In 2021, the beautiful Stellenbosch Wine Routes celebrates 50 years of forward-thinking wine innovation and pioneering (wine) tourism. As South Africa’s first official, recognised wine route – founded in 1971 by Frans Malan (Simonsig), Niel Joubert (Spier) and also, Spatz Sperling (Delheim) – this stunning wine route has only grown from strength to strength. Stellenbosch Wine Routes have put South Africa on the wine map globally in a big and powerful way during these past 50 years.
Today, with five sub-routes (namely, Bottelary Hills, Greater Simonsberg, Helderberg, Stellenbosch Berg and Stellenbosch Valley) and a plethora of diverse wine farms, gorgeous tasting rooms, restaurants, accommodation and rich experiences, the Stellenbosch Wine Route is one of the most famous, beautiful wine routes anywhere in the world.
With over 120 wine- and grape-producing members to date (within the Stellenbosch Wine of Origin classification), the Stellenbosch Wine Route is also one of our country’s (and province’s) most vital sources of tourism and revenue, contributing some R7.2 billion to our GDP per year, and providing countless, crucial jobs to many of our citizens.
Sharing Some of my Favourite Stellenbosch Wine Route Estates
Since its founding, this unique region has also drawn in the accolades – winning honours such as Wine Town of the Year, Best Contribution to Wine Tourism and much more. To celebrate this special wine route’s official founding – on 17 April 1971 – I am sharing some of my favourite Stellenbosch wine route estates to visit and enjoy.
These include the likes of Spier (Stellenbosch Valley), Blaauwklippen Vineyards (Stellenbosch Berg), Hazendal (Bottelary Hills), Warwick Wine Estate (Greater Simonsberg), Stark-Conde (Stellenbosch Berg), Villiera Wines (Bottelary Hills), Zorgvliet (Greater Simonsberg), Kunjani Wines (Bottelary Hills), De Meye (Greater Simonsberg) and Quoin Rock (Greater Simonsberg).
Unearthing Local Gems with Stellenbosch Wine Routes
For this post, I am letting the photos and my past posts (as well as each respective wine farm’s website) speak for themselves.
I hope my post still inspires you to visit this unique wine route in 2021… and beyond! ๐
Spier Wine Farm
Sub-route region:
Stellenbosch Valley
What it offers:
Children’s play facilities, restaurants and cafรฉ, segway tours, wine tasting, accommodation, family picnics, craft market, outdoor spaces and more.
Read my past posts:
Website:
Blaauwklippen Vineyards
Sub-route region:
Stellenbosch Berg
What it offers:
Children’s play facilities, deli and restaurant, wine tasting, outdoor spaces, family market, wedding venues and more.
Read my past posts:
- Family-friendly Restaurants and Wine Farms near Cape Town
- Blaauwklippen Estate Review
- Best Wedding Venues for Travellers in the Cape Winelands
Website:
Hazendal
Sub-route region:
Bottelary Hills
What it offers:
Children’s play facilities/centre, wine tasting, family picnics, outdoor spaces, wedding venues and more.
Read my past posts:
- Best Wine Farm Experiences
- Family-friendly Restaurants and Wine Farms near Cape Town
- Hazendal Experiences – Russian Tea Ceremony
- Interesting Day Trips near Cape Town
- Babushka Picnic Review
- Hazendal Wine Estate: A Sensory Feast in the Stellenbosch Winelands
Website:
Warwick Wine Estate
Sub-route region:
Greater Simonsberg
What it offers:
Children’s play facilities, vineyard safari, wine tasting, family picnics, outdoor spaces, wedding venues and more.
Read my past posts:
Website:
Stark-Conde Wines
Sub-route region:
Stellenbosch Berg
What it offers:
Cafรฉ, wine tasting and outdoor spaces
Read my past posts:
Website:
Villiera Wines
Sub-route region:
Bottelary Hills
What it offers:
Game drives, wildlife, wine tastings and outdoor spaces.
Read my past posts:
Website:
Zorgvliet
Sub-route region:
Greater Simonsberg
What it offers:
Children’s play facilities, family picnics, wedding venues, outdoor spaces, restaurant and accommodation.
Read my past posts:
Website:
Kunjani Wines
Sub-route region:
Bottelary Hills
What it offers:
Restaurant, accommodation, wine tastings and outdoor spaces.
Read my past posts:
- Kunjani Wines Review
- My Best Travel Blog Experiences… So Far
- Delicious Wines I’ve Enjoyed During Lockdown
Website:
De Meye Vineyards
Sub-route region:
Greater Simonsberg
What it offers:
Wine tastings, family lunches, wedding venues and outdoor spaces.
Read my past posts:
- The Table at De Meye Picnic Review
- Special Date Ideas Around the Western Cape
- Interesting Day Trips near Cape Town
- Best Proposal Spots in the Western Cape
Website:
Quoin Rock Wine Estate
Sub-route region:
Greater Simonsberg
What it offers:
Restaurant, wine tastings, wedding venues, outdoor spaces, family picnics and more.
Read my past posts:
- My Best Travel Blog Experiences… So Far
- Interesting Day Trips near Cape Town
- Fine Dining Experience at Quoin Rock
Website:
In Closing
17 April 2021 may be their 50th birthday but the wine region is celebrating throughout 2021 – and I hope you get to enjoy and celebrate with them by exploring more of this incredible wine region!
Disclaimer:
All factual information and stats sourced from Stellenbosch Wine Routes via wine.co.za
About the author
Content writer by day and blogger by night, Tamlyn Ryan passionately runs her travel blog, called Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust - Travel Writing and Photography, from her home base of Cape Town, South Africa. Despite having a national diploma in Journalism and working as a content writer by day, Tamlyn's preferred niche remains travel writing.
Tamlyn is a hopeless wanderer, equipped with an endless passion for road trips, carefully planned, holiday itineraries and, above all else, an innate love for the great outdoors.