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Tours and Tailor Made Holidays to

The Winelands

SOUTH AFRICA
  • CURRENCY South African Rand
  • LANGUAGE English and Afrikaans
  • WEATHER
  • FLYING TIME 11 hrs 40 mins
  • TIME ZONE GMT + 2
  • AIRLINE British Airways

Learn how to swirl, sniff and aspirate at some of the world's most renowned vineyards

Tailor Made Holidays to The Winelands

At Travel Concierge, we pride ourselves on tailoring holidays to The Winelands that are designed around your needs and expectations and not ours. We have a range of The Winelands holiday offers that we have negotiated special or exclusive deals on. We can also arrange multi centre The Winelands holiday itineraries as well as tours and excursions in The Winelands. For more information on our The Winelands holidays, call an Travel Concierge tailor-made expert on 0161 729 0099 and speak to one of our reservation experts who will be able to help you plan the perfect holiday in The Winelands.

Destination Overview

True connoisseurs know that chardonnay is chilled in an ice bucket and never with an ice cube. They know how long to allow their merlot to breathe before they take a sip and they eat cheese solely to enhance the nose of their Chenin blanc. South Africa owns bragging rights as one of the world's premier wine producers, rivalled only by Italy and France.

Explorations of South Africa's fairytale winelands is best achieved according to your level of expertise. Novices who never spit or swirl seldom get along with experts who study the hue changes at the edges of their wines. When muddled in the same group, accusations of pretention and lack of culture are likely to ruin the serene atmosphere that should accompany a holiday to The Winelands.There is a particular romance attached to holidays to The Winelands. The infinite rows of vineyards are set off by the charming Cape Dutch architecture. The old world allure of Stellenbosch and Constantia competes against the innovative international vintage styles of Darling.

Exploring the grand capitals of winemaking needn't hinge upon alcoholic beverages. The region is dotted with destinations for nature viewing, historic venues and South Africa's most magnificent butterfly park. Drakenstein Lion Park offers a safe sanctuary for predators that were born in captivity. Fifty acres of habitable land keeps these kings of the jungle compassionately cared for, and offer visitors on holiday in The Winelands closer encounters with these magical creatures. Limietberg Nature Reserve lets you follow meandering trails in the midste of a wider array of animals. Leopards, dassies, baboons and klipspringer have all made happy homes in the reserve. The birding in the park is a true show stopper: You will meet raptors, black eagles and protea canaries from a distance.

Learn how to swirl, sniff and aspirate at some of the world's most renowned vineyards of Stellenbosch, Simonsig and Breede River Valley. Intimidated amateurs needn't worry about the 'correct' tasting ceremonies: Most locals at wine tastings are casual about the ritual but passionate about the taste. The goal is to enjoy the experience and only drink what you enjoy. Both are best done at restaurants in the region with the expertise to put together a taste extravaganza for every course. Nature fans will prefer the Breede River's startling hiking areas but those on a quest to learn some culture visit Robertson. Wine country safaris tailored for casual drinkers use local anecdotes and legends to add entertainment value to the trip, whilst experts learn about viticulture directly from the experts. The vineyards are as famous for their architecture and décor as their vintages, with the most impressive talent demonstrated at Maison estate and Groot Constantia.

Franschoek is known as the French corner. Within an hour, Cape Town visitors are transported to the most beautiful vistas in the Cape. There is simply no better region to enjoy a journey into the world of cuisine. The area hides away eight of South Africa's pinnacle restaurants and 30 cellars. At its roots, it is a valley established by the French Hugenots. A 30 minute drive takes you to Stellenbosch, which is thick with a niche South African subculture of artistic, laid back locals. In opposition, the oak lined streets take you to far more imposing and luxurious scenes featuring secluded pathways, towering mountains and impressive Cape Dutch homes. Paarl tosses together contrasting geology and landscapes. Immense granite outcrops and mountains contrast with small town vineyards nestled between the village homes. Paarl's fertile soil nurtures a wide variety of grapes. Backsberg, Simonsvlei and Avondale produce some of the most awarded wines in the Cape.

