Franschhoek

Culture & History

You will be picked up at your accommodation between 9:00 and 9:30 AM by a tour guide/driver in a luxury minibus and head off on an all-inclusive, full day Cape winelands tour. Follow the Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek wine route in all its splendor and enjoy lunch surrounded by vineyards. You’ll enjoy wine tasting at up to 5 wine estates, and will also visit monuments, enjoy a town orientation tour in Stellenbosch and explore the town of Franschhoek. Travel along the scenic N2 and stop at DeMorgenzon wine estate in Stellenbosch for the first wine tasting of the day. DeMorgenzon is unique in that they have musical speakers scattered across the vineyards from which soft classical music can be heard. They also produce one of the best Chenin Blanc wines in the region. From there, proceed to one of the oldest towns in South Africa, Stellenbosch, for a town orientation tour. Continue to Marianne Wine Estate in Paarl to experience biltong and taste their wines. Marianne believes that pairing different types of biltong with red wine enhances the flavors of their wines. Continue to Fairview Vineyards and Goats Cheese for a cheese and wine tasting. Purchase your favorite cheese and condiments from the deli, as well as wine from a choice of 3 ranges in the tasting room. As you follow along this route you’ll stop in front of Drakenstein Prison to see the Nelson Mandela monument. This prison is where Nelson Mandela spent his last days of incarceration before his walk to freedom. Next you’ll have a chance to explore the town of Franschhoek, known as the food and wine capital of South Africa. It is home to some of the finest restaurants and wine estates in the country. Learn about the French influence on the Cape winelands and explore a bit of the town itself. Take a break for lunch (at your own expense) and later visit the Mont Rochelle wine estate owned by Sir Richard Branson. Your last wine tasting for the day will be at Delaire Graff, known as the jewel of the Cape winelands. Afterwards, you’ll head back to Cape Town and be dropped off at your accommodation.

Taste the local culture with this cellar tour. All wine tastings are paired with customized cheese, chocolate and cured meats. Visit 4 different wine estates in both regions: famous farms and some hidden gems known only to locals. Learn how wine is made, how to taste wine, what foods and wines pair best, and what bottles to order at restaurants. Enjoy a delicious light lunch served in the middle of the wine lands overlooking the Franschhoek valley.  Benefit from a diverse range of wine styles, local treats of cured meats paired with selected wines, artisanal chocolate and stroll down the beautiful main road of Franschhoek.

Attention wine lovers! Get ready to embark on a breathtaking journey through the winelands of the South African Cape. Learn all about the process of making fine wines, from the vineyard to the bottle, and visit the historical towns of Stellenbosch, Franschoek & Paarl. Stellenbosch/Zewenwacht The Stellenbosch winelands, just 20 minutes away from the city of Cape Town, offer a superb scenery, completely different from the landscape of the Cape peninsula. Numerous grapes are grown in the region, such as Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Pinotage, and the Méthode Cap Classique (local champagne). Stellenbosch is a small but vibrant town with a very famous university and numerous activities like wine cellar tours and tastings. You will have the opportunity to purchase wines to bring back home to enjoy continue enjoying the region's wonderful vintages even after your visit. (1h 45min) Franschoek/Marianne Wine Estate Franschoek ("the French Corner") is an old Huguenot village. With its numerous streets and estates with french names, the town will disorient you, making you wonder whether you have been transported to France in another era. You will be completely enchanted by the town's charm and its very peaceful environment. You will get the chance to taste the region's delicacies, cheeses, and its best wines. Experience a unique and leisurely way to see the Franschhoek Valley as you journey through rolling vineyards in an open-side tram. (2h) Drakenstein Prison Drakenstein is a low-security prison between Paarl and Franschhoek. The prison is famous as the place where Nelson Mandela spent the last part of his imprisonment for campaigning against apartheid. (10min) Paarl/Laborie The town of Paarl offers a fascinating window into Afrikaner culture and tradition. As a former haven of the Huguenots pioneers who came from Europe at the beginning of the 17th century after the Edict of Nantes, the town boasts a monument dedicated to the Huguenots. You will also be able to visit the town's vineyards where you will taste the region's finest wines. (1h)

Discover the Cape Winelands on a private full-day tour, visiting various estates in the Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, and Paarl areas. Start your experience with hotel pickup in Cape Town. Head towards the wine country in an air-conditioned vehicle, passing through Stellenbosch en route to Tokara Wine Estate. Enjoy your first tasting of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc wines at this beautiful winery, set on the slopes of Simonsberg mountain. Continue to the luxury Delaire Graff wine estate, to enjoy a tutored tasting session with an expert sommelier. Head to the lovely town of Franschhoek, and visit the Huguenot Museum to gain a better understanding of the region’s culture and history. Continue to Mont Rochelle after lunch in Franschhoek, or choose to eat at one of the winery’s restaurants. Enjoy another wine tasting at Mont Rochelle, before driving to Fairview for a cheese and wine tasting session. At the end of your fantastic wine tasting tour, you’ll be dropped off back at your hotel in Cape Town.

