Cape Town Winelands – Franschhoek Wine Tram & Stellenbosch Tour
Description
Join our small group tour and discover the Mountainous, best wine growing regions of South Africa. This tour combines the ever-popular Franschhoek tram and also allowing a visit to the historic town of Stellenbosch in a unique setting. We have selected our wine tasting stops carefully to allow for a perfect balance between those on a quest for historic architecture and Instagrammable photo seekers to the most critical wine connoisseurs of the world. Pickup will be from your hotel in Cape Town and so will the drop off. Please bring along, your empty cameras, different outfits if you like and strongest taste buds as you are about to go on a journey of new discoveries and more.
Tour Options
Itinerary
After you have been picked up from your accommodation in Cape Town. You will travel on the N2 motorway through the Cape flats to the Mountainous town of Stellenbosch. While you drive, your tour guide will give a commentary about the important landmarks that you will drive past. Upon Arrival in Stellenbosch town, you will have a chance to get off the vehicle and discover the quaint and cozy town on foot. Endemic Cape Dutch style buildings flows parallel to the leafy streets of Stellenbosch and over a 150-year-old water furrows makes a headway for the town's north-eastern gentle slope. Old and new shops trade in art, antiques, jewelry and carved wood. You may also want to take this opportunity to grab a coffee and absorb the town's vibrant energy before you move on to your first wine tasting experience of the day.
After the quick exploration of Stellenbosch town, the next stop will be at Lanzerac wine estate for your chocolate and wine tasting pairing experience. Lanzerac is one of the oldest wine estates in Stellenbosch and covers about 200 hectares of land at the foothills of Jonkershoek Mountains. The beautiful wine estate is known amongst many attributes, for having the best examples of the endemic Cape Dutch Architectural buildings in the world. The Manor House which dates back to the 1830s has a provincial heritage status and together with the vineyards and wine cellar, creates a typical French tradition of fusing a country hotel and a wine estate. It is at Lanzerac that Pinotage was first bottled. However, your experience here will not have anything to do with the only South African wine but a unique tasting of 5 Premium wines paired perfectly with a selection of artisanal chocolates. The chocolates are meant to expose to you the different angles of the wine's texture before and after.
From Lanzerac, you will drive up and down the hilly and winding Hell's heights pass to Tokara. Unlike the historic Lanzerac, Tokara is known for its modern look, Views that stretches as far as Table Mountain and an olive groove that produces some of the best olive oils in the area. The wine tasting here consist of 5 classic wines including a Rose and one of the best Carbert Sauvignon in the area that has been closely natured for 2 decades since the turn of the century. The deep rich soils consisting of decomposed granite, weathered sandstone affords Tokara the privilege to grow individual batches that are then blended to make top tier wines. The Tokara wine advisor will share with all the information of the wines as you taste them individually and should you have time, you might also want to try the olive oils or even a cheese platter. We reserve the right to make an alternative stop should Tokara be fully booked or closed for private events
After your second wine tasting experience, the journey will take us to Franschhoek town via the historic town of Pniel. A great many farmers hailing from France showed up at the Cape in the 1680s and were subsequently granted land here to grow vineyards and thus the town became known as Franschhoek, meaning the French's corner. Surrounded by mountains and manicured vineyards on all sides, Franschhoek gives one a beautiful correlation of nature and man's work. The beautifully done Leeu estate consisting of art galleries, hotel and restaurants leaves one with a burning desire to stay here for much longer. We will have a lunch break here and you may also want to take this opportunity to explore the shops, this town would not disappoint. Same as in Stellenbosch, here one may find art stores, jewelry stores, fine leather stores, clothing stores or even fine chocolate factories!
Soon after the lunch break and the exploration of Franschhoek, the tour will make a headway for the Franschhoek terminals for your second leg of the wine tasting experience by tram. Your tour guide will give you your tram tickets and explain to you how to read the tram's timetable. It usually takes about 8 minutes for the tram to travel between farms and you may hope off at farm of your choice among the list of farms provided on your route. Two would be the maximum number of farms that you can visit by tram but you may also do a third one, time permitting.
Your first possible stop by tram would be at the first female owned farm in Franschhoek, Rickety bridge. The tram will drop you off at the Rickety Bridge terminals where you will be picked up by a farm tractor with comfortable seats and transported to the wine tasting area. Here you will be more than welcome to choose any of the available wine tasting options. You may also opt out of the wine tasting and instead seat at Paulina's restaurant where you can grab a snack, coffee or order a glass of wine and enjoy the panoramic views of the mountains and the vineyards of the Franschhoek valley.
