Private Wine Tours in South Africa

Your unforgettable chauffeured wine tour of South Africa starts in the dynamic coastal city of Cape Town. Your driver will be waiting for you at the airport or cruise terminal, welcome you, and provide a relaxed, private transfer to your luxury hotel. The day is yours to settle in, perhaps enjoy some spa treatments, dine onsite at the excellent Conservatory restaurant, and recover from any possible jet lag. You will have a welcome bottle of delicious South African wine waiting for you in your room to get you in the spirit of the trip.

Your refined hotel is set amid rolling vineyards and gardens, tucked into a secluded estate comprised of Dutch Cape villas and a historic country manor. There are life-affirming views of mountains and vineyards in all directions. The many amenities onsite mean you can easily spend a relaxing day here without getting bored. You will have two swimming pools, a luxury spa, a tennis court, a gym, and nine acres of gardens that you can enjoy.

Should you not be jet-lagged today, we can certainly kick off the tour with a wine experience just minutes from the hotel, and you might also like to visit the fabulous Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. Welcome to South Africa’s Western Cape!

Kick off your wine tour of South Africa with a visit to the oldest appellation, and one of the oldest wine estates in the country- Klein Constantia, dating back to the 17th century. Known for their Vin de Constance, this historic wine has been enjoyed over the centuries by dignitaries, royals, and writers ranging from Napoleon Bonaparte, who is said to have requested it during his exile on Saint Helena; Jane Austen, who mentioned Constantia wine in her novel Sense and Sensibility; Charles Dickens, and even the Prussian King Frederick the Great. Unlike fortified wines like Port or Sherry, Vin de Constance derives its sweetness naturally from ripened grapes. Left on the vine to develop exceptional concentration before being harvested by hand, the wine produced is of remarkable freshness and finesse. The rich flavors and aromas are vibrant, with notes of apricot, orange blossom, citrus peel, honey, ginger, and warm spice, all lifted by bright acidity that gives the wine its elegance and extraordinary aging potential.

You will enjoy the Vin de Constance experience at Klein Constantia this morning, an exclusive private tour of their very pretty wine cellar, followed by a vertical tasting of 3 special vintages of Vin de Constance. What a marvelous way to begin your trip! Next up is a second wine experience at the actual oldest wine farm in the Cape- Steenburg. The name means “mountain of stone”, and their wonderful Dutch colonial manor house was built just below Steenburg mountain in the late 1600’s. The life of the German founder, Catherina Ras, was quite extraordinary! She was an early settler in the Cape who survived no less than five husbands (thanks to various calamities, from a lion attack and an elephant trampling). She leased a portion of Groot Constantia’s farm for cultivation, and it has remained a working farm ever since. Today, after all this time, the Steenburg farm is home to an award-winning winery and a lovely hotel, housed in 17th-century Cape Dutch villas. You will enjoy lunch here, along with an intimate, private Icon tasting of their most prestigious wines, including Lady R, Black Swan, Magna Carta, and Catharina.

Before heading to your hotel, and if you are interested, we can include a visit to show you the charismatic penguin colony in nearby Boulder’s Beach, just a half-hour drive south. They are ridiculously adorable, and the setting is magical. The evening is then at your leisure to enjoy your beautiful grounds and facilities. Should you like to dine outside the hotel tonight, the Little Fox is a great restaurant nearby, a ten-minute taxi ride away. And La Colombe is fabulous for a more fine-dining experience, about a 10-minute taxi ride.

Today you will travel to the coastal town of Hermanus, famous for spectacular whale watching and some of the best wines in South Africa. On the way, we have some fantastic visits and tastings. You will travel from leafy Constantia to Somerset West, one of the Cape’s most scenic wine regions. Situated between the rugged shores of False Bay and the Helderberg Mountains, this area is a wine paradise on earth. Picture rolling vineyard-covered hills, verdant mountain slopes, and coastal views. Bliss. Your first destination this morning is the one and only Vergelegen estate. Known not only for its fabulous wines but also for this fairy-tale property dating back to 1700, it is a magnet for history and garden lovers. They have extensive, exquisitely landscaped gardens, the largest camellia collection in Africa, ancient camphor trees, and dreamy rose gardens.

Cooled by sea breezes from nearby False Bay, Vergelegen’s vineyards enjoy ideal maritime conditions for producing elegant, fresh, and balanced Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux-style blends, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. On a private tour, you will marvel at their impressive gravity-fed wine cellar on a hillside overlooking the property and learn how it supports their premium winemaking. Taste their reserve wines and then settle into lunch, where you can order à la carte from their tasty wine country menu at Firehorse.

