South Africa is known for its wines. There are many South African wine producing regions within an hour’s drive from Cape Town. While the most popular South African wine regions near Cape Town are Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, there are many other wine regions near Cape Town like Constantia, Elgin, Robertson, Wellington, Swartland etc. which are equally good and less commercial.
There is so much to choose from that you can spend weeks exploring these wine farms in South Africa and tasting unique wines which are paired with gourmet meals. But if you are short on time like most travellers are, then these tips would help you plan the perfect day in Franschhoek. If you are driving along the Garden Route in South Africa then Franschhoek could be one of the stops.
Why visit Franschhoek for wine tasting?
- It’s close to Cape Town
- Has beautiful wine estates
- Franschhoek has a good mix of commercial as well as private wine farms
- Plenty of restaurants in Franschhoek
- Many wine farms in Franschhoek do wine tasting without a prior appointment
- You can visit wineries without a car via Franschhoek wine tram
- There are many boutiques if you want to shop
- Franschhoek is a lovely little town to walk around
Here are 10 ways to spend the perfect day in this beautiful town of Franschhoek!
1. We would highly recommend that instead of doing a wine tasting day trip from Cape Town, you stay for a night in one of these towns. You can enjoy wine tasting in Franschhoek without worrying about the drive back and you can also enjoy a relaxed evening. If you like wine then wine tasting in Franschhoek must be added to your list of things to do in South Africa.
2. If you start early from Cape Town, then you can make the most of your day in Franschhoek. Most wineries in Franschhoek open at 10 AM and shut around 5 PM, so plan your wine tasting accordingly.
3. Wine farms in Franschhoek have beautiful properties and you would be tempted to just sit and enjoy wine for hours.
4. Make a rough Franschhoek wineries map and do a mix of commercial and small wineries. Some of the wineries in Franschhoek we visited were Eikehof Wines, Stony Brook Vineyards , Mont Rochelle and La Motte.
5. If you want to have lunch or dinner at a wine estate with a tasting room then do make a prior reservation. Most of the wine farms in Franschhoek don’t serve food but a few do serve cheese platters, so we recommend you either eat a hearty breakfast or make a prior reservation for lunch or an early dinner.
6. Some wineries do wine tasting only by appointment, but even if you have not planned ahead there are plenty of options for wine tasting in Franschhoek. There are so many options that it could be confusing to pick a few. So we suggest that you do a quick search and select the wine farms which you plan to visit. Making a quick map of Franschhoek wineries you plan to visit would help you plan your day in Franschhoek more efficiently.
7. Wine tasting is not free. Most wine farms in Franschhoek charge a nominal amount ranging between R50- 100 per session which includes a tasting of 3-4 wines and can be shared if you are not travelling alone. This amount is mostly waived off if you end up purchasing wine bottles at the end of your wine tasting.
8. Do drive along the Franschhoek Pass for some breathtaking views of the town. It is a difficult drive with curvy roads but totally worth it.
9. If you are worried about drinking and driving then another fun way to explore wine farms in Franschhoek is the hop-on-hop-off wine tram service available there. The wine tram in Franschhoek has multiple routes and you can choose the one which suits you the best. Not only is it fun and affordable but it also takes away the hassle of planning which winery to go to next.
10. At first glance, accommodation might seem slightly expensive in Franschhoek as most are inside wine estates and are quite fancy. But if you have only one day in Franschhoek and you plan to spend it doing wine tasting then you’ll hardly have time to enjoy the property. So look for guest houses or farm stays which are a few kilometres from the main town.