Franschhoek cellar is one of the farms in the winelands of Cape Town that offers the unique wine and cheese or handmade Belgian chocolate pairings. The Belgian chocolate are made down the road in the same town and so is the wine. A traditional wine only tasting is also available should that be a better choice for you. The Franschhoek cellar is also the closest to the tram terminals and should you like to stretch your legs after a full day of multiple wine tasting, you could actually walk to the terminals to meet with your tour guide and the rest of the group.
On our way back to Cape Town, you will have an opportunity to stop at a prison where Nelson Mandela spent the last 2 years of his 27 years in incarceration. A lifesize bronze statue of this great man stands just outside the prison gates with his fist clenched into the air as if to symbolize strength and courage. Your guide will give you a brief summary about the prison's past, present and the release of Nelson Mandela before proceeding on to Cape Town for drop off at your hotel.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up from any location with 12km of Cape town city center radius Pickup times will be sent a day before the tour for all small group tour passengers. Pickup time for private tours is either at 8am or 9:00am as booked. Group tour pickup starts from 7:30am
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(450)
Simply put this was great. Our guide, Joseph, was awesome. He's friendly, very knowledgeable about the area, the history and the wines and he just makes you feel comfortable throughout the who day. We had a small intimate group for this tour which made it better as we bonded really well. For me, Lanzerac Wine Estate near Stellenbosch was the standout. With each of the wines, I chose to have chocolates with each wine. They paired the chocolates to the wine very well. The history behind the wines and the farm made it more real. Tokara wine estate is a very modern place which added a different ambience from Lanzerac. We then headed to Franschhoek and Leeu estate where we had lunch and another selection of wines. This was a good place to stop. As we were in a small group, we were relaxed, chatty and the lunch was good. After that we jumped on the Franschhoek wine tram which is ok. I'm judging it harshly as I am from Melbourne. But as the Franschhoek wine tram serves the wine estates, its a nice thing to travel on. We stopped at the Franschhoek Cellar for our final tasting. For me personally, Lanzerac Wine Estate was the pick of the bunch. I'm no expert on wines but I can taste the difference in each of them. Ultimately it was Joseph who made our day enjoyable. Aside from his knowledge, his personality filled the car and made us feel comfortable and we had a lot of laughs. Thanks mate!!
Dear Diego, Thank you so much for your wonderful and detailed review. We are delighted to hear that you had such an enjoyable day exploring the Cape Winelands with Joseph. It is fantastic to know that his friendly personality, extensive knowledge of the region, its history, and the wines helped make your experience so memorable. Creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere is exactly what we strive for, and we are pleased that your small group was able to connect and enjoy the journey together. It is great to hear that Lanzerac Wine Estate was the highlight of your day, especially the wine and chocolate pairing experience. We are also glad you enjoyed the unique atmosphere at Tokara, your lunch at Leeu Estate, the Franschhoek Wine Tram, and your final tasting at Franschhoek Cellar. Each stop offers something different, and it is wonderful that you appreciated the variety. Your kind words about Joseph mean a great deal to us, and we will be sure to share your feedback with him. We are certain he will be delighted to know that his knowledge, sense of humor, and warm personality made such a positive impact on your experience. Thank you once again for choosing Cape Archives Tours. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable adventure whenever you visit Cape Town again. Safe travels! Best regards, Junior.
It was convenient to be picked up from my hotel and driven around the wine country. We stopped at four delightful vineyards and tried exquisite wines. The experience was delightful: our guide was knowledgable and the other guests made for a memorable experience. 12 international students riding high on wine were singing Sweet Caroline, Its a Kind of Magic, Country Roads, and other bangers after a day of beautiful vistas, friendly conversation, and fine wine. 12/10, highly recommended!
Dear Kyle, Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the convenience of being picked up from your hotel and exploring the beautiful Cape Winelands with us. It is fantastic to know that you enjoyed visiting the four vineyards, tasting exquisite wines, and taking in the beautiful scenery. We are especially pleased that our knowledgeable guide and the other guests helped make the experience so memorable. It sounds like the singing on the way back created some unforgettable moments! A bus full of international students singing “Sweet Caroline,” “It is a Kind of Magic,” and “Country Roads” after a day of beautiful views, friendly conversation, and fine wine sounds like the perfect ending to an incredible day. Thank you for the amazing 12 out of 10 recommendations. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back to Cape Town for another memorable experience in the future. Have safe travels. Best regards, Junior.