Then hit the road for Hermanus, stopping for one last experience today, just a five-minute drive down the road from Vergelegen– olive oil. Your hosts at Morgenster will be waiting for you on their 300-year-old farm. Their Italian patriarch, Giulio Bertrand, took over the farm in the early 90’s with a mission: to make high-end Bordeaux-style wines (again, thanks to the perfect climate and soil conditions, similar to Atlantic Bordeaux) and super premium extra virgin olive oil. He brought in consultants from the mythical Château Cheval Blanc and Château d’Yquem wineries to get closer to his dream of South African-born Bordeaux-style wines.

He also partnered with the Olive Oil Institute in Perugia, Umbria, and imported the best olive varietals to see how they worked with the terroir, and voilà. Today, Morgenster is considered the most highly respected fine olive oil producer in the Cape. They also make great wine! You will delight in your olive oil and wine tasting this afternoon, before carrying on to your luxurious seafront hotel. The evening is yours to relax and stroll around charming Hermanus, with its art galleries, markets, fine restaurants, and gorgeous cliff walk along the coast. We will make dining suggestions.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the Marine, overlooking the ocean. What could be better? Today you will be traveling just inland from Hermanus to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, which in Afrikaans means “heaven and earth”. Quite! It is the Cape’s premier cool-climate wine region, known for the exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay made here. You will be visiting a terrific mix of wineries today- the pioneering Hamilton Russell Vineyards, the leading Creation estate (adored for their food and wine pairing focus), and boutique Ataraxia Wines. The picturesque drive to your first winery this morning is only a 15-minute spin. Your first visit will be in a pristine, ultra-relaxed setting that feels more like a private wine ranch than a “wine tourism facility”. Hamilton Vineyards is a quiet and understated property, and the small team of brilliant hosts is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about wine. Of all the experiences so far, the visit here will be the most technical, in a good way, in that you will leave with a deeper understanding of winemaking in the Cape. The setting and views are outstanding, and their Burgundian-style Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are considered among the finest in South Africa.

The wineries in this valley are all quite close together, and your next visit will be only a 15-minute drive. Creation Wines is sleek and chic, and a very nice contrast to Hamilton Russell. Founded in 2002 by Swiss-born winemaker Jean-Claude Martin and his South African wife Carolyn, Creation has been a monumental success. Today, it is one of the region’s most innovative, hospitality-driven wine estates. Your fun food-and-wine pairing lunch (with their fine, cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) will take place in their fashionable, modern glass-fronted tasting room or adjoining terrace, with panoramic views over the valley, vineyards, and the distant Atlantic Ocean. Their goal is to create seasonal menus that highlight how wine and flavor interact, using locally sourced ingredients to create a sensory, educational experience. Above all, it will be delicious.

In the afternoon, you will work your way back to the cute, fishing village of Hermanus, stopping in one last wine estate- Ataraxia. The word means “a serene state of mind, free from worry and preoccupation”, in Greek, and indeed this is the vibe here- complete relaxation. They have created a “wine shrine”- an artsy wine lounge located in an Overberg-style chapel overlooking drop-dead gorgeous vineyard and mountain scenery. This is a short and supremely pleasant visit, all about enjoying great wine and the remarkable landscape. You will be dropped back at your hotel after a great day. We recommend The Wine Glass for dinner tonight, just a few minutes’ walk from your hotel. They specialize in the local, Southern Cape wines by the glass.

Your South African wine journey continues today to the captivating Franschhoek valley, encircled by an amphitheater of mountains, including the Groot Drakenstein. Franschhoek, Simonsberg, and Wemmershoek ranges. You will be based in this majestic wine oasis for the next two nights. On the way there today, visit the Stellenbosch wine country. From Hermanus, it is just under a two-hour drive, through lovely scenery, and you will start on the earlier side today after breakfast. By the late morning, arrive at the Glenelly Estate, another wine estate with a breathtaking history. The property dates back to 1682 when Simon van der Stel ceded the land to a French Huguenot, Francois Villion. In 2003, the property was taken over by Madame May de Lencquesaing, who at the time owned Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, the 2nd Growth Grand Cru Classé in Pauillac, Bordeaux. Under her guidance, Glenelly was transformed from a fruit-tree farm into a super-premium wine estate, focused, not surprisingly, on Bordeaux varietals. What is so incredible is that she started this South African adventure at 78 years of age!

