Animals of all shapes and sizes and especially man’s best friend, the faithful dog, have a special place in our hearts and lives. So, you can understand why animal lovers want to bring their furry friends with on a day out in our gorgeous Winelands. Here are 10 wine farms that you can take your doggos with to soak up the sun, relax with a glass of wine in hand, or nibble on a delicious platter.
1. Let sleeping dogs lie at Nitida
Nitida is situated in the Durbanville Wine Valley and boasts not one, but two pet friendly restaurants with a wine tasting area and even some canon shooting.Their tasting room is situated inside the barrel maturation cellar and has a rustic and relaxed charm. Dogs are very welcome here at the tasting room (and outside at the two restaurants). There are three tasting options available, as well as a fun kiddies tasting.
At Cassia Restaurant you can sit on the deck for a delicious lunch or dinner. Then Tables at Nitida is a relaxed family bistro which is a favourite for breakfast and lunches, especially for those with children as they have a fantastic jungle gym and huge grass area to run around on. It’s just a happy place to be.
2. Puppy love next to the dam at Webersburg
Nestled in the Golden Triangle in Stellenbosch is the family-owned Webersburg Wine Estate, originally called Groenerivier and established in 1693. They have an outside section under the huge oak trees, next to a big dam where you can sit and relax while the dogs run around and swim. The panoramic views of the Helderberg mountains and the ducks happily swimming in the dam is just as impressive a sight as the buffalo they have grazing in a nearby field. The lawn area is massive and has ample space for kids and dogs to run around – both are welcome outside, but not in the restaurant.
They have two wine tastings options, and their restaurant offers a variety of mouth-watering cuisine. Their pizza is yummy! Otherwise, you can enjoy a picnic under the trees or on the vast green lawns.
3. Wagging tails at Warwick
Warwick Wine Estate in Stellenbosch is well-known for their picnics, with boxes fill of delicious goodies to enjoy. The picnic lawn, picnic benches, or private picnic pods are fabulous. They also have a stunning forest courtyard with a canopy of oak trees. There are jungle gyms for the kids and even a “Fountain of Youth” to splash around in. If the weather is bad, they have a large indoor area with various lounge pockets and spaces to sit and relax while doing a wine tasting. There is a choice of five wine tastings, including a vegan pairing and summer food and wine pairing.
Dogs are very welcome on a leash and they enjoy the picnic pods just as much as we do.
4. A dog’s life at South Hill Vineyards
On the southeast side of the Elgin Valley is where you'll find South Hill Vineyards. They produce some wonderful cool climate wines and are both child- and dog-friendly. The King family rules the roost here and have made South Hill a sought-after wine farm. It's a romantic wedding venue and a great spot for a pet-friendly getaway.
The wine tasting area and restaurant are adorned with vibrant artwork. There are platters, tapas, and daily blackboard specials, with three wine tasting options to choose from. They are a wonderful dog-friendly farm, and they even make sure your hounds are hydrated with water bowls available too.
5. Happy hounds at Eagle’s Nest
This chilled-out and relaxing wine farm is the pretty Eagle’s Nest Estate in Constantia. Originally a part of the Groot Constantia estate, this boutique wine farm is home to mostly Shiraz, Viognier, and Merlot with some of the steepest vineyards in the Cape Winelands.
Eagles’s Nest has a lovely, big garden area with tables scattered all around, while shaded over by beautifully tall trees. You can bring your dogs with to run around as you do a wine tasting outside. There is one wine tasting available, plus platters. Eagles’ Nest is super relaxed and rustig – somewhere you can unwind after a stressful week or meet up with family and friends over a bottle of wine, taking your fur-baby with you.
6. Dog days at Lourensford
The gorgeous Lourensford Estate spans over 4 000 hectares and it has beautifully manicured gardens. It's also home to fynbos, fruit orchids, a coffee roastery, mountain biking trails, and clay pigeon shooting to name a few. Pooches are welcome here too!
