Imbuko Wines
Imbuko Wines is where warm hospitality and exceptional wines meet. This view-drenched estate is perhaps best known for its gourmet cocktail-pie-and-wine pairing, decadent milkshakes and farm-style toasties, but it does wonderfully festive picnics during the warmer months.
In winter, nab a seat on the verandah, whose fireplace will keep you toasty before embarking on one of three wine pairings, suitable for all tastes, occasions and budgets (there’s even a spritzer tasting). Perfect for family outings, no matter the weather, the farm has plenty of seating space indoor and out, plus a large jungle gym and grass area for the kids.
Dunstone Wine Estate
At the foot of Bainskloof Pass, this picturesque and family-run boutique winery is simultaneously a tranquil respite in the country thanks to a range of luxury accommodation options and excellent wine and is also a perfect spot for a family day out. The Stone Kitchen bistro is child-friendly to the max, offering a kids’ menu, indoor and outdoor play areas, with a Lego table, climbing wall and mini-kitchen.
Kids can let off steam on the jungle gym, play mini-golf or mini-soccer, enjoy the swings and slides and meet the farm animals. It is also dog-friendly!
Bosman Family Vineyards
Originally part of the 260-year-old cellar, the tasting room at Bosman Family Vineyards welcomes guests with beautifully kept grounds and truly spectacular wines, courtesy of winemaker Corlea Fourie.
While everyone expects a lineup of cabernet and chardonnay, oenophiles will be amazed to discover new-to-South-Africa varietals, such as the Nero d’Avola, the Optenhorst Chenin Blanc and Fides, an orange wine made with skin-on white grapes!
As part of the tasting experience, guests may wander through the cellar, and if you look down through a framed patch of glass flooring, you’re able to see where the old wine vats once stood. Those looking to spend the night can rest their head in ultimate country comfort at Vineyard Cottage, a self-catering farm-style house, with a private splash pool and vineyard-covered front and back porches overlooking the valley and mountains.
Bosman Wines plays an active role in the upliftment of the surrounding community, making positive changes through sustainability and fair trade.
Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate
The undisputed home of the original Coffee Chocolate Pinotage, Diemersfontein is one of the better-known wine estates in Wellington, and actually the Western Cape. But there’s so much more to the farm than that!
What started as a family retreat for the Sonnenbergs is now a wine-tasting, event-hosting, food-loving haven. After a spot of swishing, swirling and swallowing in the Tasting Room, take a detour to PROE, its innovative restaurant, where you can design your own cheese and charcuterie platter.
The family and pet-friendly dining experience offers deli-style delights to be enjoyed in a laid-back setting – as a picnic on the shaded lawns or at a table in PROE’s air-conditioned venue. Diemersfontein’s award-winning wines always remain part of the mix.
Then, why not extend your visit with a tranquil evening at the country estate guesthouse? Their rooms and cottages are furnished in comfortable country style and are ideal for those preferring privacy and true wine estate tranquility.
Doolhof Wine Estate
Running through Doolhof Estate is the picturesque Kromme River that sets a wonderfully tranquil scene. While the farm has an elegant Tasting Room where you can sample its award-winning wines, outside is where the magic happens. From river walks (pooches are welcome), mountain-biking trails for adults and children, and secluded picnics, dinner and breakfast baskets to a labyrinth and Africamps glamping complete with your very own private hot tub, it’s easy to get lost in the maze of activities.
Also on the estate is the five-star Grande Dedale Country House, an elegantly restored Cape Dutch Manor House, complete with a library, tea lounge with a fireplace, grand verandah, and an outdoor pool and spa room.
Wellington Wines
The renovated cellar at Bovlei Wines on Bainskloof Road in Wellington acts as the tasting room for Wellington Wines, a collaboration between Bovlei, Wamakersvallei and the Wellington Co-Operative. With its homely atmosphere and relaxed, comfortable aesthetic, it’s the perfect place to indulge in an interesting pairing option while drinking in the vineyard views. Sweet tooth? Try the doughnut-and-wine pairing.
If you’re hungry, grab a bite at Bains Café next to the tasting centre, where you can sit and snack under the trees while the little ones are kept entertained at Bains Play Park. There’s even a unique kids’ wine pairing.
