Fantastic Wine Tour From Cape Town To Stellenbosch and More!

Created by Colleen | Updated : 29 September 2024 |

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Living near Bordeaux, we’re no strangers to wine tasting, and no trip to South Africa would be complete without a wine tour from Cape Town. However, Stellenbosch is a bit of a distance from the city, and we didn’t want the hassle of hiring a car or driving, so we looked at tour options.

There’s no shortage of choice, ranging from exclusive and expensive to much more budget-friendly group tours. We’re always on the lookout for good value and opted for the hop-on-hop-off Red Bus wine tour from Cape Town, and we’re glad we did!

The tour promised 15 tastings for under €40, and to be honest, for that price, we didn’t expect the wine to be too special. But never judge a book by its cover! The day turned out to be fabulous, and in the following sections, we’ll share why we think this is a fantastic day out.

almost black bottles of red Franschhoeek wine lined up in the shop, available to purchase after our wine tasting

Why Take A Cape Town Wine Tour?

The Cape Wine Route is one of the most famous wine regions in the world, encompassing Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl. It’s renowned for producing outstanding wines. The region is dotted with vineyards, charming Cape-Dutch architecture, and framed by the dramatic mountain backdrop.

In addition to its world-class wines, the Cape Wine Route is steeped in history. Wine production here dates back centuries, with Stellenbosch being one of the oldest towns in South Africa, founded in 1679.

Wine is a part of everyday life in SW France and we often visit local vineyards. We enjoy wine and we enjoy wine tastings and we like to learn about the production process too.  A wine-tasting tour from Cape Town was the perfect way to combine this with the scenic drive through the Winelands.

Book Your Wine Tour From Cape Town
glasses of white Franschhoek wine, sampled during our tasting tour

Why Choose The Hop On Hop Off Wine Tour?

We had five days in Cape Town and wanted to make the most of that time. While Cape Town is a fabulous destination, it’s not exactly cheap, and after our overland journey from Victoria Falls, we searched for a good value tour to help stretch our budget.

We found the Hop-On Hop-Off Red Bus tour and at a glance it seemed too good to be true. We kept our expectations in check; 15 wine tastings and transport for this price seemed a lot and we expected a few compromises.

But it’s an affordable, hassle-free way to experience multiple wine estates in one day. When comparing prices, this tour ticked all of our boxes; especially considering the tastings and visits to top-tier estates. And we were staying near the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, and the bus conveniently departed from there, making it an easy choice.

the double decker hop on hop off Red Bus, used to transport us from Cape Town to the wine region

What’s Included in the Hop On Hop Off Tour?

The Red Bus hop-on-hop-off wine tour offers a lot. Given the price at under €40 it’s a fantastic deal. More exclusive tours, can cost upwards of €150, so this tour provides a similar experience at a fraction of the cost.

  • Transport: The double-decker red bus collects you from the V&A Aquarium in Cape Town and takes you through Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.
  • Tastings: The tour includes tastings at three wine estates. At each stop, you’ll sample a variety of wines, often paired with food. An estate expert will explain the differences in the wines, the best pairings, and share a bit of the estate’s history.
  • Guide: Throughout the tour, you’re accompanied by a local guide who shares insights about the region’s history, the winemaking process, and tips for tasting. Our guide, a Cape Town local, was not only extremely likeable and amusing but also highly knowledgeable about wine and local eateries. We learned a great deal from him, and in hindsight, we wish we’d taken this tour at the start of our stay in Cape Town.
  • Quick Visit to Stellenbosch: This was a flying visit, and there wasn’t much time to linger. However, the bus did stop in the centre of Stellenbosch, where the guide gave us a brief walk around some of the historic points of interest.
  • Food: Food was included with the tastings, though it wasn’t intended to be a full meal. At the first stop, we were offered cheese, olives, and crackers, while at the last stop, artisan chocolates were paired with each wine. At Franschhoek, there was an option to purchase lunch. Do allow for this in your budget because the food was excellent, and the bill for both of us came to only €20.
a street scene in world famous Stellenbosch; the oldest colonial wine town in South Africa

What to Expect on the Tour

I have two conflicting pieces of advice:

  1. Keep your expectations in check.
  2. Be prepared to be pleasantly surprised by how nice the wines are and how lovely the experience is.

Of course, it’s a bus tour, so the group won’t be small and intimate, but it never felt too busy. Expect a pretty laid-back day with plenty of time to savour the wine at each stop.

We were collected from the V&A Waterfront, took a seat downstairs, and enjoyed the ride. The guide on the bus pointed out places of interest along the way and shared insights and anecdotes about Cape Town and the surrounding region. You’ll also have a quick whistle-stop tour of Stellenbosch before your first vineyard visit.

I was impressed by how well organised the group tastings were; especially given the size of the group:

  • At each estate, we were greeted by a friendly estate employee.
  • We were either shown to a table or given a brief tour before the tasting began.
  • Each estate provided information about the wines, including tasting notes and tips on how best to serve them.
  • Tastings were often accompanied by local delicacies such as cheese, charcuterie, and even artisan chocolate.
  • And the wine glasses were not small! So, do remember that you’ll have 15 glasses to get through!

