Luxury Holidays to the South African Winelands

Wine, food and wonderfully slow days.

Just beyond Cape Town, the landscape begins to change. Mountains rise behind rows of vines, historic estates sit at the end of tree-lined drives, and some of South Africa’s most exciting restaurants are tucked between the vineyards.

Long lunches. Exceptional wine. Beautiful small hotels. Mornings with nowhere particularly urgent to be.

Franschhoek and Stellenbosch can easily be visited from Cape Town, but we think they deserve more than a day trip. Stay for a few nights and a holiday to the Winelands become an entirely different experience.

Start planning your journey

Because choosing the Winelands is the easy part.

Choosing your Winelands is where we come in.

Experiencing the Winelands

Wine tasting is naturally part of the experience, but we wouldn’t build every day around it.

A brilliant private guide can introduce you to smaller producers you might otherwise pass by. One day might combine a cellar visit with a long lunch overlooking the vines; another could involve cycling between estates, browsing Franschhoek’s galleries or simply staying put beside the pool.

For something more relaxed, the Franschhoek Wine Tram is a lovely way to explore without worrying about who’s driving.

Our preference is to choose fewer places and experience them properly, rather than racing between as many estates as possible. Because the best day in the Winelands might involve a private tasting and a celebrated restaurant.

Or it might simply be one very good bottle of wine and a table beneath the trees.

Go beyond the tasting room

Hotels our clients are always returning to

  • Delaire Graff Estate, Stellenbosch

    For the Winelands at their most polished


    Delaire Graff brings together extraordinary mountain views, serious wine, exceptional art and beautifully private accommodation. We’d choose it when you want the hotel to be every bit as memorable as the destination - particularly for a honeymoon or celebration.

  • Babylonstoren

    For falling into the rhythm of the Winelands.


    Babylonstoren is much more than a hotel. Gardens, food, wine and farm life are all part of the experience, making it perfect for travellers who want to deeply connect to where they are. Leave plenty of space in the itinerary to allow yourself to fully enjoy the estate.

  • La Residence, Franschhoek

    For romance with a little theatre.


    Hidden amongst vineyards and orchards beneath the mountains, La Residence is wonderfully romantic and beautiful. We’d choose it for honeymoons and special occasions where you want something intimate, indulgent but full of personality.

  • Mont Rochelle, Franschhoek

    For relaxed days and long lunches.

    Sent high above Franschhoek with vineyards stretching towards the mountains, Mont Rochelle has a more relaxed personality. We love it for couples who want blissful luxury, with plenty of opportunity to explore before retreating to the hotel for an afternoon beside the pool.

The Winelands to Safari

There is something rather wonderful about following a few indulgent days in the vineyards with the complete contrast of safari.

Depending on the lodge, we’ll arrange the most sensible route by road or air and build the journey so that it feels effortless rather than like a collection of separate holidays.

And after early safari starts and evenings around the fire, you can always finish somewhere warm beside the Indian Ocean.

Explore a South African safari

Frequently asked Winelands holiday questions

  • For most journeys, we’d suggest sat least two or three nights. It gives you time to explore without turning every day into a succession of tastings.

  • Franschhoek is smaller and particularly easy to enjoy on foot, while Stellenbosch offers a larger town and a vast choice of surrounding estates.

    The right answer depends on your hotel choice, restaurants and how you want to spend your days.

  • For the most sought-after restaurants and particular estates, yes. We prefer to secure the things that would really make a difference to your trip to ensure that you don’t leave feeling as though you didn’t get the full experience.

  • Absolutely, but we’d usually recommend staying. Once the day visitors leave, there’s something rather special about having dinner, opening another bottle and knowing you don’t have to worry about the trip back to Cape Town.

  • They can be excellent. We’d choose the accommodation and experiences more carefully, prioritising space, pools, relaxed dining and estates where children can enjoy themselves.