South Africa
Stellenbosch, the wine town
Stellenbosch was founded in 1679, which makes it the second-oldest town in South Africa after Cape Town. Governor Simon van der Stel planted so many oaks that it is still called Eikestad, the city of oaks. Around it lie the estates that make many of the country's best-known red wines.
14 November 20266 min read
Picolo Editorial
In short: Stellenbosch
Spend a morning in the town among the whitewashed Cape Dutch houses and oak trees, then visit two or three estates in the afternoon. The Stellenbosch Wine Routes have more than 150 members and were the first in South Africa, in 1971. Stay on an estate or take a wine bus, and nobody has to drive. Lanzerac, a historic estate a few minutes from the centre, is our first choice.
Last checked: November 2026.
The town
The heart of Stellenbosch is Dorp Street, with more restored historic buildings than anywhere else in town and old oaks along the pavements. After a fire in 1710 the town was rebuilt, and much of its Cape Dutch character survives. The Village Museum keeps four houses from the 17th to the 19th century. The university, which took its name in 1918, gives the town its cafés and bookshops. Walk it in the morning, before the heat.
The estates
Stellenbosch is known above all for red wine: cabernet sauvignon, Bordeaux-style blends and pinotage, the grape South Africa bred from pinot noir and cinsault in the 1920s. Some of the best-known estates to visit:
Spier, a large family-run estate with a restaurant and farm shop, where you can walk in without booking.
Delaire Graff, high on the Helshoogte Pass, with views over the valley. Read our review of Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa.
Tokara, on the same pass, with a terrace restaurant looking towards Cape Town.
Kanonkop, the benchmark for pinotage. Tastings are by appointment.
Book tastings in advance at weekends, and plan two or three estates in a day.
Tasting without driving
The estates are spread out, and you should not drive after tasting. Hop-on, hop-off wine buses run between estates, and many hotels arrange drivers. Taxis from the town are easy to book.
Getting there
Stellenbosch is about 50 kilometres east of Cape Town, roughly 45 minutes by car. Franschhoek is about 30 minutes further east over the Helshoogte Pass, home of the Wine Tram. The two towns combine easily.
Picolo picks the hotel for you
Picolo is the hotel guest's best friend. We take on the role of guide and do the work before you book. We look at the hotels in the area, where they stand, what guests say and what is actually there. Then we choose the one hotel that suits this particular trip best. For a wine trip to Stellenbosch the choice fell on Lanzerac, because you stay on a wine estate with its own tasting room and the town is only minutes away. Guests rate it 9.2 out of 10 on Hotels.com.
Our first choice in Stellenbosch
Lanzerac Hotel & Spa
Lanzerac is a wine estate founded in 1692 in the Jonkershoek Valley, on the edge of Stellenbosch. The manor house is Cape Dutch, with a gable dating from 1830, and the estate was among the first to bottle pinotage. The hotel has 54 rooms and suites, and the spa has an indoor pool, a steam room and a sauna. You will find the tasting room and restaurants on the estate, and the centre is a few minutes away by car.
Frequently asked questions about Stellenbosch
What is Stellenbosch known for?
Stellenbosch is South Africa's best-known wine town, with more than 150 members on its wine routes, the first in the country. Founded in 1679, it is the country's second-oldest town, famous for its oaks, Cape Dutch architecture and university. Its estates are best known for red wine.
What are the best wineries to visit in Stellenbosch?
Spier, Delaire Graff, Tokara and Kanonkop are among the best known. Spier welcomes walk-in visitors and has a restaurant. Delaire Graff and Tokara sit high on the Helshoogte Pass with views, and Kanonkop is the benchmark for pinotage. Book tastings ahead, especially at weekends.
How far is Stellenbosch from Cape Town?
Stellenbosch is about 50 kilometres east of Cape Town, roughly 45 minutes by car. Franschhoek is about 30 minutes further east over the Helshoogte Pass, so many visitors combine the two on one trip. Hire a car, and leave the tasting days to a driver or a wine bus.
Is Stellenbosch or Franschhoek better for a wine trip?
They suit different trips. Stellenbosch is a lively university town with more estates and a stronger name for red wine. Franschhoek is a smaller village with a celebrated restaurant scene and the hop-on, hop-off Wine Tram. With three days or more, stay in one and visit the other.
Sources
The town's history comes from Wikipedia and Wanted. Details on the wine routes come from Stellenbosch Wine Routes. Estate details are taken from Wine Travel Guides. Lanzerac facts come from Lanzerac and Decanter. Azwi and Lugerda took the photographs, via Wikimedia Commons. Hotel photographs are from Hotels.com (Expedia Group). Last checked November 2026.
Cheers from Stellenbosch
Picolo Editorial