You will learn all about the winery’s fascinating history during a private visit that also includes a visit to the impressive glass museum. Madame May spent a lifetime collecting rare glass, much of it a work of art, including pieces from Ancient Rome and beyond. Conclude the experience with a premium tasting of their top bottlings, such as Lady May, their Estate reserve blend, and their glass collection Cabernet Sauvignon- all with incredible views of the Simonsberg slopes. You can then enjoy lunch on your own, à la carte, at their French Bistro. After lunch, we have an absolute treat in store- a private visit and tasting at Oldenburg vineyards, whose tasting room must have some of the most beautiful views in South Africa! And this is an area with many, many beautiful tasting rooms.

Apart from making superb wines, Oldenburg has a strong sustainability and health ethos. Their raison d’être is “Combining Regenerative Farming and Precision Viticulture with Artisan Winemaking”. They credit their awards and high scores from wine critics to the confluence of natural elements, including the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, which bring cool winds; the surrounding mountains and elevations; the special soils, and their distinct, round Rondekop hill, a main feature of their estate. You will be dazzled by the place and indulge in a tasting of expressive wines, including Chenin Blanc, Merlot, and Syrah single-varietal wines. Or perhaps a Cru wine from their Rondekop wine series.

After another entertaining day, full of relaxing vineyard and mountain vistas, you will travel half an hour east to your luxury hotel for some free time to relax. Ensconced in a lush, extensive estate complete with vineyards, gardens, and orchards, La Residence is one of South Africa’s finest luxury retreat hotels. There are only a handful of individually designed suites, each decorated with a unique collection of antiques, original artwork, elegant fabrics, and chandeliers. La Residence feels wonderfully exclusive and secluded, but you are actually only a few minutes’ drive from Franschhoek village’s acclaimed restaurants and wineries. Indeed, tonight we will reserve a table for you (and transfers) to one of the hottest fine dining spots in town- Chefs Warehouse at Maison Franschhoek. First- rate!

The Ruperts are one of South Africa’s most influential business families. Patriarch Anton Rupert was a Stellenbosch-born industrialist, philanthropist, and conservationist who became a billionaire entrepreneur after building the global Rembrandt Group. His family is deeply involved in luxury goods, conservation, and wine. Today you will have the pleasure of visiting two of the jewels in their crown- Anthonij Rupert Wine Farm and Rupert and Rothschild. Both are prominent, top-tier luxury Franschhoek wine estates, yet they differ in size and scope. Start the day with a very pleasurable discovery tour at the Anthonij Rupert Wine Farm. Anton Rupert acquired this estate in 1969, when it was called the L’ Ormarins wine estate. The farm was established in 1694 by French Huguenot Jean Roi, who named it after Lourmarin which was his hometown in Provence. Anton restored the manor house and the historic cellar (built in 1799!) and both were declared national monuments in the 1980’s. Anton’s son Anthonij eventually took over the estate, but his life was tragically cut short when he passed away in a car accident caused by a storm, at only 49 years of age. After this, the family dedicated and rebranded L’ Ormarins to the Anthonij Rupert Wine Farm. Today, the Rupert wine empire is run by Anthonij’s brother, Johann.

L’ Ormarins became world famous for their Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) traditional bottle-fermented, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir-based sparkling wines, which they continue to produce. But these days, this large estate also makes a wide range of lines. Your tour will include a tasting of wines from their Anthonij Rupert lines in the namesake tasting room of their charming Cape Dutch manor house. The interior is very old-world with wooden beams, antiques, and oil paintings. If the weather permits, your tasting of Petit Verdot, Syrah, Merlot, and the Anthonij Rupert blend (all of which are coined as “Cape Collectible reds) might also be on the veranda. Needless to say, the views of the Franschhoek Valley are fabulous. If you are interested in vintage cars, we can arrange a visit to the Franschhoek Motor Museum on-site. They have over 220 vehicles in a range of time periods, including antique, veteran, vintage, post-vintage, post-45, and post-60. This is extremely interesting for car enthusiasts.

Next up- more great wine and lunch at Rupert and Rothschild. The name comes from the joint venture between the Rupert family and the famous French banker and member of the prestigious Rothschild wine family in Bordeaux, Baron Benjamin de Rothschild. In 1997, when they launched the project together, their mission was to take advantage of the sublime locale South African terroir and make world-class wines with their French winemaking expertise. They certainly reached this goal and more, and today these wines are considered some of the best. You will sit down to an excellent wine flight of both estate wines like Rupert & Rothschild Baron Edmond, and perhaps wines from some of their other estates around the world, such as Flechas de los Andes Gran Corte from their Argentina venture or Rimapere Sauvignon Blanc from their Marlborough vineyard in New Zealand. Lunch is then in their elegant restaurant with lovely outdoor seating, and it’s à la carte. Don’t miss the South African and French cheese platter. Before heading back to your hotel this afternoon, you might like to poke around Franschhoek village. This tiny village offers terrific luxury shopping, including galleries, jewelry shops, high-end craft shops, and, of course, wine boutiques. Free evening.

