WINE DESK DAY TRIP TOURS
SMALL GROUP SCHEDULED TOURS: DAILY TOURS, LIFESTYLE TOURS; PERSONALISED/PRIVATE DAY TRIPS; COMBINATION TOURS; A SATURDAY MARKET TOUR and a tour ‘Bringing Wine Tourism to the children of the Winelands’
A day trip can last the whole day, or just a morning or afternoon, with or without lunch. If you are really pressed for time, we can treat you to a short excursion in two or three hours - and your guide can drop you at the airport (if you wish). It's your call. Simply contact us with your schedule and preferences and leave the rest to us. We are one of the few tour companies who only use wine specialist guides to guide our wine tours. All our scheduled day tours are small group tours ie no more than 8 pax per tour. We visit a minimum of 4 or 5 wineries per day (depending on the tour) and taste a minimum of 25 wines per tour. For these reasons you may see that our tours are priced a little higher than other operators offering wine tours, but we are obviously in a different category, and worth every cent!
DAILY TOURS (full day - see further down for half day options)
To make things a little easier, we have compiled 7 day trips - one for each day of the week - to introduce visitors to some of the Cape's best loved and well-known wineries, and some hidden gems off the beaten path. Just pick the day that suits you. Tours start from around 8 am and return by 6 pm. Collection and drop off at your hotel or our guide will meet you anywhere in the Cape Town city bowl (as far as Camps Bay) or Winelands and drop you off at your next stop-over in the city or Winelands. You are welcome to choose two (or more) days, or, if you'd like to sleep over in the Winelands, have a look at the accommodation listed on the self-drive page. Each of these establishments come with our personal recommendation.
MONDAY
PAARL / FRANSCHHOEK / STELLENBOSCH
Tasting at KWV Emporium; Tasting at Laborie; Tasting and lunch stop at La Petite Ferme; Tasting at Clos Malverne; Tasting at Amani
TUESDAY
STELLENBOSCH / FRANSCHHOEK
Tasting at Amani; Tasting at Jordan; Tasting and lunch stop at Middelvlei; Tasting at L’Ormarins; Tasting at La Motte
WEDNESDAY
PAARL / STELLENBOSCH
Tasting at Laborie; Tasting at Spice Route; Tasting and lunch stop Backsberg; Tasting at Middelvlei; Tasting at Amani
THURSDAY
STELLENBOSCH / FRANSCHHOEK
Tasting at Bilton; Tasting at Uva Mira; Tasting and lunch stop at La Motte; Tasting at Leopard’s Leap; Tasting at L’Ormarins
FRIDAY
FRANSCHHOEK / STELLENBOSCH
Tasting at Leopard’s Leap; Tasting at L’Ormarins; Tasting and lunch stop at Jordan; Tasting at Uva Mira; Tasting at Peter Falke
SATURDAY
FRANSCHHOEK / PAARL / STELLENBOSCH
Tasting at Backsberg; Tasting at Laborie; Tasting and lunch stop at Spice Route; Tasting at Bilton; Tasting at Peter Falke
SUNDAY
DURBANVILLE / STELLENBOSCH
Tasting at Hillcrest; Tasting at Jordan; Tasting and lunch stop at Clos Malverne; Tasting at Uva Mira; Tasting at Peter Falke
Full Day: R850 pp (currency converter) until end February 2012.
Included: collection and drop off at your hotel, a wine specialist guide with air-conditioned transport and all standard tastings.
Excluded: lunch
LIFESTYLE TOURS (full day)
For those of you who wish to spend part of your day visiting wine farms and tasting, and part of your day exploring one of the more well-known historic wine villages/towns, these tours are for you. Visit 3 wineries in various regions and spend 2 hours free time in one of the towns of Stellenbosch or Franschhoek. Most tastings are wine and food combinations. Cellar tour included.
