End the year on a high note by taking a moment to celebrate your team. Whether your group is big or small, our list of year-end party ideas on wine farms is guaranteed to have something for you. Think padel with a view, picnics, wine tram (or tractor) tours, 4x4 vineyard safaris, high tea... Here is our list of fun year-end party ideas in the winelands.
Padel with a view at Avontuur
Be the world's coolest boss and host a padel tournament for your team. The padel courts on Avontuur Estate have breathtaking views of False Bay and the Helderberg Mountain, surrounded by horse paddocks and vineyards. End the day with lunch or dinner at the popular Avontuur Restaurant – or a wine tasting, if you're feeling thirsty!
- Where: Avontuur Estate, Somerset West
- When: Daily, 07h00 - 22h00
- Cost: From R75 per person per hour
- Contact: padel@avontuurestate.co.za | 021 855 3450
Explore the Blaauwklippen Wine Trail
Take a hike on the Blaauwklippen Wine Trail at your own pace, a scenic path of wine and wilderness. The 8km trail winds through vineyards and untouched natural landscapes at the foot of the Stellenbosch Mountain. Along the way, savour unique wine pairings as you visit stunning spots like Dornier’s modern, art-inspired tasting lounge and the eco-friendly Stellenzicht Wine Pod.
Click HERE to book.
Franschhoek Wine Tram
A go-to for year-end parties, the Franschhoek Wine Tram is the best way to explore the Franschhoek Wine Valley! Take your pick between five different lines, each visiting a selection of wine estates. Their hop-on hop-off experience allows you to curate your own day. You get to choose how long you spend at each spot, where you eat, where you drink, and which activities you do.
- Where: Departure from the Franschhoek or Groot Drakenstein Terminal
- When: Lines depart daily between 08h45 and 13h00
- Cost: R350 per person (group discount available)
- Contact: info@winetram.co.za | 021 300 0338
Click HERE for bookings.
Rotisserie lunch at Leopard's Leap
This one's for the foodies! Leopard's Leap celebrates family, and it handles work functions in the same way by making the experience special. Their Rotisserie Restaurant is one of our most popular options. Chef Christiaan Visser and his team take care of every detail within the relaxed environment. While the juicy cuts from the Rotisserie is a highlight, the Harvest Table offers a delicious variety of seasonal sides and salads.
Click HERE to make a reservation.
4x4 wine adventure in the Bottelary Hills
This newly launched activity is ideal for adventurous wine enthusiasts. Enjoy a scenic 4x4 advenure aboard a vintage Chevy truck with exclusive wine tastings at family-owned farms Zevenwacht, Kaapzicht, and Mooiplaas. The off-road trail takes you through renosterveld fynbos and vineyards. At each of the three stops, there are specially crafted wine tastings, including a charcuterie platter and biltong and wine pairing.
Self-harvesting in Spier's vegetable garden
Visit the Spier Food Garden and connect with the farm's regenerative farming practices as you and your team gather your own seasonal bounty. Think fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables; perfect for festive season feasting! Their knowledgeable gardeners would be happy to share gardening tips and insights into organic growing. Comfortable shoes and a hat are recommended.
- Where: Spier Wine Farm, Stellenbosch
- When: Tuesday - Saturday, 09h00 - 11h00
- Cost: From R170 per person
- Contact: info@spier.co.za | 021 809 1100
Click HERE to book.
Clay-pigeon shooting at Lourensford
Experience the thrill of clay-pigeon shooting in a safe, controlled environment with Clay Pigeon Adventures, situated on Lourensford. Shooters can join with no prior experience, as the instructors provide all the required training. Not a fan of guns? There is also axe throwing and archery on offer!
- Where: Lourensford, Somerset West
- When: Tuesday - Sunday, 09h00 - 16h00
- Cost: From R650 per person
- Contact: info@clayad.co.za | 076 349 2866
Picnic on a wine estate
If you're looking for something a little more laidback, you can't go wrong with a picnic. A spread of delicious eats paired with wine, surrounded by vineyards and views? Yes please! Naturally, the Cape Winelands has loads of picnic venues to choose from, depending on the size of your team. For bigger teams, wine farms like Boschendal, Nederburg, Rhebokskloof, and Spier are ideal. More intimate settings for smaller groups include Allée Bleue, Jordan Wine Estate, Mont Rochelle, Vergelegen, Webersburg, and Zevenwacht.
Wine safari on Jordan Wine Estate
Tour the vineyards at Jordan Wine Estate in an open safari-style Land Rover and take in the estate's flora and fauna and picturesque views of False Bay and Table Bay. A fully immersive experience, you'll taste a selection of wines amid sustainably grown vineyards while learning about the estate's unique terroir and geology. Plus, a guided cellar tour is also included.
- Where: Jordan Wine Estate, Stellenbosch
- When: Daily, 10h00 or 14h00
- Cost: R656 per person
- Contact: reservations@jordanwines.com | 021 881 3441
Click HERE to book.
Taste adventure at Spice Route
You may not be able to afford an exotic retreat, but you can get Spice Route Passports, and that's sort of the same thing. Spice Route in Paarl is your one-stop destination for exciting tastings and leisurely lunches for you and your team to enjoy. The options include wine tastings and pairings, craft beer tastings, gin tastings, and chocolate tastings. Plus, they have two restaurants: Jewell's Bistro and La Grapperia Pizzeria.
- Where: Spice Route Destination, Paarl
- When: Daily, 09h00 - 16h00
- Cost: R320 per person
- Contact: info@spiceroute.co.za | 021 863 5200
Click HERE to find out more.
High tea in the Cape Winelands
If you're planning a year-end function for an all-female group, what about a high tea in the winelands? Two of our favourite wine farms for tea are, undoubtedly, Lanzerac and Vergelegen. The Timeless Afternoon Tea at the Manor Kitchen at Lanzerac, Stellenbosch, is a delectable feast with bites like canapés, croquettes, finger sandwiches, scones, petit fours, and tartlets. At Vergelegen's Rose Terrace Tea Room in Somerset West, expect baked delights and delicious savouries in a thatched cottage beside a glorious rose garden. Bottomless Cap Classique recommended for both offerings!
- When: Manor Kitchen: Saturday only | Rose Terrace: Daily
- Cost: Manor Kitchen: From R420 pp | Rose Terrace: R495 pp
- Contact:
Horse riding among the vineyards
Explore the winelands via the oldest mode of transport in the world: a horse. A few scenic horse rides to choose from are Pink Geranium Horseriding, where you tour various Stellenbosch wine estates including Warwick, Le Bonheur and De Meye; a horseback exploration of the beautiful Boschendal Estate in Franschhoek; or a Journey's End Horseback Ride through various vineyards in the Sir Lowry's Pass area.
Wine farm hopping on a tractor
Visit some of the Helderberg's best wine farms with a hop-on hop-off tour onboard the Stellenbosch Wine Tractor. The tractor will take you on an unhurried journey through the backroads and byways of the Golden Triangle, giving you a unique perspective only a tractor can. You'll visit farms like Avontuur, Grangehurst, Longridge, and Peter Falke Wines.
- Where: Departure from Eikendal Vineyards, Somerset West
- When: Rides depart daily between 09h30 and 12h30
- Cost: R330 per person
- Contact: info@winetractor.co.za | 067 146 7390
Click HERE to book.