When to visit The Winelands

The Winelands

Do you need inspiration for when to go on holiday to The Winelands? Give the team of experts at Travel Concierge a call and we will help you plan your The Winelands holiday at the best time of year for your requirements. Although our The Winelands holiday search tool will allow you to search for The Winelands holiday prices upto 11 months in advance, we can also price holidays to The Winelands for 2025 and 2026. We can advise on the best time to travel on your The Winelands holiday based on The Winelands weather, special events in The Winelands or even when the crowds in The Winelands are at their lowest.

The Winelands

The Winelands holidays take place in the Mediterranean climate that is directly responsible for the exceptional viticulture in the region. The mountainous landscapes keep winters protected against the harsh southerly winds of Cape Town.

The South Easters occasionally cause temperatures to plunge. Foreigners used to icy weather will feel comfortable with the mild autumn and winter temperatures. Autumn brings a mellow, warm climate to the area, making it the most popular season for The Winelands holiday makers. The golden shades of the grapes and autumn foliage gives the landscape a fiery palette. The mountains on the region's outskirts are sometimes draped in snow, and summers are arid and hot. Spring adds lush, leafy greenery to the previous season's sandy shades.  

Butterfly world near Kalpmuts turns its tropical garden into a fairytale wonderland of fluttering creatures. Their countries of origin extend from Malaysia to China, Costa Rica to the Philippines. A team of dedicated care givers maintains the precise humidity levels and temperatures that help these species to flourish. Chilly days will chase the butterflies into hideouts, so summer is the season to visit. Those with a penchant for creepy crawlies will delight in the spider room, where hundreds of arachnids from local and exotic homes are displayed safely behind glass barriers. Scorpions share this living space. Kinder species such as meerkats and birds keep the outdoor garden animated with life.

The weather between March and May makes autumn the most popular month to book into hotels in The Winelands. These are the months to visit Stellenbosch, Paarl, Simondium and Pniel. Their proximity is such that visitors can comfortably drive through all these regions within days. The absence of rain and the diminishing temperatures are ideal for ambles along the Vineyard trails, which take you through olive groves, forests, vineyards and mountain slopes. The 24 km walk is challenging enough for fit hikers, but the Jonkershoek Nature reserve has more demure walks for the less active traveller. Stellenbosch's Toy and Miniature Museum is a must for families, as its collection of toys and miniature landscapes is delightful for younger travellers. A replica of the Blue Train takes you on a miniaturized tour through a tiny version of the Winelands.

Worcester and the Breede River are excellent areas for a winter stay at a hotel in The Winelands. Temperatures hover just above freezing, but summer heatwaves are intolerably hot and dry. The extreme weather and heavy rainfall brings a ghostly rain shadow to the mountainous regions. Heat and moisture are pushed towards the crags, causing a dry gloom to settle. This curious event happens only in a sparse selection of regions across the world. The winelands here have centuries of history behind them. The Breede Valley hiking trails are some of the Cape's most spectacular. Mountain climbs in the winter snows let visitors view Matroosberg, Ceres and Tulbach in snow capped splendor. The Winelands hotels in this region are generally casual enough to keep guests feeling snug and welcome.

Spring weather transforms Franschoek's surrounding regions into a brightly colored spectacle. Culinary tours and cheese tastings give hungry travellers with maps a set route to the tastiest areas throughout the year. September and October cool down temperatures for the most comfortable drives and vivid vistas. Starting at Dalewood, travelers are led through Backsberg and Pass winery, introducing you to the tastiest culinary treats south of Johannesburg. The Winelands hotel industry concentrates on luxury game drives, food and wine pairing and guided trips to the nearby regions. From this vantage point, you will be able to explore every possible South African taste sensation from African gastronomy to luxurious European treats, all served with their own perfect wine.