A Wine Lover's Guide To Franschhoek Cape Town

Along with Bordeaux, Santorini and Tuscany, Cape Town is one of the world’s best destinations for wine tasting, and the Franschhoek region in the Western Cape is the perfect place to discover centuries-old vineyards.

One of South Africa’s oldest settlements, with a 300-year history, Franschhoek is a must-visit for its Cape Dutch architecture, its foodie scene and its wine. Its culinary landscape has cemented it as the country’s gastronomical capital, while its Wine Valley is one of the most popular to visit in South Africa.

Tbe Franschhoek Wine Tram is the best way to explore the Franschhoek Wine Valley

Tracing its roots back to French Huguenot refugees in 1688, the Franschhoek Wine Valley is steeped in history, with most of the farms still retaining their French monikers and some still boasting their Dutch homestead. There are more vineyards than you can count on two hands, spanning everything from boutique wineries to large cellars. Among them is one of the first Huguenot farms, La Bourgogne, which specialises in sémillon, chardonnay, malbec and shiraz; the 22-hectare (54-acre) Holden Manz Wine Estate, which cultivates cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and merlot; and the family-run Le Lude, which specialises in bottled sparkling wines. And the best way to explore these, along with countless others? By tram.

Pre-book a day ticket for a hop-on, hop-off tour on the Franschhoek Wine Tram and you will have two options to travel around in – a vintage-style railway tram or an open-air tram bus – with views of the historic village and surrounding mountains guaranteed in between stop-offs. At the wineries, you can expect a variety of things to do, including cellar tours, wine tastings with cheese and chocolate pairings or the chance to have a cheeky picnic. Plus, if any wines pique your interest, you can buy them and leave them with the tour host to collect at the end of the day. Wine lovers, rejoice!

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.