As the 7th biggest wine producing country in the world, South Africa is home to 568 wine estates offering spectacular views and first-class wines. Whether you’re looking for a unique setting for your wedding, an exquisite experience for overseas guests, or just want to indulge in all the winelands has to offer as a local, the wine estates in South Africa have you covered.
Considering this, it is extremely difficult to pinpoint the top 10 most scenic wine estates in South Africa. While personal taste does matter, we think that no South African could deny that these wine estates are without a doubt some of the most scenic in the country.
Spier
One of the oldest wine farms in South Africa, Spier Wine Farm is an award-winning winery home to not only its famous wines, but also perfectly manicured gardens, an immaculate hotel, three fine-dining restaurants, a spa, a daily craft market, and Eagle Encounters birds of prey rehabilitation centre. Guests can picnic within the tree-filled garden, enjoy a wine-tasting, or indulge in a meal in the heart of the Cape Winelands. Spier’s luscious garden retreat makes guests feel as if they have escaped the city and entered a private paradise.
Lanzerac
Situated in the breathtaking Jonkershoek Valley, this 300-year-old wine estate is filled with a rich Cape Dutch heritage that can be seen throughout. From the oak tree-lined driveway to the Dutch style hotel set among tall trees that give off dappled sunlight, Lanzerac gives off an old-world charm combined with first-class facilities. Surrounded by a majestic mountain range, guests can enjoy wine-tasting on the verandah overlooking the vineyard, a pamper at the spa, or a stay in the exclusive hotel, and indulge in a five star meal at the deli or hotel restaurant.
Groot Constantia
Founded by Simon van der Stel in 1685, Groot Constantia is South Africa’s oldest and most established wine estate. Situated at the foot of the Constantia valley, this prestigious estate overlooks the leafy Southern Suburbs surrounded by the Constantiaberg mountain range. This original Cape Dutch estate, which introduces itself with an oak tree-lined driveway, is perfect for hours of relaxation, from wine-tasting, to a gourmet meal at either Simon’s or Jonkershuis, and a tour of the manor house which reveals its unique and interesting history.
Cape Point Vineyards
Situated on Chapman’s Peak Drive in Noordhoek, the estate’s higher, mountainous location means it overlooks the Atlantic ocean, the False Bay coast, as well as a vast area of fynbos leading up to the coastline. With its very own lake on site, guests are given breathtaking views of this coastal region as they lunch on the deck, picnic on the luscious lawn, and taste award-winning wines. Cape Point Vineyards offers a restaurant, pop-up sushi bar on Saturdays and Sundays, a Thursday market, and a gorgeous wedding venue.
MolenVliet
Located on the banks of the Banghoekrivier in Stellenbosch, MolenVliet Vineyards offers enchanting views of its sun-kissed vineyards with the mountain range as its backdrop. With a luxury manor house that can accommodate up to six people, and a five star pool and deck that overlook the vineyard, this estate exudes privacy and exclusivity. The estate is the perfect setting for weddings and private functions, and an unforgettable getaway with the family or a loved one.
Fairview
This well-known wine and cheese farm is a popular attraction found on the slopes of the Paarl mountain range. Its picturesque gardens, home to a herd of about 600 roaming goats and the iconic spiral goat tower, are surrounded by picture-perfect Paarl and Table Mountain views. Whether it’s summer and the garden is full of greenery, or winter and the leaves have an autumn hue, the gardens of Fairview do not disappoint. Guests can enjoy a meal on the verandah at the Goatshed restaurant, pick a wine and cheese tasting option from the list, and take a cellar tour with the winemaker, Anthony de Jager.
Babylonstoren
Surrounded by the Drakenstein Valley, Babylonstoren is an original Cape Dutch working farm well known for its exquisite 3.5 hectare, elaborately designed garden of vegetables, fruit, berries, roses, clivias and numerous indigenous plants. The farm is also home to a number of animals including chickens, ducks and horses. The garden supplies the numerous restaurants with fresh, seasonal produce, and is known to have been inspired by Cape Town’s Company’s Garden. This unique farm offers guests wine tasting, gourmet cuisine in the restaurants and bakery, luxury accommodation, a spa, a farm shop, and a number of workshops to inspire those interested in gardening.
Solms Delta
Located just outside Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands, Solms Delta offers not only views of its vineyards, the Solms lake and the surrounding Drakenstein mountain range, but also a magical forest that lies next to the Dwars River. This 320-year-old estate is steeped in South African history, and provides numerous ways for guests to enjoy the passage of time. Guests can picnic on the riverbank, dine at the Fyndraai restaurant, visit the wine cellar built upon a clear glass floor revealing the farm’s discovered artifacts, and take a tour of the Museum van de Caab that tells the history of the entire estate.
Asara
This award-winning working farm, tucked within the Stellenbosch hills, provides a private and tranquil escape from the city. Surrounded by untouched views of vineyards and mountains, guests at Asara have scenic views no matter which way they turn. The estate is home to 102 hectares of wine grapes, a five star hotel, gardens of seasonal vegetables, a lake where local birdlife such as the beautiful black swan roam freely, and a reserve of fynbos where local wildlife can be spotted. Apart from tasting Asara’s award-winning wines, visitors can also take part in gin tasting in the Sansibar Gin Lounge, book a spa treatment in the comfort of their room, and take a tour through the vineyards by foot or by bicycle.
Stark-Condé
Nestled in the picture-perfect Jonkershoek Valley, Stark-Condé wine estate offers guests a unique wine-tasting experience on a secluded island built just off the main estate. Visitors walk over the small lake via a bridge, to enter a small building built in the style of a pagoda. From the wine-tasting hut, guests are spoiled to dramatic sweeps of vineyards and mountain backdrops. The Postcard Cafe offers gourmet cuisine, so guests could spend an entire day relaxing at this boutique estate.
While there are certainly more wine estates in South Africa with incredibly scenic views, these ten estates offer unique winelands experiences second to none. And if this was enough to convince you that the winelands may be the place to settle next, it would be no surprise that Winelands estates are still in huge demand. If you’re sold on moving to an estate in South Africa’s world-famous winelands, find the perfect property, apply for that home loan, and you’ll have these scenic wine estates at your doorstep.