Bottoms up! The best wineries to visit in South Africa

Since the mid-1600s, the Cape Wineland trio of Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek in South Africa has been one of the world’s most famous wine regions. Resplendent with beautiful mountainous scenery, rich history, and South African hospitality, wine estates in this Western Cape region are essential to include on your travel itinerary because sampling their bottles is one of the best things to do in South Africa. While South African wineries have even the most well-heeled foodies frothing at the mouth, newbies also have tons to see, taste, and experience, even if you don't know your pinots from your chenins!

Make it happen on: Cape Town to Victoria Falls Overland Safari

Waterford Estate

Waterford Estate is one of the most stunningly scenic vineyards in the entire Cape Winelands, and it has produced its signature wines for more than 25 years. Sip a glass of rich red wine in the shadow of the magnificent Helderberg Mountain, which towers over this winery, making it a particularly beautiful location. This estate offers a unique "Wine Drive Safari" and a porcupine walk, pairing South African nature with its exquisite pours.

Boschendal Wine Estate

Boschendal Wine Estate is one of the oldest (they say they are the oldest) and best wineries in South Africa, established in 1685 by French Huguenots. With temperate weather year-round and wine tastings always open, Boschendal is a South African institution. Based in Franschhoek, the vineyard is a sprawling estate of working farmlands, Cape Dutch-style buildings, and manicured lawns bracketed by lofty mountains. While most visitors come to sample the award-winning wines, Boschendal also offers hiking and cycling trails, a fine art gallery, picnics, and guided horseback rides. Boschendal is a stop on the famous Franschhoek Wine Tram, which ferries vino drinkers around this iconic region.

Groot Constantia Wine Farm

Groot Constantia has been around so long that it produced Napoleon's favourite wine. Indeed, the French emperor loved this wine so much that he was given a steady supply of it until he died in 1821. Groot Constantia also argues that it was the first wine estate in South Africa, established in 1685 by Simon van der Stel, the man behind the name "Stellenbosch". Groot Constantia is one of the rare wine estates located in Cape Town, meaning that there’s no need to drive to the Winelands to sample some of its signature bottles.

Robertson Winery

Located in the aptly named Robertson Wine Valley northeast of Cape Town and the Winelands, Robertson Winery is one of the most well-known wine estates to South Africans. This region of the Western Cape has dozens of magnificent wineries to visit, and the tasting experience at Robertson Winery is more affordable compared to some of the more historic brands in the Cape Winelands.

Spier Wine Farm

If you’re looking for more activities than just trying wine samples at South African vineyards, Spier Wine Farm is the place to go. Spier is a household name in South Africa and produces some of the most delicious and diverse wines in the country. This wine estate feels like a resort, boasting a hotel, a classic Stellenbosch wine tasting, a world-class spa, gardens, seasonal markets, cycling trails, and a unique wine-blending experience.

Ernie Els Wines

Come for the golf, stay for the wine! While Ernie Els may have come to prominence as South Africa’s most decorated golfer, he is becoming even more well known for his winery. This wine estate has an on-site golf course, and it also embraces the legacy of its namesake, titling the wine collections after Els’ professional achievements and nicknames, such as the "Major Series" and the "Big Easy."

Lanzerac Wine Estate

Lanzerac Wine Estate is the perfect blend (pun intended) of vineyard and five-star hotel. Unlike some of the sleek, modernist wine estates found in the Cape Winelands, Lanzerac leans into a homey South African "country hotel" feeling, with old-style Dutch architecture and cozy dining rooms, giving the wine estate a signature ambiance. Lanzerac is also noteworthy for its unabashedly indulgent wine and chocolate tasting.

Delaire Graff Estate

Delaire Graff Estate is the self-described "jewel of the Cape Winelands" and has plenty of awards to prove its point. Stepping foot onto its perfectly cultivated gardens also makes it hard to argue. Like some other estates, Delaire Graff offers an immersive getaway experience with two restaurants, a huge collection of contemporary art, and several lodges for staying at the vineyard itself. With a mouthwatering food menu, wine pairings, and a scenic location, Delaire Graff Estate is worth a visit.

Ataraxia Wines

Located in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley just above the whale-watching town of Hermanus, the name of this estate means "a serene state of mind, free from worry" in Greek. While taking in the views of the gargantuan mountains surrounding this farm-turned-vineyard, you realize how well-named this estate is. Ataraxia is known for its simplicity, producing only four wines, each one to perfection. The sauvignon blanc is particularly noteworthy.

Hidden Valley Wines

Despite its name, Hidden Valley Wines is easy to find, and this tastefully modern South African vineyard has an iconic glass and steel structure built into a sloping foothill of Helderberg Mountain. This cool, sleek design belies a warm, inviting atmosphere, with unparalleled views of the Cape Winelands. Dine on the estate's floating deck, which sits on a private dam, and work off the bread and cheese by strolling through the indigenous gardens, keeping your eyes peeled for caracals.

Springfield Estate

This South African vineyard in the Robertson wine region has been open since 1688, also established by French Huguenots. The family that currently runs Springfield Estate has been in charge since the 19th century and keeps tradition alive in the products. The entire winery has an old-world aesthetic that is simply gorgeous.

Fairview

Boschendal and Groot Constantia might be the longest-running wine estates in the Cape Winelands, but Fairview, established less than a decade after those two in 1693, is a historic estate in the Paarl region of the Western Cape. Nestled in a scenic corner of the country, Fairview is known for its sustainable practices, prestige, and... goats. Aside from having some of the most reputable wines in South Africa, this estate is arguably more popular because of its signature goat cheeses. Complete with a "Goat Tower" on the grounds for the bleating, horned critters to practice their climbing skills, Fairview offers a combination of natural splendour, iconic wines, and frolicking farm animals.

Meerlust Wine Estate

Meaning "pleasure of the sea," Meerlust has been growing fine grapes for red wines, plus fruit for an exceptional chardonnay, for eight generations. Meerlust’s flagship wine, Rubicon, was inspired by the landscape and easy sea breezes. The estate itself covers rolling hills south of Stellenbosch, resplendent with a Cape Dutch manor house and manicured grounds of towering palms and ancient oak trees.