I was really looking forward to this tour and it didn’t disappoint. Candy (our guide) arrived on time and was very friendly. During the tour she shared great facts about the cities and towns and shared a lot about herself and life in Cape Town. She was personable and got to know each of us and made sure we interacted with each other creating a little family of friends. She gave great suggestions and and had us laughing the entire time!! I would highly recommend this trio and Candy as your guide
Dear Valued Customer, Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for choosing to tour with us. We are delighted to hear that the tour lived up to your expectations and that Candy made your experience so memorable. She is passionate about sharing the beauty, history, and culture of Cape Town, and it is wonderful to know that her knowledge, warmth, and sense of humor helped create such an enjoyable atmosphere throughout the day. We especially love hearing that she took the time to get to know everyone and brought the group together, making it feel like a little family. Creating meaningful connections and unforgettable memories is exactly what we strive for on every tour. Thank you once again for your kind recommendation. We will be sure to pass your lovely compliments on to Candy. We hope to welcome you back to Cape Town for another adventure in the future. Safe travels! Best regards, Junior.
Very good experience, easy experience, no need to think or think about anything, just show up show up and job done.
Dear Cian, Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that you had such an easy and enjoyable experience. Knowing that everything was well organized and hassle-free, allowing you to simply relax and enjoy the day, is exactly what we strive to provide for all of our guests. Thank you for your kind words and for choosing to tour with us. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back to Cape Town for another memorable experience in the future. Best regards, Junior
Great experience with candy saw all the wineries
Dear Aoifev, Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that you had a great experience with Candy and enjoyed visiting all of the wineries. It is always our goal to provide a memorable and enjoyable day while showcasing the beautiful Cape Winelands. Thank you for choosing to tour with us. We truly appreciate your kind feedback and hope to welcome you back to Cape Town for another unforgettable experience in the future. Best regards, Junior.
Last week my sister and I had an absolutely incredible time with Peter leading us through a day of wine tasting. The wines and scenery were fantastic, but it was really Peter who made the trip what it was. When he wasn’t acting as our personal photographer, he joked around with us and was also very insightful about life in South Africa. It was my favorite day of an incredible trip, and I can only highly recommend this tour!
Dear Sarah, Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you and your sister had an incredible day exploring the Cape Winelands with Peter. It is fantastic to know that the beautiful scenery, excellent wines, and Peter's warm personality made the experience so memorable. We are especially pleased that he kept you entertained with his sense of humor, shared meaningful insights about life in South Africa, and even captured special moments for you as your personal photographer. Knowing that this was your favorite day of an already incredible trip means so much to us. Thank you for your kind recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in the future! Have safe travels. Best regards, Junior.
If you want to visit the best vineyards and hit the tram in one tour, snag this one with Kevin. He drove and entertained us with stories! I am a wine snob and bought several bottles at Duty Free because the wine is that good, especially Boschendal and Tokara. 10/10 recommend 🥰
Dear Christine, Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We are thrilled to hear that you had such an enjoyable day exploring the Cape Winelands with Kevin. It is wonderful to know that his entertaining stories and friendly personality made the journey even more memorable. We are especially delighted to hear such high praise from a wine enthusiast! Boschendal and Tokara are truly exceptional wine estates, and we are so pleased that you enjoyed their wines enough to take several bottles home with you. Thank you for your wonderful recommendation and perfect rating. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable South African wine adventure in the future. Best regards, Junior.
Was a fabulous day Joseph was great guide The wineries were amazing Definitely worth paying for tastings in advance
Dear Diana, Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We are very happy to hear that you had a fabulous day and that Joseph helped make the experience so enjoyable. It is great to know you loved the wineries and found the pre-booked tastings worthwhile and convenient. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another memorable wine tour in the future! Best regards, Pauline
This was an amazing day! Our guide was great and we met so many great people. The wines were amazing and we got to try four wineries and at least 12 wines. All amazing!
Dear Katrina, Thank you for the fantastic feedback! It is wonderful to hear that your day was filled with great wine, great company, and unforgettable experiences. We are so glad you enjoyed visiting multiple wineries and discovering a wide range of amazing wines. Your kind words about your guide mean a lot, and we will be sure to share them with the team. We hope hope to see you again soon and enjoy your future travels! Best regards, Pauline
We had such a lovely day wine tasting in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek! Peter was our guide and he did the best job. The wineries were wonderful and the scenery was gorgeous. We also loved stopping to see where Nelson Mandela spent his last years of imprisonment before making the long walk to freedom. Such a wonderful day in Cape Town!
Dear Lisa, What a fantastic you had day! We are so glad you enjoyed the winelands. Peter will be thrilled to hear your kind words. The beauty of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, combined with such meaningful history, really does make for a special experience. Thank you for sharing, and we hope the rest of your time in Cape Town is just as memorable! 🍷😊 Best regards, Pauline
