Durbanville

When most people think of South African wine, the names Stellenbosch and Franschhoek get thrown around a lot, but what most visitors won’t know is that Durbanville is where the locals are going. Known mostly for its white wine varieties, the area is closer to the Cape Town city centres and has some fantastic food, beer and wine options for the family. With the beautiful Tygerberg Nature reserve, charming wine farms and some local art gems, Durbanville is a day well spent in the Mother City.

Taste your way around Durbanville’s Wine Route

With options of white wine, red wine and MCC, the Durbanville wine route has a little something for all fans of fermented grapes. The area is most notably famous for white wine, being known as “Sauvignon blanc country” due to its cooler climate compared to that of Stellenbosch which is known for bolder reds. The best part of dong tasting in this area is that due to its proximity to  Cape Town, you get some fantastic shots of Vineyards with Table Mountain in the background, which is a plus for Instagram lovers. There are 13 wine farms to choose from, and with anything like this, it’s up to you to choose what suits your needs the best. If we had to pick a few farms you must visit though, this would be our list of Durbanville wine farms:

• Durbanville hills: The most famous on the list and also the youngest. This farm only produced its first wine in 1999 but is a staple in South African homes and shops across the country. The tastings are charming, and with a view of Robben Island and Table Mountain, this stop is a must. 

• Diemersdal: Well known, established over 300 years and run by a family for over 6 generations, this farm is well known by locals and foreign visitors alike.
• Meerendal: Probably the best wine on the route, this farm in a South African Landmark, offering some amazing wines of all varieties, a restaurant with exquisite food and a boutique hotel. It might sound like a 1 stop shop, and to be honest, it pretty much is.

Our guide Durbanville: Activities, Eating out & Nightlife

If you are looking for more than wine farms, Durbanville has some other interesting spots for you to visit. The Rust-en-Vrede art gallery and Yoco restaurant is a must-see for art lovers. Situated in a beautiful example of Cape Dutch Architecture, the Non-profit organisation offers visitors an insight into local art and the building itself started life as a prison and police office. 

As with most places around Cape Town, there are a plethora of Coffee shops in Durbanville to choose from.  Although a chain of coffee shops you will find all along the Western Cape, the Ou Meul Bakery Willowbridge offers you trusted options of delicious food, good coffee and a great view of the green belt in Durbanville. Most wine farms will offer some of the best coffee around too.

Durbanville is a mountain biker’s paradise, wine farms are linked via corridors available to permit holders. Come test your skills, fitness and endurance or just have a relaxed meander through the vineyards – from beginner to extreme, Durbanville has trails for every level.

If you are a nature lover, the Tygerberg nature reserve is the perfect choice for someone looking to be outdoors and not on the busy Table Mountain. This 300-hectare nature reserve offers different hiking options, mountain biking trails and some amazing bird watching. The views of Cape Town and Table Mountain are unrivalled and we would say it’s well worth a trip to the nature reserve.