A blend of diverse terrains paired with a distinctly cool Mediterranean-like climate makes the wines of South Africa’s Cape some of the country’s most intriguing. 

Here, we introduce you to our favourite wine escapes, threading together three distinct expressions of South African wine: coastal elegance in Cape Town and Constantia, verdant Winelands charm in Franschhoek and an opportunity to marry a safari experience to your love of wine in a safari lodge with a world-class wine cellar. 

Ellerman House, Cape Town & Constantia

If you’re in Cape Town for the wine, then inevitably, one of your stops will be Constantia Valley, the Southern Hemisphere’s oldest wine-making region, just fifteen minutes from Cape Town’s centre.

This serene escape, framed by verdant slopes stitched with vines heavy with sauvignon, feels a world away from the bustle of Cape Town. Here, you’ll spend days sampling incredible wines in leafy estates like Groot Constantia and Buitenverwachting, tracing centuries of viticulture and walking scenic trails winding alongside rivers and past centuries-old Dutch homesteads.

You’ll stay in Cape Town’s marvellous Ellerman House, an Atlantic sanctuary of wine, elevated cuisine and art. The hotel and its attractive al fresco terraces overlook Bantry Bay, the sensuous curve of jagged hills and turquoise sea, at the foot of the flat-topped Table Mountain. The hotel has a contemporary collection of 11 rooms, two suites and two villas. Villa One is the ideal choice for large families with its 5 en suite rooms, a superb infinity pool hovering above the ocean, and a fully equipped kitchen managed by a private chef.

La Residence, Franschhoek & The Winelands

East from Cape Town, idyllic Franschhoek sits in the heart of the Cape Winelands, a storied valley of centuries-old vineyards, orchards and sandstone peaks punctuated by charming Cape Dutch architecture and artisanal wineries. 

A relaxed way to see Franschhoek’s vineyards is aboard the delightful Wine Tram, departing from Franschhoek Village and zipping between local vineyards, allowing for a hop-on, hop-off exploration fuelled by wine.

Your base in Franschhoek is the magnificent La Residence, set amongst Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz vineyards, rose gardens and fruit orchards. The hotel’s lavish interiors are finished in a striking, unrestrained maximalist style, with bold colours, chandeliers, antiques and a gallery’s worth of artworks, while an eye-catching exterior is framed by dramatic mountain ridges and roamed by peacocks, lending the property an air of fantasy and seclusion.

Singita Boulders Lodge, A Safari With a World-Class Wine Collection

With its exceptional access to the Big 5, Sabi Sand offers an intimate encounter with the African bush. This private reserve, adjoining Kruger National Park (there are no fences here, so you’ll encounter the wildlife roaming border-free between the two), is one of the world’s most renowned wildlife sanctuaries, celebrated for a thriving leopard population and a decades-spanning commitment to conservation. But perhaps even more interesting to oenophiles is Singita’s incredible wine collection.

You’ll stay in the elegant Singita Boulders Lodge, named after the ancient rocks that characterise the Sands River. Suites open directly onto uninterrupted views of the reserve, rustic terraces perfectly positioned for immersive wildlife watching. Interiors are understated yet undeniably stunning, with contemporary finishes crafted from natural materials that echo the aesthetics of the surrounding landscape. 

The atmosphere is intimate and naturally peaceful, with every detail precisely planned, from your field guide and trackers to the meals served between game drives.

Cape Town, Franschhoek & Constantia: A Luxury Wine Tour In South Africa

If you really want to get to know South African wines, then consider an in-depth luxury tour of the Cape’s wine regions. You’ll embark on explorative 4x4 journeys that wind from vantage point to vineyard, bike rides between some of the region’s best and lesser-known wineries, and view-laden hikes in beautiful gardens and lush forests.

Expect a mixture of culinary experiences married to explorations of the remarkable terroir, with tastings directly from the barrel with the winemaker, and hikes along hidden trails threaded through orchards and old Cape farmsteads.

Let me craft your ideal wine escape, whether you want to trace the history of Constantia on a luxury vineyard tour, wander the sunlit estates of Franschhoek, or embark on an exclusive safari to sip world-class wines in view of elephants and lions under sweeping savanna sunsets.