LIFESTYLE TOUR (STELLENBOSCH)
Free time in Stellenbosch – Available Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays*
Cellar Tour and Mentor’s Tasting at KWV Emporium (Paarl); Ice Cream and Wine Tasting at Clos Malverne (Stellenbosch); 2 hours free time in historic centre of Stellenbosch; Chocolate and wine tasting at Bilton (Stellenbosch)
LIFESTYLE TOUR (FRANSCHHOEK)
Free time in Franschhoek – Available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays*
La Motte (Franschhoek): tasting (with additional time allowed to visit museum and farm shop) OR Historic Walk with speciality bread tasting (Wednesdays only); 2 hours free time in historic centre of Franschhoek; Cellar Tour and Mentor’s Tasting at KWV Emporium (Paarl); Olive, olive oil and wine tasting at Hillcrest (Durbanville)
Full Day: R850 pp (currency converter) until end February 2012.
Included: collection and drop off at your hotel, a wine specialist guide with air-conditioned transport and all tastings included in itinerary.
Excluded: lunch - you have time during your free 2 hours in the town
'AUTHENTIC CAPE' - a local taste
LOCAL IS LEKKER* TOUR (full day - not available Saturdays and Sundays)
*Lekker (South African) Tasty, nice, fun, great
A wine tour focusing on typical South African fare and wines.
Cellar Tour and Mentor's Tasting at KWV Emporium (Paarl); Pinotage tasting at Kanonkop (Stellenbosch); Tasting and Boerekosbordjie (‘plate of Farmer’s food’) lunch at Middelvlei (Stellenbosch); Brandy, coffee and chocolate pairing at Van Ryn’s Distillery (Stellenbosch)
Full Day: R850 pp (currency converter) until end February 2012.
Included: collection and drop off at your hotel, a wine specialist guide with air-conditioned transport and all tastings on itinerary.
Excluded: lunch R90pp
FEELING THE PINCH?
THE STORY OF WINE TOURS (full day)
STELLENBOSCH / PAARL / FRANSCHHOEK
We realise that not everyone feels it is necessary to have a wine specialist guide or do a small group tour. Also, you may be on a tighter budget. We are therefore very happy to offer this tour operated by one of our colleagues in the industry, which we feel is excellent value for money: this tour visits 4 wineries within the regions above, it includes a registered guide with transport, all tastings (including a cheese tasting) and a light lunch with wine. Please note however, that the groups are larger. Collection and drop off also at hotel (within city). Tours operate daily.
Full Day: R595 pp (currency converter) until end February 2012.
HALF DAY TOURS (mornings and afternoons / not available Sundays)
CONSTANTIA
Tastings at Groot Constantia; Constantia Glen and Steenberg
STELLENBOSCH
Tastings at Jordan; Clos Malverne and Middelvlei
FRANSCHHOEK (not available Saturday afternoons)
Tastings at La Motte; Leopard’s Leap; and L’Ormarins
WINELANDS Paarl/Franschhoek/Stellenbosch
Tastings at Backsberg; Leopard’s Leap and Uva Mira
Half Day: Constantia and Stellenbosch R590 pp; Franschhoek and Winelands R650pp (currency converter) until end February 2012.
Included: collection and drop off at your hotel, a wine specialist guide with air-conditioned transport and all standard tastings.
There is no time allowance for lunch on half day tours.
Please note that itineraries may be changed in circumstances beyond our control.
PENINSULA AND WINE TOUR (full day - available daily)
2 wine tastings/penguins/Cape Point/Chapman's Peak/Signal Hill
Brief stop at Signal Hill; scenic drive via Camps Bay, Clifton; Twelve Apostles and Hout Bay; lookout point stop at Chapman’s Peak; Tasting at Cape Point Vineyards; Simon’s Town; Boulders Beach (penguins); Cape of Good Hope; Cape Point - lunch at Two Oceans and free time to explore; Turn down to Cape of Good Hope - photo opportunity at sign; Tasting at Steenberg
Price: R950 pp (currency converter) until end February 2012.
Included: collection and drop off at your hotel, a wine specialist guide with air-conditioned transport, all standard tastings and entrance fees.
Excluded: lunch and funicular fees at Cape Point (optional)
PENINSULA TOUR (full day - available daily)
Camps Bay; Clifton; Twelve Apostles; Hout Bay; Chapman's Peak; Cape of Good Hope; Cape Point; Boulder's Beach (penguins); Simon's Town; Muizenberg; Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Price: R850 pp (currency converter) until end February 2012.
