De Grendel
So many good things are said about De Grendel - overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain, these impressive views and its award-winning wines make it a popular wine estate to visit.
They have recently opened their tasting lounge which is the perfect setting for tasting their wines. Their options are as follows:
- Premium Wines: R50 full range or R30 for 3 wines.
- Flagship Wines: R80 full range or R20 for each wine.
The restaurant remains a firm favourite for many as the food is always exceptional, the view is incomparable and the decor is elegant - their delft-blue porcelain underplates which carry the family crest are particularly gorgeous. Chef Ian Bergh creates dishes that, whilst looking attractive, are unpretentious, generous and made from fresh and seasonal produce.
Best for: All-round exceptional experience
Durbanville Hills
Breathtaking views of Table Mountain and Table Bay are but one reason you should visit Durbanville Hills - its restaurant, which doubles as a function venue, has floor to ceiling windows so you can imagine how wonderful Cape Town looks as dusk settles and the lights of the city start to twinkle.
The Durbanville area is renowned for its Sauvignon Blanc that excels under the cooler conditions of this region but you'll find plenty of other varieties to drink at the winery as well as food and wine pairing tastings.
For a South African-inspired pairing, book for their biltong and wine pairing which includes a selection of five wines paired with five types of biltong. Price : R90.00 Duration : 45 minutes
Best for: The fabulous view
Diemersdal
Six generations, One passion is their tag line and the Louw family have been making wine here for the past 12 decades. The farm covers 340 hectares of land, with 180 of those under vines - the grapes are grown under dryland conditions, with no irrigation, which allows them to uniformly ripen and develop concentrated flavours.
The winery has retained its old world charm and white roses and a peaceful atmosphere abounds. With the estate dating back to 1698, it's lovely to see that the white-washed buildings and tall gables have remained unchanged.
Their eatery resides in a converted stable which still, aside from the addition of tables and chairs, remains classical and rustic. Chef Martin de Kock presents flavours of Provencal France, Spain and a touch of Asia and the breads are always freshly baked, with some of the vegetables and herbs come from their kitchen gardens.
Best for: Rustic charm
Altydgedacht
It's a humble estate and an equally humble tasting room with remnants of past lives visible on the walls and in the apparatus that lies around. You're more than likely get one-on-one tasting help and each wine has a story and way of getting under your skin. Their Pinot Noir is scrumptious and they are one of the few wineries to make a single variety Barbera.
Eat @ Altydgedacht makes homely dishes at great prices and it's always a popular lunch spot. With wide open spaces and a jungle gym, it's often frequented by families and photographers love to use the premises for photos.
Best for: Great quality, and value, red wines.
Meerendal
There is 300 years of history at Meerendal with the widow of the first owner planting 60,000 vines to promote Meerendal's winemaking future. You can taste their wine in the cellar but the best spot is on their veranda where you have stunning views over the vineyards and mountains.
Aside from tasting wine, their Crown restaurant is very popular and with its vast lawns and jungle gym, plays host to families on numerous occasions. They host a monthly market on the estate which offers lots of locally made items and food products and usually there is live music playing.
It's a lovely setting for weddings and the estate welcomes a lot of visitors via its extensive network of trails, making it a great location for mountain biking, trail running, walking and other recreational activities.
Best for: Activities