Travel notes: My fave Cape Winelands wine farms

Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and the other charming towns of the Cape Winelands are literally crammed full of world-class wine farms. To be honest, if - like me - you get holiday FOMO, it can be a bit overwhelming!

But don’t worry, I’ve now visited the Cape Winelands twice - once in 2019 and once just recently, in late 2023 - and have been able to make my way through a lot of wine farms… I know, a real hardship! So I can definitely give you a steer on the vibe of some of the common names.

Although there are some real stalwarts, the scene is always developing and changing, with smaller/newer wine farms emerging all the time as well. Some of these feature on my list.

Each wine farm tends to have its own distinct vibe and USP, too, with farms ranging from small, low-key operations to full-blown lifestyle destinations in their own right.

So… Here is my round up of what I consider to be the best wine farms in the Cape Winelands, with a bit of detail on what you can expect from each. To give you a bit of context, some of these feature on the Franschhoek wine tram routes, some of them feature on the Stellenbosch vine hopper, and some of them I visited independently.

Babylonstoren

How to even begin describing Babylonstoren? Between the lush gardens, the sheer amount of amenities on-site and the standard of gastronomy and viniculture on offer… It’s a stand-out offering, and regularly touted as the best wine farm in the Cape Winelands. It’s also one of the oldest, but don’t worry, it’s modern and utterly chic, too!

I think the sheer size of the grounds and the scale of the activities are what makes Babylonstoren stand out. You could genuinely spend days here - in fact I would recommend staying if budget allows (mine didn’t!) If you’re not staying, then give yourself at least 3 hours, so that you can properly enjoy the gardens and grounds, the various shops, and have something to eat / drink. The tasting room in particular is a must-visit - a glass box suspended over the most beautiful part of the estate, the views are totally idyllic.

Getting there: while Babylonstoren is on one of the Franschhoek wine tram routes, I wouldn’t recommend visiting it this way as you’ll feel hurried to move on. Both times I’ve visited I’ve self-drove so we can take our time.

Boschendal

Boschendal is absolute must-do, to be honest - if you’re trying to come up with a shortlist of wine farms, I definitely think this should be on it!

One of the oldest and most established players, Boschendal has a reputation for being one of the best wine farms in the Cape Winelands, as well as one of the most beautiful. I can attest that in my humble opinion, it’s a winner on both counts!

The estate itself is ridiculously stunning, the stuff of dreams - the grounds and the architecture are in a very classic Dutch Cape style, meaning you get a very traditional experience here. If you picture a Cape wine farm, it probably looks like this. The grounds are extensive so this is a good one to visit if you’d like a wander, too.

We loved all of the wines we had. We were actually there for a group tasting as part of a stag/hen, and the staff looked after us incredibly well.

Getting there: Boschendal is on a couple of the Franschhoek wine tram routes, and I think it’s actually also on the Stellenbosch vine hopper Eastern route too. We visited as part of a VIP package with the Franschhoek wine tram as part of the stag/hen I mentioned.

Delaire Graff

If the blingy style of Dubai could be personified as a wine farm, Delaire Graff would be it! Complete with diamond store, clothing shops, several vast restaurants and an impressive art collection, this is not your average, low-key wine farm. It’s a seriously slick and luxe operation.

Don’t let that put you off, if it doesn’t sound your thing, though - the setting is absolutely stunning (see above), the wines are fantastic and I actually thought the sommelier leading our tasting here was the best sommelier we came across during our trip. We snagged a couple of the Botmaskop 2020 to take home as it was SO good.

Delaire Graff wasn’t what I expected, but I definitely recommend - I can see why it has a reputation as one as the best and most established wine farms. If you’re looking for a reliable option for great wines with a panoramic vista of the mountains, it’s a goodie.

Getting there: Delaire Graff is on the Stellenbosch vine hopper Eastern route. We visited independently and grabbed a super quick and affordable Uber from our accommodation in Stellenbosch.

Zorgvliet

I’d actually not really heard of this estate before we visited as part of our wine tram day for the stag/hen, but wow - it topped my list of the best one of the day!

I would say this is somewhat of a hidden gem, so, let me put you onto it.

Another very classical wine estate in terms of the Dutch Cape architecture, but very intimate, and for me this particular estate had the best views of the mountains.

I might have been thoroughly sozzled by the time we made it here, but… Truly some of my fave reds that we had on our trip, were here.

Getting there: Zorgvliet is on the Franschhoek wine tram routes.

L’Avenir

Now for something completely different… L’Avenir is a comparatively young wine farm, and the rustic, farmhouse setting give it a real Provencal feel. It’s like a little slice of the South of France in South Africa.

They’ve expanded their offering since I first visited but I would still say that if you’re a fan of rosé, this is a great wine farm for you.

Getting there: L’Avenir features on the vine hopper Northern Route, but my pal and I just dropped in independently for a visit.

Rainbow’s End

Okay, I may have saved the best for last, guys… because this wine farm is my absolute fave and very close to my heart!

For context, me and my gal pals have been drinking Rainbow’s End in Humble Grape wine bars for a decade, now. (Humble Grape are big supporters of South Africa growers, as their founder is a Saffer!)

So when me and my bestie visited the Cape Winelands in 2019, we thought we’d reach out to Rainbow’s End to see if we could come along for a tasting. Bear in mind that at this point in time - as we found out when we turned up - they had no formal non-trade set up, at all; it was literally a family wine farm, and Anton showed us around the wine making facilities and led our ‘tasting’ himself.

I say ‘tasting’ because he simply invited us to pull up a chair at the family dining table - dogs, children etc. all around - while we made our way through the whole range… Together. Yes, you read that right! (I think he was supposed to work afterwards… oops.) It was truly a one of a kind experience and one of those travel memories you cherish.

Anyway… Cue my recent trip and I was DYING to revisit to see how things had changed. And changed, they have! While Rainbow’s End is still a low-key and intimate wine farm, there’s now an incredible tasting room with professional sommeliers and a viewing deck that feels like you’re RIGHT into the Simonsberg mountains. It has to been seen to be believed and trust me when I say it’s gorgeous.

Rainbow’s End have always been my favourite reds to drink and there is nothing like enjoying them, at source, and for a fraction of the price. I urge you to go along and support this young but exceptional grower!