PRIVATE DAY TRIPS
Please feel free to use our pre-designed day trips above as a basis for compiling your own itinerary. Or here are a few more options (all are full day):
CHEESE AND WINE TOUR
We are fortunate to have many excellent cheese producing wine estates in the Western Cape. This is a wonderful day tour for those of you who prefer to enjoy your cheese and wine tasting as one experience. We will lunch at an appropriate restaurant which has a particular focus on cheese and offers varieties of cheese platters.
1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax (currency converter)
R2500 R1400 R990 R850 R790 R750 R750
Prices per person. Valid until end February 2012. Tastings included. Lunch excluded.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK WINE TOUR
Want to be away from the everyday tourist route, then this will be a day to remember. Discover some of the untapped secrets of the Cape Winelands! This tour takes you away from the main tourist route out into the countryside. Visit small towns like Wellington, Riebeeck West, Tulbagh and Wolsely. Lunch at a local restaurant before traveling through the beautiful Bainskloof Pass to Paarl then back to Cape Town. Taste wine at award winning farms that are off the beaten track.
1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax (currency converter)
R2600 R1400 R1100 R900 R800 R700 R700
Prices per person. Valid until end February 2012. Tastings included. Lunch excluded.
SAFARI AND WINE TOUR
Your time in Cape Town short?? Need a half day safari with a fix of some wine tasting, then look no further. We offer a 1 day safari trip departing Cape Town at 05:00 to arrive at the reserve for welcoming refreshments at around 07:00. An experienced ranger will take you on a 2-3 hour game drive in an open 4x4 vehicle to view animals such as lion, rhino, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, hippo, warthog, baboons, ostrich and a wide variety of antelope. You will also get to view world renowned San Bushmen rock paintings during your drive. The reserve is also home to a wide variety of birdlife. We leave the reserve and make our way back towards Cape Town, stopping at a wine farm or two for lunch and tastings.
1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax (currency converter)
R3900 R2850 R2850 R2850 R2850 R2850 R2850
Prices per person. Valid until end February 2012. Breakfast, game drive, tasting fees & transport included. Drinks and lunch excluded.
QUAD BIKE SAFARI AND WINE TOUR
Enjoy an adventurous day out, where the morning will be spent quad biking around a game reserve, looking at animals like elephant, rhino, buffalo as well some antelope etc.., and then after lunch enjoy the afternoon visiting a couple of wineries. You will depart Cape Town at 07h00 and will be taken on a 2 hour drive to a big 5 game reserve in the area. On arrival, you will be presented with a welcome drink
followed by a light breakfast of some scones and coffee/tea. At approximately 09h45 you then be led out on your 2–3 hour quad bike ride through some rough and interesting terrain in the 45000 hectare game reserve. After a great buffet-styloe lunch we will head back to Cape Town, stopping in the Winelands district where we will visit 2 to 3 wine farms time permitting.
At about 18h00 you should be dropped off back at your accommodation.
1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax (currency converter)
R4300 R3200 R3200 R3200 R3200 R3200 R3200
Prices per person. Valid until end February 2012. Quad bike safari, light breakfast, lunch, wine tasting fees & transport included. Drinks excluded.
SHARK CAGE DIVING AND WINE TOUR
Combine some shark cage diving in the morning, and after lunch enjoy visiting a couple of wineries in the area before heading back to Cape Town. You will depart Cape Town at 06h00 and then take a two hour drive to the small town of Gansbaai along the east coast shoreline of the Western Cape. On arrival you will need to do the necessary paper work that will be followed by a nice breakfast. At around 10h00 or when the tide allows, you will then depart on your 3 hour shark cage diving expedition.
Back on shore, there will be a light lunch while you watch the video of the morning’s proceedings, of which you can then purchase the DVD. We make our way back to the Walker Bay wine region, where we will visit 2 wineries before we make our way back to Cape Town.
At around 18h00/18h30 you should be dropped off back at your accommodation.
1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax (currency converter)
R3700 R2900 R2900 R2900 R2900 R2900 R2900
Prices per person. Valid until end February 2012. Shark cage diving fees, breakfast, light lunch, wine tasting fees and transport included. Drinks excluded.
