The vibrant Durbanville Wine Valley is nestled in the Tygerberg Hills, just a short drive from Cape Town, and offers a fantastic array of wine farms to explore. The valley boasts fourteen wineries and there is something for every wine lover — from traditional Dutch bitterballen at Maastricht, Durbanville Hills’ sweeping views and wine-tasting caves at Klein Roosboom, to decadent dining at Groot Phesantekraal. Follow LekkeSlaap’s short guide to these wine farms for your next wine-tasting adventure and don’t worry about driving back home, there are many fantastic accommodation options in Durbanville.
Signal Gun Wines
Signal Gun Wines is a family-friendly destination on the Hooggelegen Farm, one of the oldest family-owned wine farms in the area. The farm is home to a winery producing easy-drinking wines and the first craft brewery in Durbanville. Die Stal Tasting Room offers wine and beer tasting, pairings and delicious cheese platters. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon with live music in the background at the popular restaurant or laze on the lawn with a bottle of your favourite wine.
Tasting room: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00
Restaurant: Tuesday to Saturday from 09:00 to 22:00 and Sunday from 09:00 to 18:00
Nitída
Nitída lives by the slogan ‘handmade is an attitude’ and they have minimal interference with their wine in order to accentuate their micro-climate. Nitída has a large variety of wines and you can look forward to varietals like pinot noir, semillon and riesling, along with their MCC, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and sauvignon blanc. The farm is home to two restaurants where you can indulge in breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Tasting room: Monday to Friday from 09:30 to 17:00, Saturday from 11:00 to 16:00 and Sunday and public holidays from 11:00 to 15:00
Restaurant: Cassia: Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 21:00 and Sunday from 09:00 to 15:00
Hillcrest Wine Estate
You are spoiled for choice with award-winning olives and wines at Hillcrest. The unique geological position provides the farm with Malmesbury shale and a cool afternoon breeze from the Atlantic Ocean, so the wines are well-balanced and fruity. Table olives and olive oil are also produced on the farm and you can have a taste in the tasting room. The restaurant on the premises serves Italian-inspired dishes with a Mediterranean flair and when paired with the farm’s delicious wine, it is surely not to be missed.
Tasting room: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00 and Sunday from 11:00 to 16:00
Restaurant: Tuesday to Thursday from 09:00 to 16:00, Friday and Saturday from 09:00 to 20:00 and Sunday from 09:00 to 16:00
Klein Roosboom Boutique Wine Farm
Have you ever enjoyed a wine tasting inside a cave? Klein Roosboom is home to uniquely-decorated tasting caves that used to be old concrete wine tanks. The caves are big enough to accommodate up to eight people and you can savour their red or white wine and MCC, and snack on cheese platters, farm bread, biltong and droëwors. Afterwards, you can stroll through the vineyards and visit the deli to buy some decadent desserts and gifts.
Tasting room: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00
Restaurant: Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 16:00
Groot Phesantekraal
A colourful history comes alive at this spectacular wine farm in Durbanville. Each bottle of wine tells a story of a specific person or time in the farm’s history and you really get a sense of the heritage when you visit their restaurant in an old stable and wine-tasting area next door. Here, you can expect a seasonal menu dotted with traditional country cooking and paired with a bottle of hand-crafted wine to enjoy while taking in the lively atmosphere on this working farm — you might even spot some game roaming nearby.
Tasting room: Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 18:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00
Restaurant: Tuesday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:30 and Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 16:30
Meerendal Wine Estate
Meerendal’s heritage dates back more than 300 years and nowadays they combine traditional wine-making methods with modern innovation. There are more than 150 000 vines on the estate and they boast an Estate Range and a Collection Range. You can taste their wine in the cosy indoor area or beneath the leafy pergola after you complete the popular Parkrun or MTB trail on a Saturday morning. If you want to stay a little longer, check in to the Meerendal Boutique Hotel and enjoy a luxurious getaway.
