Sparkling Sensation: Private MCC tasting tour Stellenbosch

Taste your way through Method Cap Classique, the sparkling wine South Africa makes to French standards.

A private MCC tasting tour in Stellenbosch where you visit 3 to 4 estates over a morning or full day, tasting South African Method Cap Classique (sparkling wine made the Champagne way) paired with nougat and lunch at a Cape Dutch estate. Your guide has worked on a wine farm and holds Cape Wine Academy qualifications. Hotel pickup is included. Tastings and meals are on your account. The tour runs Monday to Saturday only.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sparkling MCC tasting and lunch

• Taste 3 MCC Bubbly's and wines
• Visit Simonsig for MCC tasting
• Enjoy nougat and MCC pairing
• Have lunch at Cape Dutch estate

The experience

Method Cap Classique is South Africa's answer to Champagne: made using the same method as the French original, just under a different name due to French law. This tour focuses entirely on bubbly, the most delicate of wine styles, and takes you to estates that produce some of the country's best. One stop is often Simonsig, which made the first South African MCC called Kaapse Vonkel. The route changes each time the tour runs, so you're not following a fixed script. Your guide adjusts based on which estates are available and what's in season.

You'll taste 3 MCC bubblies across the day, plus a selection of white and red wines at selected estates. One of the standout moments is the nougat and MCC pairing: 4 bubblies matched with 4 nougats, plus a cellar visit where you see how MCC is actually made. This pairing is only available Monday to Saturday and is a sweet way to punctuate the morning or afternoon. Lunch happens at a beautiful estate with Cape Dutch architecture. The venue changes depending on availability, so stay flexible. Water is provided in the vehicle, and your guide (all qualified through the Cape Wine Academy) knows the farms firsthand.

The tour lasts 4 to 8 hours depending on which option you choose and how many estates you visit. Hotel pickup is included from your exact address in Stellenbosch, or you can meet at the office at 4 Swellengrebel Street in Die Boord. If you have dietary requests, wine preferences or want to celebrate a special occasion, let the operator know at booking and they'll work it in. Tastings and food pairings are on your own account, so you control what you spend at each stop.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from your address in Stellenbosch or meeting point at the office.
• a qualified guide with Cape Wine Academy credentials and wine farm experience.
• water in the vehicle.
• tastings of 3 Method Cap Classique bubblies and a selection of white and red wines at selected estates.
• a cellar visit and explanation of how MCC is made.
• a nougat and MCC pairing experience (Monday to Saturday only).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 12 years): free · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 23 pickup points.Operator's directions: “We will park at the bus / tour guide parking in Drostdy street. Fat Butcher is on the corner of Van Riebeeck Street and Drostdy street.”

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

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 27 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transport

Operated by Camino tours

Is this one for you?Book the Stellenbosch-based option if you want the tour to start and end in town. Choose the Cape Town option if you're staying there and prefer the drive to the estates included. Either way, the route and estates shift with each tour, so you get a different experience depending on what's available and what you request.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years): free; Infant (under 3): free.

What is Method Cap Classique and how is it different from Champagne?

Method Cap Classique (MCC) is South African sparkling wine made using the exact same method as French Champagne, the Method Champenoise, but it cannot legally be called Champagne outside France. South African producers like Simonsig have been making MCC for decades, and the quality now compares with the best Champagne, Prosecco and Cava in the world.

Do I have to pay for tastings and lunch on top of the tour price?

Yes. Tastings and food pairings are on your own account, which keeps the tour price flexible and lets you decide how much to spend at each estate. Lunch at the final estate is also not included in the price.

Can I request specific estates or wines to visit?

Yes. The operator is open to specific wine requests and can include estates you want to visit. Let them know at booking and they'll build the route around your preferences.

Is this tour available every day?

The tour runs Monday to Saturday only. The nougat and MCC pairing experience is also only available those days.

What happens if I have a dietary restriction or allergy?

Vegetarian options and requests for food allergies are available. Advise the operator at the time of booking and they'll arrange it with the estates.