CANYON ZIP LINING AND OFF THE BEATEN TRACK WINE TOUR
A fun day of zip lining in a beautiful canyon, after which we would head off to the nearby Winelands area of Tulbagh, where we will enjoy a farm style lunch at a local restaurant, and then spend the afternoon wine tasting at a couple of wineries. You will depart Cape Town at around 08h00, and then head for the Mountains area of Ceres. This is about a 2 hour drive through some beautiful country. Once we arrive at the Zip Lining venue, we will fill out some paperwork followed by some instruction, and then head off for about a 2 hour excursion. The Zip lining consists of 8 zips across the canyon of which the longest is about 194 meters. Once the Zip Lining adventures are over, we will then make our way to the winelands area of Tulbagh. We will then enjoy a farm style lunch at a local restaurant, followed by some wine tasting at a couple of wineries in the area.
At about 18h00 you should be dropped off back at your accommodation.
1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax (currency converter)
R2900 R2400 R1900 R1600 R1400 R1200 R1200
Prices per person. Valid until end February 2012. Zip Lining, wine tasting fees and transport included. Lunch and rinks excluded.
SPECIALISED RED WINE AND PORT TOUR
For that red wine enthusiast, this tour is a must with a sweet twist. Visit some of the most exceptional red wine and port producing estates in the Cape. This tour is a must for red wine enthusiasts. As fine wine is best enjoyed with fine food, we lunch at an exclusive wine estate.
1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax (currency converter)
R2400 R1250 R900 R800 R700 R650 R650
Prices per person. Valid until end February 2012. Tastings included. Lunch excluded.
SPECIALISED WHITE AND RED WINE TOUR
Passionate about full bodied white and red wines, then this is the tour for you. We go into greater depth on tastings and structure the tour around your preferences in wine. We visit estates that are currently producing award-winning red and white wine. Lunch is enjoyed in the winelands.
1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax (currency converter)
R2400 R1250 R900 R800 R700 R650 R650
Prices per person. Valid until end February 2012. Tastings included. Lunch excluded.
THE GOURMET WINE TOUR
This Tour is a definite if you enjoy pairing fine wines, with some chocolate, a 4-course meal and cheese. A day of pure indulgence!!!!!!!!. The marriage of fine wine with fine food is an indescribable experience. You will enjoy wine tasting at two specially selected wine estates in the morning. The estate where we lunch offers a four course gourmet meal. The perfect pairing of wine and food is achieved by the combined efforts of the Wine Maker and Chef. We will round off the day with a cheese & port tasting.
1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax (currency converter)
R3500 R2500 R2000 R1800 R1500 R1300 R1300
Prices per person. Valid until end February 2012. Tastings, lunch and wine with lunch included.
THE PINOTAGE TOUR (PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN)
Want to see what South Africans are raving about in the wine industry? Then try
this tour for some local flavour. On this day out we will venture to expose you to as much Pinotage as possible. We visit 4 to 5 vineyards in the Stellenbosch area that are excelling in this varietal. Amongst the different pinotages that you will be tasting, there will also be a good variety of other wines to taste and enjoy. Lunch on this day will be taken in at a winery en route.
1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax (currency converter)
R2400 R1250 R900 R800 R700 R650 R650
Prices per person. Valid until end February 2012. Tastings included. Lunch excluded.
THE ULTIMATE WINE TOUR (STELLENBOSCH)
Do you enjoy all aspects of wine? From champagnes, white wines, red wines, ports and dessert wines? Then this is a day out that you do not want to miss!!! On this tour we will start the day out by visiting a premium champagne producer, where you will taste a range of sparkling wines and champagnes. The next farm that we will visit will be a specialist in fantastic white wines, from unwooded to the very woody. Next stop will be that of an exceptional red wine producer, here we will taste a range of excellent red wines including the great Pinotage. After this lunch will be taken in at a very exclusive restaurant at a top wine Estate. After lunch we will end the day with a sweet touch, where we will visit two farms that are producing excellent ports and dessert wines paired with some cheese.
1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax (currency converter)
R2600 R1500 R1100 R950 R850 R800 R800
Prices per person. Valid until end February 2012. Tastings included. Lunch excluded.
