Cape Town Winelands: Franschhoek, Paarl & Stellenbosch Wine Tasting

Three Wine Estates in One Day: Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch from Cape Town

You're picked up from your Cape Town hotel and driven through three wine regions (Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch) stopping at Fairview for cheese and wine, Plaisir de Merle for confectionery pairings in a historic barn, and Muratie for port and chocolate. Lunch in Franschhoek is on your own, giving you time to explore the culinary capital. The itinerary is flexible, so you can adjust stops or timing to suit what interests you most. Return to Cape Town in the early evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cape Winelands wine estates

• Depart Cape Town by luxury minivan
• Visit Fairview Wine Estate for tasting
• Stop at Plaisir de Merle wine estate
• Enjoy lunch in Franschhoek
• Taste wines at Muratie estate
• Return to Cape Town in early evening

The experience

So you're standing in the tasting room at Fairview, cheese board in front of you, and your guide is explaining why their white wine tastes completely different when you pair it with a specific olive oil, and suddenly you get it. That's how the day starts, in the Paarl region, at a cheese haven where the master tasting opens your palate to combinations you didn't think were possible. The minivan picks you up from your Cape Town hotel and heads northwest into the Stellenbosch wine region, where the Mediterranean climate and fertile soils have been producing millions of litres of wine each year. It's not a rushed thing. You've got the whole day, and the itinerary is flexible, so if you want to linger at a stop or take a detour to somewhere that catches your eye, you can.

From Paarl, you head toward Franschhoek and stop at Plaisir de Merle, an estate founded in 1693 and nestled at the foot of Simonsberg Mountain. The tasting room is housed in a charming 1823 barn, and the views across the valley are the kind that make you forget to take notes. You'll taste their wines with confectionery pairings (artisanal nougat or chocolate truffles), and the whole thing feels less like a formal tasting and more like sitting in someone's living room who happens to have exceptional taste. The manicured lawns and ancient oak trees give the place a quiet, unhurried feel that's hard to find once you leave.

Lunch happens in Franschhoek itself, about 8 km away, and your guide points you toward the best sidewalk cafés and restaurants before stepping back. You're on your own for this one, which means you can eat at your own pace and your own cost. The town is South Africa's culinary capital, and on weekends the farmer's market fills the streets with colourful stalls and live music. There's history here too: French Huguenots arrived in the seventeenth century, and you'll see it in the architecture and the names on the menus. You might catch a church choir performance in the street, or just wander the main street picking up local cheeses and charcuterie.

The last stop is Muratie, a small Stellenbosch estate with ramshackle cellars and worn paintings that add to its rustic charm, locals love it. You'll sample their fortified sweet port-style wine paired with locally produced chocolate, or if sweet wines aren't your thing, go for their classic white or red tasting instead. Then it's the drive back to Cape Town in the early evening, the kind of drive where you're already thinking about which wine you're going to order when you get home. Because you've tasted three estates in one day, you know exactly what you're looking for now.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off within 5 km of Cape Town central or Stellenbosch, a local English-speaking guide, and private minivan transport.
• Wine tastings and pairings are provided at Fairview (cheese and wine), Plaisir de Merle (wine and confectionery), and Muratie (fortified wine and chocolate or alternative tasting).
• Lunch in Franschhoek is at your own expense.
• The itinerary is flexible and can be tailored to your interests, and you can request changes after booking.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (under 12)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleInfant seats available

Operated by Hotspots2c Tours

Is this one for you?This tour suits wine enthusiasts and food lovers who want to taste three estates in one day without arranging transport, bookings or timing themselves: the private format and flexible itinerary mean you move at your own pace and spend extra time wherever interests you most.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

How long is the full-day wine tour?

The tour runs the full day, departing in the morning and returning to Cape Town in the early evening. Exact duration depends on your pace and which stops you linger at, since the itinerary is flexible.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch in Franschhoek is at your own expense. Your guide will recommend restaurants and cafés, but you choose where and what to eat.

Can I change the itinerary or skip a wine estate?

Yes. This is a private tour, so the itinerary is flexible. You can spend more time at estates that interest you most, or swap in alternative options. Contact the operator after booking to discuss changes.

What if I don't drink alcohol or am under 18?

Customers under South Africa's legal drinking age of 18 will not be served alcohol. Wine tastings and pairings are not included for under-18s. The tour is still suitable, but you won't participate in the tastings.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off within 5 km of Cape Town central or Stellenbosch is included. You'll be returned to your original pickup location in the early evening.

What if certain wines or estates are unavailable?

If specific wines, farms or pairings are unavailable due to season or day of the week, the operator reserves the right to offer a similar type or value alternative.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and specialized infant seats are available if needed.

Can I request a different order for the three estates?

Yes. The itinerary is subject to change and may run in a different order depending on your preferences or circumstances. Discuss any requests with the operator.