You can wander and gaze upon the beautiful sculptures and art that adorn the estate or embrace your inner Picasso at Artjamming. Ghenwa’s Culinary Club offers cooking workshops, while Millhouse Kitchen has delicious food. The Paddle Hub is a new addition that is sure you give you a great workout and some serious fun too.
They have six wine tasting options. These include:
- Premium tasting of four wines
- Belgian chocolate and wine pairing
- Vodka pairing
- Turkish delight and wine pairing
- Wedgewood nougat and wine pairing
- Blind tasting of 4 wines
Lastly, the vibrant Lourensford Market takes place every Friday (17h00 - 21h00), Saturday (11h00 - 16h00), and Sunday (10h00 - 15h00). It's festive and fun with live music contributing to the atmosphere, and you will see many a pup happily running around.
7. Sniffing out a great time at Allée Bleue
The Franschhoek Valley has been long well-known for their award-winning wines, and one of these farms that is also dog-friendly is the picturesque Allée Bleue.They have two wine tastings available. You can either do these outside on their tree-shaded terrace overlooking the vineyards or inside next to the fire if the weather is bad.
Their bistro has a variety of delicious foods for breakfasts and lunches, otherwise a platter for the not-so-hungry. As we move into summer, a picnic is always a great idea, and Allée Bleue is an ideal setting to relax and enjoy the countryside with your fur-baby along for the ride.
8. Four-legged fun at Groot Constantia
One of the iconic farms steeped in history is Groot Constantia Estate with more than 300 years of being a non-profit company, which means that the farm does not belong to a private individual, but rather that it is conserved and protected as a Provincial Heritage site.
The estate is vast with its rolling vineyards, wine museum and two restaurants. Jonkerhuis Restaurant reflects the rich Cape-Malay heritage, while Simon’s Restaurant offers the all-time favourites like Burgers or Fish and Chips. There are 3 tasting options available, and this lovely Estate is both child and dog friendly.
As Groot Constantia forms part of the Constantia Wine Route, you could take advantage of the City Sightseeing Cape Town Hop on Hop off Red Bus. How fun!
9. A barking great time at Benguela Cove
The Hermanus wine route is home to Benguela Cove, with its vineyards almost close enough to kiss the ocean. Perched on the edge of a lagoon, this venue is a distinct destination of unique wine-related experiences.
There is the Tea Terrace and Moody Lagoon Restaurant for the foodies, and Adventure Mini Golf and Pontoon boat cruises available for the adventurous. Not to mention the oh-so many wine pairings. Everything from a blind-blending experience to a cheese or oyster and wine pairing. The building and tasting area is littered with beautiful art pieces and the decor is classy and sophisticated yet relaxing. This venue is super-dog friendly all around the estate.
10. Every dog has its day at Bosman Hermanus
Leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and head to Bosman Hermanus to take in the ‘champagne’ air with gorgeous mountain views and surrounds of the Cape’s floral fynbos. Their beloved Frame House is a wonderful, relaxed wine tasting venue where you can sample their wines or have a tasty tapas-style lunche.
Bosman Hermanus has some fantastic hiking trails and outside areas where your dogs can join in the fun. But because of the many animals and bokkies roaming around, they just request that your dog remains on a leash at all times. This peaceful estate is a lovely place to enjoy a day out with family, friends, and pooches in tow.
Being able to take your pups with on these adventures is fantastic, but there are a few things to remember when you visit these and other wine farms.
Keep your dogs on a leash unless indicated that you may let them off. Picking up after your dog is an absolute must, and always the right thing to do. Some of the farms provide water bowls for dogs, but it is a good idea to take your own as well. Have fun but be considerate of others, as not everyone loves dog kisses. I know my two had a ball at these farms, and I can’t wait to find more dog-friendly wine farms to explore. See you there!
We have more to learn from animals than animals have to learn from us!