Tasting room: Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00
Restaurant: Monday to Sunday from 07:00 to 22:00
Durbanville Hills
This acclaimed winery boasts some of the best views in the Cape and you can sip on delicious wine while enjoying the vistas. The state-of-the-art cellar offers interesting wine-pairing experiences and wine tastings and you can even book a cellar tour for some behind-the-scenes moments. The award-winning restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner on selected evenings and you will be spoiled with mouth-watering dishes.
Tasting room: Monday from 12:00 to 18:00, Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00, public holidays from 10:00 to 17:00
Restaurant: Monday to Sunday from 08:30 to 11:00 and 12:00 to 15:00, Tuesday to Saturday from 18:00 to 22:00
Maastricht Wines
Maastricht’s cosy tasting room is the perfect place to sip their award-winning wine and enjoy traditional bitterballen or a delectable cheese platter. This historic family farm is only ten kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean and the cool winds and clay-rich soils of the Tygerberg Mountains provide the ideal wine-making elements. Be sure to come early because they do not take reservations, and you don’t want to miss out.
Tasting room: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00
Canto Boutique Wines
Have you ever tried a MCC and macaron tasting? Canto is a picturesque boutique winery in the rolling hills of Durbanville and is famous for its delicious pizzas and tasting options. Canto boasts four MCC varietals and red and white wine for non-bubbly lovers. Their wines are made in small batches to ensure the pure fruit, rich texture and complexity are highlighted. Sit outside on a bright summer’s day and enjoy a picnic with items from the deli and your favourite wine.
Tasting room: Tuesday to Thursday from 11:00 to 17:00, Friday from 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00, Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00, public holidays from 10:00 to 18:00
Restaurant: Tuesday to Thursday from 11:00 to 17:00, Friday from 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00, Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00, public holidays from 10:00 to 18:00
*Pizza is only served from Wednesday to Sunday
Bloemendal Wine Estate
Bloemendal Wine Estate is situated on the slopes of the Kanonberg Mountains and is one of the oldest farms in this fertile valley. This family-friendly venue offers everything from a tasting room and restaurants, to a children’s bike track and play area. Enjoy wine made in the small boutique cellar that showcases the unique terroir and indulge in delicious meals at Bon Ami Restaurant or The Rosé Garden.
Tasting room: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday from 11:00 to 15:00
Restaurant: Wednesday from 09:00 to 17:00, Thursday to Saturday from 09:00 to 22:00, Sunday from 08:00 to 18:00
D’Aria
D’aria is widely known for their Music Range consisting of wines that celebrate summer and their name literally means ‘a harmony of the senses’. They also offer a Reserve Range and Premium Range which you can sample in their popular tasting room. Cheese and meat platters are available to accompany your wine tasting and you can even sample their uniquely-crafted gin and potstill brandy.
Tasting room: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00, and public holidays from 11:00 to 17:00
De Grendel
Imagine gathering at a table with the magnificent Table Mountain as your backdrop! That is exactly what you can expect at De Grendel’s Tasting Lounge and Stoep. This farm has a large variety of wines to enjoy and offers some special collector’s bottles. There are two tasting options to choose from and the stylish restaurant is reflective of the Cape’s rich culinary heritage. You can also book an exciting farm tour where you might spot game!
Tasting room: Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00
Restaurant: Wednesday to Sunday from 11:30 to 13:30 and Tuesday to Saturday from 18:00 to 20:00
Diemersdal Estate
This historic farm has been in the same family for more than twelve decades and it is a famous landmark in the Durbanville Wine Valley. Their wine has won many awards and the farm recently reaffirmed its status as the Top Sauvignon Blanc Winery according to the Veritas Awards. The Farm Eatery offers flavours of the countryside in an old stable and is open for lunch and dinner.
Tasting room: Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00
Restaurant: Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 15:00, Thursday to Saturday from 18:00 to 20:00
Gather all your wine-loving friends and plan your next visit to this vibrant wine valley!
Feature image: Provided by Maastricht
All images are provided.