While South Africa's fertile valleys are world famous for their crisp white and classic French-style red wines, the area is also a treasury of rustic beauty and sprawling estates shaded by giant oak trees. This full-day drive will include the country's principal wine routes of Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Franschoek, and a stop en route for lunch. The day starts with a visit to Paarl where you will be struck by the beauty of the Valley, the pristine blue sky, the rolling vineyards, and the Pearl of Paarl set high above the valley. Paarl made headlines when President Mandela was released from the Groot Drakenstein prison, on the outskirts of the town, to freedom and the start of a new South Africa. Enjoy a wine tasting and cellar tour at one of the local estates. From Paarl, continue north-west to the beautiful village of Franschhoek, near the Drakenstein Mountains founded in 1688 by French immigrants fleeing the Huguenot religious persecution in Europe. A memorial in the town commemorates the arrival of these early settlers who helped develop the wines sought after by Napoleon, Bismark, and royalty such as Edward VII, the Prince of Wales. Here, stop for lunch  and another wine tasting at a vineyard. Continue to Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa and the historic heart of the country's wine region. In 1679, Dutch East India Company governor Simon van der Stel, recognized the fertility of this long valley on the banks of the Eerste River, as perfect for vineyards. The rest is history, which has been carefully cultivated in this town. A gracious blend of 18th-century Cape Dutch, Georgian, and Victorian buildings is evident on Dorp Street, where massive oaks still shade original water furrows. Enjoy a final wine tasting before returning to Cape Town.

Stellenbosch The Stellenbosch winelands, only 20 minutes away from the city of Cape Town, offer a superb scenery, completely different to the landscape of the Cape peninsula. Numerous grapes are grown in the region such as Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Pinotage and the Méthode Cap Classique (local champagne). The town of Stellenbosch is a small but very vibrant town with a very famous university and numerous activities such a wine cellar tours and tastings. You will have the opportunity to purchase wines to bring back home to enjoy the region's wonderful vintages after your visit. (1h 45min) Franschhoek Franschhoek ("the french corner") is an old Huguenot village. With its numerous streets and estates with french names, the town will make you feel completely disoriented, feeling like you are in France in another era. You will be completely enchanted by the town's charm and its very peaceful environment. You will get the chance to taste the region's delicacies, cheeses, and its best wines.  Since the 1st of october, the supplier is very proud to take you on an unique ride on the Franschoek Tram  (2h) Drakenstein Prison Drakenstein (Victor Verster) is a low-security prison between Paarl and Franschhoek. The prison is famous for being the location where Nelson Mandela spent the last part of his imprisonment for campaigning against apartheid. (10min) Paarl The town of Paarl offers a great window into Afrikaner culture and tradition.The district is particularly well known for its Pearl Mountain or "Paarl Rock". This huge granite rock is formed by three rounded outcrops that make up Paarl Mountain and has been compared in majesty to Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock) in Australia. You will also be able to visit the town's vineyards where you will taste the region's finest wines. (1h)

Perfect for wine lovers and adventure lovers too, this tour takes off on a 4x4 to visit 3 to 4 wine estates, depending on your time and pace. Drive into the vineyards while enjoying the beautiful views of the countrysides of Franschhoek, Banghoek, and Stellenbosch. From your guide, you’ll learn about the area, the vines, wines, and vineyards, as well as the history of these settlements before going down into the cellars for a tasting.   As this is a private tour, you get to decide where to have lunch: in the town of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, or on one of the many wine estates in the region. Your guide will assist you with the choice and make sure you get what you’re craving. Join this tour for an unforgettable experience.

Embark on an unforgettable journey to Cape Town's wine country on a guided tour. Visit the 300-year-old Jordan Wine Estate. Enjoy your first wine tasting stop and explore the historic town of Stellenbosch on foot. Stroll among the Cape Dutch-style buildings and leafy streets. Arrive at your second wine tasting at the Lanzerac Estate, the first farm to produce Pinotage, a South African wine made from the only South African grape variety. After your tasting at Lanzerac, climb the hilly and winding Helshoogte Pass to the Delaire Graff Wine Estate. Take in views of this striking winery sitting among the rugged mountain landscape. Have a lunch break at the winery's restaurant (not included) before journeying to the historic one-street town of Franschhoek. Enjoy its scenery of manicured vineyards surrounded by mountains. Take in a final wine tasting at Richard Branson's Mont Rochelle Estate. Choose from a variety of reds and whites on offer.

Tantalize your taste buds and brush up on your wine knowledge on this Cape Town Full-Day Winelands Tour. Visit the three major wine-producing areas of the Cape and get a chance to taste an assortment of wines coupled with wine pairing among other things. Go to Stellenbosch, known as the Wine Capital of South Africa. Be surrounded by the vineyards of the Cape Winelands and the mountainous nature reserves of Simonsberg and Jonkershoek. Next, go to Franschhoek to see its century-old Vineyards and Cape Dutch architecture. Make one last stop in Paarl, the third-oldest City and European settlement in the Republic of South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Enjoy three wine tastings at Award-winning wine farms, accompanied by a cheese assortment and cellar tour. Take an exciting ride on the Franschhoek tram, and visit the Drakenstein Prison where Nelson Mandela spent the last part of his captivity.

Start your Cape Winelands adventure with a convenient pickup from Cape Town and set out towards Stellenbosch, one of the oldest cities in South Africa. Go on a walk through the city, learn about its fascinating history and visit one of the oldest houses in the country. The next stop on your tour is the Victor Vester Prison located between Paarl and Franschhoek. See the prison where Nelson Mandela spent the final days of his imprisonment for campaigning against apartheid. Learn about the history and significance of this prison from your knowledgeable guide and take photos of this historic site. Continue your tour as you make your way to Franschhoek, the region known as the culinary capital of South Africa. Discover the Franschhoek Valley with its picturesque vineyards, breathtaking scenery, warm hospitality, and fine wines. The final stop on your private Winelands tour is the largest town in the Cape Winelands, Paarl. Enjoy the spectacular scenery here and learn about its wine history before concluding your Cape Winelands adventure and making your way back to Cape Town.