More fine Franschhoek wine experiences are on the agenda today. And a little background on the region. Many of the farms and properties in this stunning valley were granted to French Huguenot families in the late 1690’s by the Dutch East India Company (including the first wine estate in your program yesterday). Many of these French settlers brought viticultural and agricultural skills that helped shape the region. The name of the valley comes from “De Fransche Hoek,” which means “French Corner” in Dutch. And while you are here, you will notice the French influence in everything from celebrations like the Bastille Festival to the general savoir-faire. You will see many French-named businesses in Franschhoek, such as Le Quartier Français, Le Coin Français, La Petite Ferme, Haute Cabrière, Grande Provence, La Cotte Inn, La Motte, and many more.
And indeed, your first winery today has a French connection. But not how you would imagine. The Mullineux estate was founded by husband-and-wife winemakers Chris Mullineux (South African) and Andrea Mullineux (Californian), who actually met in the South of France while working a wine harvest. They brought their skills and passion for Southern French grape varietals to the exciting Swartland wine region of South Africa in 2007 and have become a powerhouse wine duo on the world stage. Andrea was awarded Wine Enthusiast’s 2016 International Winemaker of the Year, just one of many accolades they continue to receive year after year. In 2013, Chris and Andrea decided to expand their successful wine company to Franschhoek, and they partnered with Indian billionaire Analjit Singh (aka BAS) to launch Leeu Passant winery at Singh’s phenomenal Leeu Estates (a luxury hotel and wine complex).

You will be hosted at Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines at their Wine Studio and have the opportunity to taste their flagship wines from their Swartland and Roundstone Estate vineyards. This signature tasting has stellar wines, including their Old Vines White, Syrah, Roundstone, Kloof Street Chenin Blanc, and Kloof Street Rouge. Magnifique! The next highlight is the food and wine experience at Chamonix and Arkeste. The Chamonix wine estate is located on land that once formed part of the La Cotte farm, which dates back to the late 1600s during the French Huguenot era. Chamonix, as a modern premium wine producer, began in the early 1990’s when German-born entrepreneur Chris Hellinger purchased what was then largely fruit-farmed land and set about transforming it into a high-end wine estate. The wines here are “old world” and “terroir-driven” in style, like most of the wine estates on this tour. The vineyards here benefit from higher elevation and a cool climate, which helps make fresh wines with excellent length. They make many single-varietal wines at Chamonix, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinotage.

Indulge in a top wine flight and then settle into a cozy lunch at Arkeste, on the estate. This “casual chic” eatery offers fine dining in a relaxed setting. Order à la carte and keep it on the light side as dinner is substantial this evening. After a wine-soaked, lovely morning, you will enjoy some free time to enjoy the facilities at your resort. Go for a swim, book a massage, go for a walk or cycle on the wonderful grounds, or simply relax on the terrace and read with a glass of wine in hand. For dinner tonight, we will organize the extravagant chef’s table experience for you at La Residence, a gourmet must!

Beautiful, coastal Cape Town is your final destination this afternoon, where you will spend your last two evenings. But you can’t leave the wine country without visiting two of our favorite estates, veritable legends in South Africa- Jordan and Kanonkop. A fun wine safari awaits at Jordan first. This upscale winery in Stellenbosch has been run by Gary and Kathy Jordan since the early 90s, on land that Gary’s parents bought a decade earlier, with a history going back over 300 years. From their very first vintage, the wines of Jordan have been making waves, and today they are considered to be a “stand out” property in South Africa. Perched on a hillside with sweeping views of False Bay, Table Mountain, and Stellenbosch, Jordan strives to make wines that balance rich New World fruit with old-world elegance. On arrival, you will be welcomed to board an open safari-style game viewing Land Rover, with photo stops to take in the jaw-dropping views of False and Table Bays. Your guide will also explain the flora and fauna of the Western Cape. Learn all about the terroir and geology here while tasting a selection of sustainably grown wines right in the vines, very cool. The experience also includes a cellar tour, with extra tastings in the barrel cellar or out on the terrace.

