When traveling with the kids on holiday, you ideally want destinations that please both parents and children alike.
Believe it or not, Cape Town’s incredible wine farms make the perfect family destination. As all of South Africa’s largest winemaking region, there is no shortage of excellent wines for parents to taste and beautiful vineyards for children and parents to explore, against the gorgeous backdrop of the Table Mountains.
With their beauty, and often educational opportunities as well, many of the Cape vineyards are the perfect spot to stop in for an afternoon picnic with the whole family.
To help you plan your family picnic, with tasty wine for you and some fun adventures and learning opportunities for your kiddos, we’ve selected the top 20 wine farms for just such an excursion.
- Boschendal
Very few vineyards are quite as family friendly or activity packed as Boschendal.
Book a picnic in the beautiful and renowned Boschendal gardens with many gorgeous mountain views. Stroll the gardens afterward, go on a vineyard and/or cellar tour, go horse-back or carriage riding, and if you stay over-night, hike their exclusive trails! - Solms Delta
For a rich experience in South African culture, responsible agriculture, and very tasty wine and food, Solms Delta is a must-see for all wine-loving families.
Freshly prepared picnics are available on their grounds, including lush lawn spots by the forest, sandy riverbank spots where the kiddies can splash while you sip, or cool shady spots overlooking the dam. Vegetarian and children’s baskets are available, and the freedom to roam and picnic where it suits you best.
- Vergenoegd LÖW Wine Estate
Yet another wine estate with surprisingly more going on than just its vineyards and wines, Vergenoegd has enough to keep you AND the kids busy all day.
Artisanal picnics packed fresh daily to give you a taste of the unique Cape fare, and special items just for kids are included as well. Enjoy your picnics in the newly renovated gardens or under their ancient oaks. If there’s rain, no worries – they will set your picnic up in a cozy barn for you!
Be sure to check out their list of things to do while you are there! Between tours, blending workshops, markets, and more, you can spend a very full day enjoying this unique Cape experience.
- Vergelegen
Enjoy a mystic, fairy-tale picnic in Vergelegen’s Camphor Forest. This picnic is sure to transport your family to a tranquil, other-worldly experience you won’t soon forget.
Afterwards, the whole family can walk through the gardens, visit the heritage sites of the 18th/early 19th century homestead, library, mill ruins, and slave lodge for a fascinating educational experience, or even take a formal tour, among many other activities.
- Cape Point Vineyard
Enjoy a relaxing picnic with gorgeous views on the Cape Point Vineyard property. Choose your spot and enjoy your complementary blanket and pillow for a true, authentic picnic experience. Options for kiddie friendly baskets are also available.
- Buitenverwachting Winery
Spend a day on this old, historic Constantia farm, first established in the late 1700s.
Enjoy a pre-booked picnic in some of the most stunning, historic gardens filled with ancient-oaks, then be sure to enjoy a walk and view the breath-taking vine-covered hills and feel the sweet ocean breezes.Buitenverwachting also offers a formal restaurant as well as a coffee shop and bakery on as well.
- Uitkyk Wine Estate
On the South Western slopes of Simonsberg Mountain overlooking the Cape Flats, this beautiful, old estate is a must see. With 18th century Georgian style houses still surviving on the premises, it provides both a historical charm and educational experience.
Uitkyk offers picnics on the lawns of the restored Georgian Manor, and presents its picnics vintage-style to bring a bit of history to life. Enjoy some croquet or boules with the family as you snack on your picnic fare.
- Spier
Spier is yet another wine estate that has thought of something for everybody.
Picnic on their expansive grounds – enjoy a prepared basket of farm fresh cheeses, bread, and salad.The grounds also include organic vegetable gardens, extensive pastures, and a rehab center for injured eagles and the opportunity for guests to interact with the birds.
Want to stay and enjoy their luxury hotel accommodations? They’re available, as are kids activities that will be sure to impress.
- Delheim Wine Estate
Situated high up on the slopes of Simonsberg Mountain, Delheim is a cozy, family-owned wine estate. Enjoy your Delheim’s homemade picnic goodies packed lovingly in a hand-woven basket under their towering oaks by the Klip River.