THE CHAMPAGNE TOUR (MCC AND SPARKLING WINES OF SA)
For all those lovers of good bubbly, this is the tour for you. Mix up your day, visiting some of our best champagne producing houses, with also some good natural wines. The age old method used to produce Champagne in France is also used in South Africa. However, as the world aside from France may not refer to their “Bubbly” as champagne, we refer to ours made in the same way, as “MCC” – Methode Cap Classique. We also produce a wonderful range of sparkling wines. Start the day with a cellar tour which provides you with an understanding on how each of these is produced. The day is spent visiting champagne and wine producing farms. We lunch at a lovely Wineland restaurant.
1 pax 2 pax 3 pax 4 pax 5 pax 6 pax 7 pax (currency converter)
R2400 R1300 R1150 R950 R800 R700 R700
Prices per person. Valid until end February 2012. Tastings included. Lunch excluded.
PERSONALISED DAY TRIPS
Tell us what you'd like to experience. You may have been recommended a whole list of wineries from fellow travellers, or be drinking some superb South African wines at home and would like to visit those wineries? Perhaps the historic Cape wine farms where the local industry was born, or some of the latest award winners? Perhaps you are a restaurateur looking to add some South African flavour to your wine list? You also have the option of staying on in the Winelands after your tour to enjoy dinner at one of the award-winning restaurants. And it does not have to be all wine. We will gladly include interesting sites such at Robben Island, Table Mountain and Cape Point or a township tour. Contact us and let's talk about it.
Price: Full day: R1700 for the first person and R800 for each additional person per day; Half day: R1200 for the first person and R500 for each additional person per day; Single full day: R1900; Single half day: R1500; extra mileage to eg. Hermanus R500; extra time allowance for dinner R400 until 9pm, thereafter R100 per hour until drop off (currency converter) until end February 2012.
Included: collection and drop off at your hotel, a wine specialist guide with air-conditioned transport and all standard tastings.
Excluded: lunch and all special tastings (check on enquiry)
SATURDAY MARKET TOUR - Fresh goods, local food, local ingredients, wine, clothing, art, crafts and curios (half day - available Saturday mornings only)
All aboard for our exciting guided market tour visiting some of Cape Town's popular markets. Fill up on delicious offerings along the way. A selection from the following markets: Triangle Square Market; Green Market Square; Old Biscuit Mill Neighbourgoods Market; Earth Fair Food Market; Porter Estate Produce Market (Tokai Forest).
Price: R590 pp (currency converter) until end February 2012.
Included: collection and drop off at your hotel, a wine specialist guide with air-conditioned transport and all standard tastings.
Excluded: lunch
PEBBLES PROJECT/WINE DESK WINE TOUR - ‘Bringing Wine Tourism to the children of the Winelands’
A full day tour for the compassionate wine tourist who wants to experience more than just the fabulous wines of South Africa.
This tour introduces you to The Pebbles Project, a registered non-profit organisation that supports children living in the Winelands. Visit three wine farms and taste their delicious wines, but also spend quality time visiting the crèches and after-school clubs on each farm, and get involved with a range of fun activities with the children.
The Pebbles Project works with farm owners to develop their farm worker communities, focusing particularly on the education of the children. Services include: training for crèche and after-school club staff, supplying of all the educational resources and equipment, and taking the children out every month on an educational trip to local places of interest. Pebbles also offers workshops and support for parents living and working on the farms.
The Wine Desk actively supports The Pebbles Project and as with their other specialised wine tours, endeavours to offer the wine tourist the 'off-the-beaten-track' experience. Apart from tasting wines at the tasting rooms, the Wine Desk introduces visitors to the people behind the scenes - the winemaker, the cellar and vineyard workers, their families and children. Every attempt is also made to make the tour as personalised for each wine tourist as possible, taking into account 'who they are'. On the Pebbles Wine Tour, experience life on the farm, interact with the children, and of course, taste the magnificent wines produced.
Tours start at 09h00 from Cape Town and return to Cape Town by 17h00.
Tours are Monday to Thursday only.
Lunch is for your own account and will be at a restaurant on one of the wine farms.
Price: R850 pp (currency converter) until end February 2012. WINE DESK donates 50% of the proceeds of this tour to the project.
If you wish to bring along any gifts or donations for the children, please feel free, and thank you.
Included: collection and drop off at your hotel, a wine specialist guide with air-conditioned transport and all standard tastings.
Excluded: lunch
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