Apart from the quick walking tour of Stellenbosch, the tastings were quite relaxed but structured enough to feel professional and informative.

And the wine? It was actually very, very good. As I mentioned, we kept our expectations in check, but the standard of the vineyard tours and the quality of the wine exceeded them. This tour probably ranks among one of the best wine tours we’ve taken.

Book Your Wine Tour From Cape Town
Wine barrels imprinted with the name of the vineyard, in Blaauwklippen vineyard, seen during our tour of Stellenbosch

Why We Loved This Wine Tour

First and foremost we loved the wine. We wanted to visit the Winelands, and we wanted to sample the wine. We did both. But this tour could have easily cut a few corners; it’s a popular tour and the price is great value. Yet, it didn’t.

  • The bus was clean and comfortable
  • The guide was first class
  • The choice of vineyards was excellent
  • Each tasting was professional, and the wines were superb.  You may not like every wine but that is par for the course and shouldn’t detract from the quality.
  • Despite being a large group tour, it never felt like it. We were seated at smaller tables, and we never felt rushed or held back by the group.
  • We loved the convenience of jumping on the bus at the Waterfront in Cape Town and returning in the evening.

We know from experience that a good wine tour is not an inexpensive outing, so we were blown away by the quality of the wines and the professionalism of the guide. The relaxed atmosphere made it easy to enjoy this experience.

Book Your Wine Tour From Cape Town
wine tasting and artisan chocolate; the perfect combination during our wine tasting tour!

The Vineyards and The Wine

The heart of any wine tour has to be the wine. For us, this day was just as much about exploring the region, but the wine certainly didn’t disappoint. We visited three incredible vineyards, each offering something unique.

Blaauwklippen, Stellenbosch

Blaauwklippen is one of Stellenbosch’s oldest vineyard, and here we enjoyed a selection of wines paired with cheese, crackers, and olives.

The visit started with a little fun; opening their ‘champagne’ bottles with swords! After that, we had a short tour of the vineyard interior and learned more about their wines before settling down at small tables, grouped in fours, for the tasting.

There were five wines to enjoy, and each was introduced with details about the grape varieties and flavour notes. Their sparkling rosé was perhaps my favourite, though I also really enjoyed their white wines and would have happily taken a bottle home with me.

Blaauwklippen winery in Stellenbosch with an older feel to it's decor with large wooden tables laid ready with glasses for our tasting

Franschhoek Cellar

Franschhoek Cellar was another stunning location, this time we stayed for lunch as well as the wine tasting. The tasting room was much larger, and the estate itself felt more modern compared to Blaauwklippen.

As with the first stop, we were given insights into the estate’s wines, with information on the grape varieties and tasting notes. Additionally, each table had printed information about the wines, which was a helpful touch.

Everyone was also given a menu to choose lunch. While this wasn’t included, the food was excellent and reasonably priced, so we highly recommend budgeting for it. Our meal came to just over €20 for the two of us.

The wine here was equally excellent. I particularly enjoyed the reds; unusually so for me, as I’m not typically a fan of oaky Bordeaux reds. Their Cabernet Sauvignon, with its berry notes, really stood out for me and Gerry loved the Shiraz.

Once again, this was a well-organised stop; we never felt rushed, and the wine and lunch were both excellent.

Franschhoek Cellar large, light modern tasting room, prepared for our tasting with wine glasses, wine and notes for the wine tasting

Rhebokskloof Estate

Rhebokskloof was the perfect end to our tasting day. The estate has a family-run feel, smaller and more intimate than our previous stops. What really made this visit stand out was that the vineyard had teamed up with an artisan chocolate maker to create a unique tasting experience; wine paired with chocolate!

Each chocolate was crafted specifically to complement the wines. I wasn’t sure at first, as sugar and wine aren’t usually good bedfellows but this pairing was perfect.

Expect sparkling wines paired with white chocolate, white wines with lemon and plum hints, and South African Pinotage paired with cherries and cinnamon. It was glorious, all guided by the expertise of one of the estate’s wine specialists.

There was even time at the end to relax with a coffee (not included but still worth it!) and enjoy the beautiful views of the estate.

Rhebokskloof wine tasting room, laid up for our visit with 5 glasses for the wine tasting, tasting notes and the artisan chocolates made for each wine

Who Should Take This Tour?

First of all, this tour isn’t just for wine experts. It doesn’t take itself too seriously but equally provides a high-quality experience. It’s accessible to anyone, and the Red Bus company stress that they have a ramp for wheelchair users, so getting on and off the bus is accessible. (I’d recommend telling them in advance if you need assistance.)

