings, massive vineyards and beautiful mountain scenery as their backdrop. If you do like wine, you’re in luck. Wine is incredibly fantastically inexpensive in Cape Town – approx. $5-10 USD for a good bottle (I got sticker shock when I saw these prices!) Wine tastings are also a steal – approx. $2 USD for a 5 or 6 glass tasting. Unfortunately, shipping a case home is pretty expensive, think upwards of $300 USD.

We toured Boschendal, a picturesque vineyard with wild chickens and a gorgeous fine dining restaurant and had a wine tasting at the vineyard that supplies all of South African Airways‘ red! I made sure to keep some mini red and white bottles home from the flight as a fun souvenir. Cape Town is most famous for it’s reds and shiraz, cabernet and merlots are definitely a must try. I also had some local grown cheeses, wonderful spicy chutneys and olives during the wine tasting, which were delicious. I snapchatted the entire adventure (@shershegoes) and overall had a blast! If I ever get a chance to go back, I would love to eat at Boschendal in Franshoek. The region in general is known for cuisine in addition to wine, and their restaurant looked amazing. I had a little too much time taking bathroom selfies haha – the interiors were really pretty, in my defense.

The winelands are a vast region about 1-3 hours away from down town Cape Town, depending on which region you choose to visit. The best way to tour the cape town winelands is via car,if you have a large group, or the blue luxury train line is a hop on, hop off ride that will get you there as well. If you have a half day, these are the 3 areas I would most recommend to explore:

  • FRANSHOEK: one of the more famous regions and well known for its gourmet cuisine
  • PAARL: home to Nederburg Wine Estate, an internationally renowned vineyard
  • STELLENBOSCH: the oldest wine route where sparkling wine is produced

 

If you’re a wine lover, check out great vineyards all over the world here.

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26 Comments

  1. Elizabeth
    November 6, 2015 / 5:06 am

    It is a beautiful part of the world. And some of their wines are just magnificent.

  2. Heather Cole
    November 6, 2015 / 7:59 am

    You can’t visit Cape Town and not experience the Winelands, definitely one of South Africa’s best bits. We loved Franschhoek, everything is so convenient and the Wine Tram is a great idea. Could easily have stayed a month trying all the different estates!

    • Sher
      Author
      November 6, 2015 / 12:26 pm

      Right? I’m so glad I went. I was hesitant because I’m not a big drinker but the scenery and food were so amazing.

    • Sher
      Author
      November 6, 2015 / 12:27 pm

      South Africa just has so many wonderful surprises. Glad to hear you liked Franschhoek as well Heather!

  3. dannielle
    November 6, 2015 / 8:48 am

    It’s seriously high on my bucket list to go to a vineyard and have a wine tasting in Cape Town! Amazing day!

    • Sher
      Author
      November 6, 2015 / 12:27 pm

      Yes Yes Yes! I hope you go soon Dannielle :)

  4. Sue
    November 7, 2015 / 12:41 am

    Looks lovely and not somewhere I have read that much about. I guess I figured Napa in California was the place to do this, but you give a good argument for visiting the Cape instead (or as well I guess)

  5. Marta
    November 7, 2015 / 9:10 am

    What a wonderful place! Some of your pictures made me think of wine regions in Italy but in a much grander scale. I’d love to go to South Africa and would definitely put this experience on my list!

  6. Natasha
    November 7, 2015 / 12:13 pm

    Beautiful photos! What a lovely spot.

  7. Sarah
    November 7, 2015 / 2:13 pm

    Wow, I never even put wine and cape town together! Definitely sounds like a steal! Thanks for the tip!

  8. Maria
    November 7, 2015 / 3:45 pm

    $2 for a wine tasting?! I’m sold!!

    Awesome pics as well, I love visiting vineyards, I find them very atmospheric :)

  9. Anne Klien
    November 7, 2015 / 6:50 pm

    I love visiting vineyard. Oh that wine tasting is a great deal I’ll be there every weekend lol . This place looks so beautiful and would be a great day trip

  10. Prianka
    November 7, 2015 / 8:07 pm

    I enjoyed my trip to Cape Town so much! We skipped the wine tasting, but I really enjoyed driving/walking around Stellenbosch, I would definitely recommend it if you are still in the area!

  11. grietje
    November 8, 2015 / 3:15 am

    That looks really beautiful! Love it!

  12. Mary
    November 8, 2015 / 4:12 am

    Cape Town is such a nice place according to my friends who has been there. I’m dying to visit that palace, thanks for this article! You made me wanted to go there soon!

  13. Nic
    November 8, 2015 / 2:56 pm

    What a stunning place to visit…and then to add on top of that there is wine! Heaven!!

  14. Shailender Kumar
    November 8, 2015 / 10:28 pm

    Some beautiful pictures here.

  15. Majesta Zea
    November 9, 2015 / 1:14 am

    The pictures are so beautiful! I love Napa and I think I will love Cape Town too.

  16. christine
    November 9, 2015 / 8:13 am

    wowwwwwwww Im so in!! I will fly here in a second for some wine ;)

  17. evan kristine
    November 9, 2015 / 11:53 am

    This is a dangerous place for me! I LOVE wine and I’m definitely in heaven if I visit this place and considering the price, I’d probably drink a bottle from breakfast till dinner :D

  18. Crizzy Kiss
    November 10, 2015 / 3:12 am

    Wow! Such a wonderful place yet not so many people write about it! ;)

  19. Marjorie
    November 12, 2015 / 12:02 am

    What a beautiful vineyard! I only see those on movies, and now on your blog. I hope to visit one in the near future, maybe Cape Town winelands too. :)

  20. TIFF
    November 17, 2015 / 9:08 am

    I’ve heard wines are great in South Africa before in class, did wonder about it, above photos speaks out the beauty of SA wineland!!!!

    • Sher
      Author
      November 17, 2015 / 10:34 am

      Yes! You need to try them in person, they are really good. and the cheeseee

  21. TIFFIFF
    November 24, 2015 / 8:15 am

    CHEESSSSSEEEE!!!!
    I am sold, haha…i love cheese, but not those smelly ones :(

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