How do I book a wine tour through Wine in the Cape?

Browse our tours or build a custom itinerary, then send an enquiry with your dates and group size. We come back to you personally — usually within a few hours — with a proposed route, pricing and availability. You don't pay anything until the plan is confirmed.

Can I build my own multi-day wine route?

Yes. Our custom tour builder lets you choose estates, stays and experiences across the Cape Winelands, then sends the whole plan to us in one enquiry. We'll refine transport, timing and bookings for you.

Do you arrange transport and a driver?

We do. Most of our tours include a private driver-guide in a comfortable vehicle, and we can arrange anything from a sedan for two to a mini-coach for larger groups. Self-drive itineraries are available too if you prefer your own wheels.

How far in advance should I book?

For peak season (December to April) and weekends, aim for 2–4 weeks ahead. Mid-week and off-season tours can often be arranged with a few days' notice. Last-minute requests are welcome — we'll always try to make it work.

What size groups can you accommodate?

From couples to coachloads. Private tours typically run for 2–12 guests, but we regularly plan wine experiences for corporate groups, weddings and celebrations of 50 or more.

Is wine tasting included in the price?

Most tour prices include tastings at the estates on your route. Where a premium tasting or food pairing is optional, we'll make that clear in your quote so there are no surprises.

Spring in the Winelands: What’s Actually Worth Building Into Your Trip

Spring does something specific to the Winelands that no other season quite manages: it moves everything outside. Tasting rooms spill onto terraces, gardens come back to life, and estates start reopening the experiences that only make sense when the days are long—markets, garden walks, and sundowner spots.

If you’re planning a Cape wine trip for September or October, this is the season where timing your visit around what’s actually happening matters more than usual.

Here is what is worth building into a Cape Winelands itinerary this spring, region by region.

Key Takeaway: Spring in the Winelands is heavily date-limited. The best seasonal experiences—from lavender picking to limited garden walks—reward booking well in advance rather than deciding on the day.

1. Stellenbosch & Paarl Highlights

A Proper New Table at Hazendal

Stellenbosch has a new flagship worth knowing about: Siyalima at Hazendal Wine Estate. The menu is built around what the estate’s own gardens produce rather than a standard fine-dining format—with fermenting, pickling, and drying techniques doing the heavy lifting alongside seasonal produce.

Cost: From R500 per person
Booking: Required in advance
The Verdict: It is being treated as a destination dining experience in its own right rather than a quick add-on to a tasting flight.

Blindfolded Tasting at Nederburg

For anyone who has done a handful of standard tastings and wants something that genuinely changes how they taste, Nederburg’s Uncharted experience is worth the detour. It is a blindfolded tasting built around sound, scent, and touch rather than sight, paired with a three-course dinner from head chef Llewellyn Solomons.

Availability: Select evenings through September and October
Cost: R795 per person
The Verdict: A genuine sensory reset rather than a gimmick, and ideal for couples looking for a unique evening out.

The Last of the Lavender at De Meye

If you’ve been meaning to visit De Meye’s lavender fields, September is the month to do it—picking wraps up at the end of the month.

Cost: R120 per person (includes unlimited picking and a glass of wine)
Lunch Option: The Table at De Meye runs a sharing-style lunch alongside the fields if you want to turn it into a full afternoon.
Great For: Groups or travellers who aren’t exclusively focused on wine tastings.

2. Franschhoek & Beyond

JAN Franschhoek Returns to La Motte

JAN Franschhoek has reopened at La Motte, operating as a communal-table dining experience inside the historic Veepos cottage under chef Lara van Heerden.

Schedule: Wednesday to Saturday evenings
Cost: R3,550 per person (includes full menu with wine pairing)
Booking Strategy: This is a high-demand reservation that needs to go in your diary months in advance.

3. Durbanville & Somerset West

Garden Walks at Vergelegen

Vergelegen opens its grounds for guided spring walks in mid-October, led directly by the estate’s horticultural team (Richard Arm and Chris Randlehoff).

Cost: R295 per person (includes tea, coffee, and scones)
Why It Matters: Vergelegen’s gardens are genuinely historic rather than purely decorative. Having the estate’s own groundskeepers guide you through the spring blooms offers a completely different depth of experience compared to a casual stroll.

Botanical Cocktails at Groot Phesantekraal

Durbanville doesn’t always get the same spotlight as Stellenbosch or Franschhoek, but Groot Phesantekraal is worth a stop this season for its new cocktail collaboration with mixologist Julian Short.

The Menu: Six signature cocktails built around the estate’s own Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cap Classique, Rosé, and Syrah.
Great For: Mixed groups where not everyone wants to sit through a formal wine flight.

4. Scenic Day Trips & Outdoor Experiences

The Robertson Wine Train

If your itinerary extends outward to Robertson, the Robertson Wine Train is a full day out rather than a quick tasting stop. It features a steam-hauled vintage rail journey through the valley on Saturdays, serving local wines on board with select trips hosted by local winemakers.

Adults: R670
Children (Ages 3–12): R370
Great For: Families travelling with children who want an atmospheric wine valley experience.

Spring Farmers’ Markets Opening Dates

Spring marks the return of the region’s outdoor weekend markets after the winter quiet:

Lourensford Market: Reopens early September
Windmeul Farmers Market: Reopens early September
Diemersfontein Country Market: Reopens in early September
Stellenbosch Street Soirees: Kicks off shortly after market season opens

Looking for Movement?

Bikes ‘n Wines: Guided cycling routes through Stellenbosch and Franschhoek vineyards.
Trail Running: Dedicated routes at Slanghoek, Jason’s Hill, and Waterford Estate.
After Dark: Moonlight hikes through Muratie Wine Estate.
West Coast Pop-up: Saldanha Wine & Spirit Co. is running an oyster, wine, and sherry beach bar out of a converted Shell garage featuring A.A. Badenhorst Family Wines.

Walkway at Spier Wine Farm — Interiors and lifestyle photographer

Planning Your Spring Itinerary

The common thread across all of these seasonal highlights is timing and availability. A fair amount of what makes spring worth visiting for—the lavender harvests, guided garden walks, JAN’s seasonal reopenings, and sensory dinners—is either date-limited or booking-only.

Building a cohesive route around these dates ensures you don’t miss out on limited-run events while travelling through the Cape.

Plan Your Custom Cape Winelands Route

Want to integrate these seasonal experiences into a seamless private tour? Contact our team today to start designing your tailor-made Winelands itinerary.