Afterwards, go on a hike or mountain biking on one of their trails, or if you’re visiting at the right season, enjoy one of their festivals.
- Hartenberg Wine Estate Order a picnic and enjoy a relaxing time on Hartenberg’s beautiful grounds. Their property is open for walking, with 6 featured spots across the premises. They offer a walking trail, and as the grounds are full of birdlife, it is a popular spot for birdwatching as well. You also can’t beat this location for the family with a children’s play area located near the picnic locations.
- Zevenwacht Wine Estate
Enjoy a unique picnic experience at Zevenwacht estates when you pre-book their braai basket, where you cook your own food over a vine wood fire! For the slightly less adventurous, you can order a regular basket full of delicious breads, cold meats, salads and cheeses.Enjoy their beautiful, sloping lawn, shady trees, and lake as you relax and enjoy this luxury estate complete with spa and accommodations if so desired.
- Oak Valley Wine Estate
Another luxury wine estate with lots to do, Oak Valley offers packed picnics with blankets and/or table in their tree-shaded gardens. A kiddie menu for the kiddos is of course provided as well. - Warwick Estate Book a picnic with Warwick estates and choose your picnic area ahead of time. Unique picnic pods set up throughout their gardens offer private, peaceful, relaxing picnics with beautiful views. Baskets for kids and vegetarian options, as well as full-service picnic areas are available for a truly no-fuss picnic experience.
- Babylonstoren
Enjoy a visit to this very eco-conscious vineyard, with its active farm, gardens, education centers, tours, and workshops. There is lots to do and lots to learn for the whole family.
There are numerous restaurants, with the Greenhouse Restaurant offering perfect picnic fare and environment, ideal for enjoying after taking the garden tour. Food is served in wooden crates, picnic style, and includes jams, preserves, salads and fresh breads.
- Holden Manz
Relax under the ancient oaks by the Franschhoek River side as you enjoy your Holden Manz picnic basket and wine. - Groot Constantia
First established in 1685, Groot Constantia vineyard is the oldest wine producing farm in South Africa. Included on its premises are numerous buildings dating back to the 18th century and which are part of the Iziko Museums.
With its incredible, vintage wine options, restaurants, and vineyard and museum tours, there are things to do for the entire family. You can enjoy a lovely bistro lunch out on the Jonkershuis Restaurant with gorgeous views and surrounded by beautiful oaks. Kids can play safely on the lawn and you can follow lunch with a walk through the museums.
- Durbanville Hills
Visit Durbanville Hills wine estate to enjoy the breathtaking views of Table Mountain and Table Bay. Their restaurant on premises is geared towards a family-friendly experience and they also offer Table Mountain Wine Safaris! The tasting room also offers picnic food and a play area nearby. - Signal Gun When you visit Signal Gun vineyard, you will get a truly unique historical and cultural experience. Have lunch at their restaurant or do a game drives with the family. If you visit on the first Saturday of the month, you may get the opportunity to hear their 300 year old canon, a relic left over from when signal guns warned the local militia of intruders in the Cape.
- Jordan Wines At this luxury wine estate and resort tucked away in the Stellenbosch wine country, you can enjoy a variety of tours and fun experiences. Dine al fresco when you order from the bakery on the premises and enjoy a tasty and fun time.
- Remhoogte Wine Estate Last but not least, the Remhoogte Wine Estate offers outdoor tastings in summer on their beautiful grounds with views of the Stellenbosch mountains, their biodynamic vineyards, and a wildlife camp with Wildebeest, Zebra and Springbok. Enjoy some tasty food and wine, then take the kids to walk the grounds and see the native wildlife!
For more information on South African Wine tours and how to visit them when in South Africa Explore Sideways has all the information you will ever need.
About Brittany Hawkins:
Brittany’s passion for food and wine began in her hometown, Napa Valley, California, where she grew up immersed in the wine industry. After receiving a degree from DePauw University, she began her career in Silicon Valley in the advertising and marketing industries. Brittany moved to Cape Town 3 years ago where she launched Explore Sideways and has since been able to marry her interests in food, wine, travel and tech to create transformative experiences around the world.
