Here’s our top stops for exploring the Cape Winelands if you have just one day. The itinerary includes stops for breakfast and lunch, seeing horses, tasting SA’s first Rooibos infused wines, choosing between fine dining and al fresco lunching and doing a champagne tasting!
Breakfast at Avontuur Wine Estate
Highlights: Breakfast, Horses, Cabernet Sauvignon, Potstill Brandy
There is no better place in the winelands to start your wine exploring day with a scrumptious breakfast than Avontuur. The restaurant overlooks the paddocks, which is the home and breeding ground of some of the world’s finest race horses.
A visit the tasting room and sample some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon of the region along with a wide range of wines including MCC and their potstill brandy (served in chocolate cups!).
You can also enjoy the fresh farm air by doing the walking route (20 minutes) on the farm which has plenty of opportunities for photographers who want to capture the beauty of the place.
Estimated visit duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Taste South Africa’s first Rooibos infused wine at Audacia Wine Estate
Highlights: Rooibos infused wines, Views, Weekend Market
A mere 3.8km down the road from Avontuur is Audacia, the first winery in South Africa to incorporate local rooibos into their wines. The significance of this is, that these rooibos infused wines do not need added sulphur. Often sulphur is a the biggest culprit for a nasty headache after drinking wine.
The boutique winery is as exquisite as it is interesting and hosts the R44 weekend market which is family friendly.
Estimated visit duration: 1 -3 hours, depending if you visit the market
Relaxed Lunch at Brenaissance Wine and Stud Farm
Highlights: Pizza and wine pairing; child friendly, outdoors.
If wine and gourmet pizza sounds like the perfect lunch in the winelands, then Brenaissance is must. At this chic eatery there is only one thing on the menu and they do it perfectly: pizza! Their wine and pizza pairings are legendary. Enjoy their easy drinking wines and real Stellenbosch vibe of this off the beaten track boutique winery.
Brenaissance is just 12km from Audacia and child friendly.
Estimated visit duration: 2 – 3 hours.
Fine Dining Lunch at Clos Malverne
Highlights: Award winning wine, fine dining, views.
Clos Malverne is a firm favourite with locals and foreign guests alike. Expect a gourmand food journey if you choose one of their many food and wine pairing options (including an ice-cream and wine pairing in winter!). Their a’la carte menu will be seasonal, generous and almost too pretty to eat. Clos Malverne offers a wide range of wines including an MCC and a coffee Pinotage. Sit back, and enjoy the stunning views, fine wines and exquisite wines.
Estimated visit duration: 2 -3 hours.
Last stop: The House of JC LeRoux (Sparkling wines)
Highlight: Bubbly pairings
What better way to end a day of wining and dining than sampling some bubbly? JC leRoux is just a five minute drive from both Clos Malverne and Brenaissance.
Try their nougat pairing or olive pairing. You can also opt for the 5 MCC tasting, which is perfect for the connoisseur.