  • Budget-Conscious Travellers: If you want to explore Stellenbosch and Franschhoek without spending a fortune, this is the way to go. We felt that the €40 price more than covered the value of the wine we tasted, even without transportation and guides.
  • Wine Enthusiasts: If you’re keen to spend time in the South African wine region and taste some excellent local wines, you’ll love this tour. We didn’t expect the high quality of the wines, so if you’re here just for the wine, you won’t be disappointed.
  • Non-Drivers: This was a big factor for us. We didn’t want to hire a car, and we knew we’d be drinking, so driving wasn’t an option. If you prefer the convenience of an easy central pick-up, and you don’t want the hassle of driving, this tour is the perfect alternative.
  • Is it Suitable for Children?: Honestly, I’d say not really. While children and non-drinkers can be accommodated, the bottom line is that this is a wine-tasting tour. I don’t think our children would have enjoyed the trip. There are many family-friendly tours in Cape Town, but this might not be one of them.
Book Your Wine Tour From Cape Town
one of the glasses of white wine offered during our wine tasting tour

Best Time Of Year To Visit The Winelands

The best time to visit the Winelands will likely to be when you’re in Cape Town!  The vineyards can be visited year-round, but if you’re planning your trip to experience the very best of South Africa’s wine region, I’m reliably informed that summer (December to March) is ideal.

  • In summer the region comes alive with festivals, events, and outdoor tastings. However, it’s also the busiest season, so be prepared for crowds.  From mid-January onwards the grapes ripen and grape picking starts too.
  • Spring (September to November) is glorious, as the flowers come into bloom and carpet the area with colour.
  • In Autumn (March to May) the vineyards are awash with the reds and yellows of fall.
  • We visited in winter, at the end our overland tour from Victoria Falls, and though it was a cold and rainy day, it didn’t dampen our spirits. In fact, we deliberately chose a rainy day in our schedule, thinking we’d be indoors most of the time anyway, and it worked out perfectly.

In short, any time is a good time to go wine tasting in the Winelands!

Two Other Group Wine Tours From Cape Town

Looking for a smaller group tour? Not everyone likes a larger group experience. This is perhaps the highest rated wine tour from Cape Town. It’s a little pricier but if you prefer a smaller group then this is the tour for you!

Book Small Group Wine Tour

Looking for a Private Wine Tasting Tour? We usually only take private tours at home. It feels more special, a treat and something a little more exclusive and decadent. If you’re looking for this kind of experience then we’d recommend this highly rated private wine tour.

Book Private Wine Tasting
life size sculpture of deer leaping, in display during our walking tour of Stellenbosch

Is It Worth Taking This Wine Tour From Cape Town?

Absolutely! South African wines and Stellenbosch are pretty iconic, and we knew that we couldn’t visit Cape Town without exploring the wines. This tour offered us fantastic value and a full, rich itinerary that far exceeded our expectations.

For less than €40, we explored three incredible wine estates, enjoyed multiple tastings, learned about the region’s history, visited Stellenbosch and indulged in a wonderful lunch; all from the comfort of a bus, without the worry of driving.

There are many, many ways to visit the wine regions. Both Stellenbosch and Franschhoek offer tours from their towns, and if you have a larger budget, you can certainly enjoy a more personalised experience. But compared to other tours, the hop-on-hop-off experience is an incredibly affordable way to visit the region whilst enjoying high-quality wines and beautiful scenery.

We loved this day. In fact, I’m pretty confident that all other wine tours in the future will be measured against this one. Of course, it’s a large group experience and that’s the compromise.  Yes, there are lots of other people, with a little bit of waiting around. But that was to be expected and the guide helped move things along smoothly.

Book this tour.  Keep an open mind and soak in the history and landscapes of the Winelands. It’s a relaxing and delightful day in one of the world’s most beautiful wine regions. 

Travelling In Cape Town Or Southern Africa?

We spent a month travelling overland from Victoria Falls to Cape Town. If you’ve enjoyed this post you may also enjoy :

Rhebokskloof Wine Estate tasting notes along with glasses or wine and chocolates offered as a pairing during the tasting tour

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Whenever you travel, you should have a great travel and medical insurance policy.  None of us expect anything bad to happen, but in the event of an incident, you want to be sure that your insurance will be there for you.

I’ve ended up in hospital in Peru, Indonesia, Portugal, Japan and Ireland! Every time my insurance took care of everything. I would never leave home without full and comprehensive insurance.

TrueTraveller : We have this policy and we are very happy with the cover, especially considering our ages and pre-existing conditions.

Globelink : We have used and recommended Globelink for years and we’ve not heard of any issues. They are a great choice for European and UK Residents.

Safety Wing : Many of my travelling buddies from the USA have recommended this company to me, although we’ve not used them personally.

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Colleen in Salamanca on the Via de la Plata

Author : Colleen Sims

Hey I’m Colleen. I’m married to Gerry, we’ve three fabulous kids and been living in France for almost two decades. I fell in love with Spain in the 1980s and I’ve walked 1000s of miles along the Camino de Santiago. Now we’re exploring and walking the world and I can’t wait to share what we’ve learned!

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