Planning a Stellenbosch wine day
Practical answers for a day in the Winelands, drawn from the 79 estates we list. Each one makes wine worth the trip, and every one is open to visitors.
Which Stellenbosch wine farms are worth visiting?
Stellenbosch has somewhere between 150 and 200 wineries, depending on who is counting. Chenin lists 79 of them: the estates making the region's best wines, and only the ones you can actually visit. Every estate here is worth the drive; the rest of this guide helps you choose between them.
How far are the Stellenbosch wine farms from Cape Town?
By car from the V&A Waterfront, the listed wineries are between 34 and 65 minutes away, and half of them take 47 minutes or less. 31 are within 45 minutes; the closest is Hazendal, at about 34 minutes.
Which Stellenbosch wine farms are open on Sundays?
50 of the 77 wineries whose opening days we know list Sunday. Sunday hours are often shorter, so check before you set off.
Do you need to book wine tastings in Stellenbosch?
It depends on the estate. Of the wineries where we confirmed it on their own pages, 8 take tastings by appointment only and 6 welcome walk-ins, at least on some days. For the rest, check the estate's booking page; booking ahead is safest at weekends.
Where can you have lunch at a Stellenbosch winery?
42 of the 79 listed wineries serve lunch on the farm. Menus and hours change with the seasons, so book at weekends.
Can you stay overnight at a Stellenbosch wine estate?
Yes. 27 of the listed wineries have accommodation on the estate, from guest cottages to hotels.
Which areas of Stellenbosch have wineries?
The wineries spread across several wards and areas around the town, including Helderberg (16 listed), Banghoek (6 listed), Bottelary (6 listed), Polkadraai Hills (4 listed) and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch (4 listed). Grouping visits by area cuts the driving between tastings.
Which grapes is Stellenbosch known for?
Cabernet Sauvignon leads, and it is not close. Among the wineries we list, the grapes that most often sit at the heart of an estate's range are Cabernet Sauvignon (45 estates), Chenin Blanc (28 estates), Shiraz (28 estates), Pinotage (26 estates) and Sauvignon Blanc (25 estates).
Which Stellenbosch wine farms welcome kids?
22 of the listed wineries say children are welcome. Some have play areas or pairings for children; ask the estate what is on offer.