South Africa Wine Country Getaway: Where to Stay, Sip Wine, and Dine

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Most will probably visit the Cape Winelands as a day trip from Cape Town.

I think that’s a big mistake.

If you love wine and foodie experiences, I strongly suggest renting a car and spending 3 nights out in wine country.

One of your big decisions when planning your wine country getaway is where to stay.

You will likely narrow it down to two choices: Franschhoek or Stellenbosch.

Stellenbosch is a large spread-out university town whereas Franschhoek is compact with many restaurants and shops within walking distance.

Both have amazing restaurants.

Both places offer a hop-on hop-off service to visit the wineries. Franschhoek has the Wine Tram, and Stellenbosch has the Vine Hopper.

I preferred Franschhoek, but the answer to where to stay will be based on your personal preference.

Yes, Franschhoek is more “touristy,” but for me that was ok. I prefer not to have to drive anywhere, and after a full day of wine tasting, I appreciated the fact I could safely walk right over to dinner from my accommodation in Franschhoek.

My husband and I tend to gravitate towards smaller boutique hotels with modern touches, great service, delicious food, and at least a 9.0+ booking.com rating.

We personally stayed at Cape Vue Country House and absolutely loved it!

Basil (the owner) and Dino (hotel manager) were incredibly warm and welcoming.

Located a quick 5-minute walk from town, this charming bed & breakfast was the perfect base for our South Africa wine adventure.

There were three other fabulous properties we considered, which are all part of the Leeu Collection.

This hotel group offers a range of unique guest experiences. The first property is Le Quartier Francais, a charming boutique hotel with a pool and two incredible restaurants, Protégé and Épice.

With only 12 rooms, this charming boutique hotel is set in secluded gardens but is still close to all the action in downtown Franschhoek.

Then if you want to go really swanky and dine at the one of top South Africa wine country restaurants, then Leeu Estates is worth consideration. We didn’t stay here, but we did have a wonderful meal at their star restaurant, La Petite Colombe.

Wine is subjective.

The best wine is the one you enjoy and like. My husband and I gravitate towards reds, so our winery picks will be biased.

If you are trying to figure out which wine regions will suit you best, I have written a concise article on South Africa’s best wine regions and wineries to visit.

When planning your South Africa wine country getaway, I strongly recommend sipping wine in these 3 wine regions: Walker Bay (Hemel-en-Aarde Valley), Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek.

We love pinot noir and specifically seek out exceptional examples in the countries we visit.

South Africa also has a little Pinot Noir gem that is becoming more well-known… Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in the Walker Bay wine region.

Hemel-en-Aarde translates to Heaven and Earth in Afrikaans. Incredibly fitting description.

If you are seeking exceptional South African wine in a gorgeous coastal setting, do not miss this region. Our top picks are Creation, Storm Wines, Hamilton Russell, Crystallum, and Bouchard Finlayson.

All the details about our Hemel-en-Aarde Valley private wine tour can be found below.

A South Africa wine country getaway must include visits to the exceptional wineries in Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.

Some standout Stellenbosch wineries include Kanonkop, Beyerskloof, and Simonsig.

You go to Burgundy, France to taste exceptional Pinot Noir, Douro Valley, Portugal to taste Port, and Colchagua Valley to taste Carmenere. You get the point. If you are traveling to South Africa, you must taste their Pinotage! It’s a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault. 

Pinotage first gained international fame in 1991 when Kanonkop’s Pinotage won the Robert Mondavi Trophy for the Best Red Wine at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London. Of course, we had to visit Kanonkop in Stellenbosch, and it did not disappoint!

Excellent wineries to sip wine in Franschhoek include Moreson Wine Farm, Anthonij Rubert, and Boschendal.

We wanted to do wine tastings in both, so we actually crafted our own self-guided wine tour using Uber. Yes, Uber!

It can be done and allows for incredible flexibility if you plan it right. All details are in the article below.

If you prefer a guided tour with a wine expert, the highly-rated company Wine Flies offers a fantastic group wine tour.

If you only have time for one incredible dining experience, pick The Table at De Meye.

I still dream of the delicious meal and wine we had on a lovely afternoon after a day of wine tasting. Don’t get me wrong. We love Michelin-starred/rated experiences as well, but those are not the meals I remember.

What I do remember is the fresh sourdough bread that Chef Brendan had just made, the garden salad that was just picked from the garden, and the mouthwatering stuffed porchetta that was sourced from the farm next door. 

Leigh and her chef partner Brendan were incredible hosts, so warm and welcoming. I will reminisce about this meal for years to come.

Other incredible restaurants to consider are La Petite Colombe, Le Coin Francais, Chefs Warehouse at Maison, Rust en Verde, and Tokara.

If you want to read more about our restaurant selections, check out my article below.

If you love sipping award-winning wine and enjoying exceptional food in a gorgeous setting, then South Africa wine country is your happy place.

Stay in Franschhoek, don’t miss Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, and reserve some of those incredible restaurants in advance. Cheers!

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Questions about our South Africa wine country getaway? 

Let me know in the comments below!