We will reserve a table for you at their Cellar Door casual eatery and suggest you order a few light dishes, as we once again have a marvelous dinner to look forward to this evening. After lunch, you will be visiting the one and only Kanonkop property. We have saved the best for last, and you will be Pinotage experts by the end of the day. The Pinotage grape is THE hallmark grape varietal of South Africa. The history of this grape is also quite interesting. Pinotage was “created” (apparently by accident, there is a lot of wine lore about this) in 1924 at the University of Stellenbosch by Professor Abraham Izak Perold. He is said to have crossed the pollen of the Pinot Noir grape with the male flower of the Cinsault grape (which was at the time known as “Hermitage,” hence where the “tage” in “Pinotage” comes from) and voilà- the Pinotage varietal was born. It is truly, uniquely a South African taste. After a century of constant improvement in vitivultural and vinification, wine estates here are making silky, velvety, and refined Pinotage wines- both as a single varietal and as blends.

The wine trade and press consider Kanonkop to be the South African equivalent of a Bordeaux First Growth Estate. And today you will learn why when you taste their wines! The name Kanonkop comes from the words “kanon” (cannon) and “kopje” (small hill). And the story behind this is that in the 17th century, a cannon was fired from the hill here to signal farmers in the surrounding areas that ships had entered Table Bay harbor. They would then load their wagons and head to Cape Town’s port to trade fresh produce. The working winery was founded in the early 20th century by the Sauer family, and the family in charge today is the 4th generation Kriges. The tour here is fantastic, and you will enjoy a portfolio tasting of 8 wines, including vintage Pinotage.

It is under an hour’s gentle drive to Cape Town, and you will be checking into the one and only Mount Nelson Hotel, run by the luxury Belmond brand (formerly the Orient Express). Opened as a hotel in 1899, the property is much older and was home to some of Cape Town’s most magnificent gardens. In 1890, shipping magnate Sir Donald Currie, owner of the Union-Castle Shipping Line, purchased the Mount Nelson estate. He envisioned a stylish, elegant hotel on par with the best in London, designed specifically for the line’s affluent First Class passengers. Over the last century and a bit, it has hosted countless famous guests, including the Prince of Wales in 1925, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, John Lennon, the Dalai Lama, and many more. There is no more charming or atmospheric hotel in Cape Town; you will love the history and style. Settle in and relax, enjoying the amenities on-site.

Dinner tonight is at the hotel’s Amura restaurant, whose consulting chef is Spain’s Three Michelin-starred chef Ángel León (of Aponiente in El Puerto de Santa Maria). Ángel is known as the “chef of the sea”, and his groundbreaking cuisine and futuristic techniques of “Marine Fine Dining” indeed primarily focus on fish and seafood. Tonight you have an utterly amazing fish-focused tasting menu to look for, paired with some of South Africa’s best wines. The setting is striking with a Jules Verne vibe, and the whole evening will be amazing. Please note that in case you do not eat fish or seafood, we will organize a wonderful dinner at another of Cape Town’s gastro greats this evening.

You deserve a late breakfast and a pampering start to your day, with pickup in the late morning. So you will have some chillax time to enjoy the hotel’s facilities and gorgeous grounds. Your local expert driver guide will take you on a two-hour panoramic tour of Cape Town and/or the best of the surroundings. Depending on the weather, your interests, and mobility, the tour can include a visit to Table Mountain and the surrounding area, or a circular drive that takes in Kirstenbosch Gardens, Chapman’s Peak, and the Atlantic Seaboard. This can be decided with your guide a few days in advance.

For lunch, then, we will organize a table for you at Cape Town’s coolest recent openings- Le Bistrot de JAN. Located in the heart of Cape Town’s vibrant V&A Waterfront overlooking the harbor, the chic bistro has been launched by South Africa’s culinary superstar Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen, who runs a Michelin-starred restaurant in Nice and has other ventures (even cookbooks). The new bistro has a plush, high-end ambiance, and its cuisine blends South African and Southern French flavors. After lunch, the choice is yours. Visit the neat shops and attractions in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town’s biggest shopping and restaurant complex (where lunch is), or return to your resort straight away to relax and pack. You can decide on the day. Enjoy one last magical night at Mount Nelson.

At your preferred time, you will be transferred to your next port of call or tour extension, be it Cape Town airport or Cape Town’s cruise port. Should you be interested in a luxury safari add-on (or as a pre-tour activity), this can certainly be arranged for you. Ditto for whale watching or other memorable wildlife experiences, South Africa has so much to offer, and if you have the time and budget, we can organize it for you!

We hope you had an incredibly enjoyable time on this food-and-wine luxury wine journey through South Africa!