Durbanville: The Gateway to Exquisite Winelands
Imagine living in a town where the homes are nestled amid rolling valleys, charming vineyards, and dramatic mountainous backdrops. This is the idyllic reality for the residents of Durbanville, who live in one of Cape Town's prettiest towns. For many residents, the most beloved and appealing part of the town is its exquisite winelands that produce only the finest white and red wines. Known as the Durbanville Wine Route, it is the gateway to 13 wine estates, each offering a unique experience and their own signature blends.
RED Properties has selected 4 of our favourite wine estates from the region that not only produce delicious "vino" but create an overall unforgettable wine tasting experience.
Let's get started...
1. Meerendal
First on the list is, Meerendal Wine Estate, situated amidst rolling hills and rustic backdrops, it is one of the country's most esteemed wine estates, with its signature blend known as the Heritage Block Pinotage. Its history dates back to around 300 years when Christina Stans (widow of the first owner), planted 60 000 vines on the estate. Interestingly, the town's oldest vineyard can be found here, which is a block of bush vine Pinotage, planted in 1955.
What sets this wine estate apart from many others is the number of events that are hosted here throughout the year. Every Saturday there is a 5km parkrun and every Tuesday, visitors can enjoy an adrenaline packed Night Ride where you can meander through cycling trails.
Meerendal Wine Estate also features two restaurants, a deli and coffee shop, and a luxury boutique hotel.
Monday to Saturday: 10am to 6pm
Sunday: 11am to 6pm
2. D'Aria Winery
Enjoying luscious valley views over Tygerberg Hills, D'Aria Winery boasts a long list of internationally acclaimed wines such as D'Aria Lullaby 2015 (Semillon) and The Soprano 2017 (Shiraz). It is comprised of two wine farms named Doordekraal and Springfield, the latter dates back centuries to 1698, making it one of the oldest farms not just in Durbanville, but in greater Cape Town as well.
Monday to Friday: 10am to 6pm
Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday: 11am to 5pm
Public Holidays: 10am to 4pm
3. De Grendel
If you're looking for spectacular views while sipping on delicious wine, then De Grendel is the wine estate for you. Situated atop the Tygerberg Hill, the estate has panoramic views over the city, with highlights being Table Mountain and Table Bay. Its history dates back to 1720, however, the early beginnings of the estate were tragic as the vineyards were wiped out by the Phylloxera plague of the 1890s. And only 200 years later, in 1999, were new vineyards planted by the owner of the time, Sir David Graaff. Today, De Grendel is synonymous with exquisite wine made from the vineyards of Tygerberg and Witzenberg. There are a number of award-winning wines from the estate, including the 2010 Merlot and De Grendel's flagship wine, Rubaiyat.
Monday to Saturday: 9am to 5pm
Sunday: 10am to 4pm
Closed: Family Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day
4. Durbanville Hills
With sweeping views of Cape Town, Durbanville Hills is one of the newer cellars in the region, with a history dating to the 1990s. It was born out of a joint venture between nine member farms and The Distill Group, who together, create state-of-the-art wine made from high-quality grapes. Some of the unique wines from Durbanville Hills include the Methode Cap Classique, The Castle of Good Hope Cabernet Sauvignon and The Cape Mist Sauvignon Blanc.
There is also an onsite restaurant that is currently competing at the Haute Grandeur Global Restaurant Awards. Here, you will get served tantalizing dishes such as carpaccio, risotto and oysters - and don't forget to pair these with a wine! Durbanville Hills also hosts a number of events, with the Winter of Wander coming up on August 8, where guests can explore the winelands and indulge in food and wine pairings.
Monday: 12pm to 6pm
Tuesday to Thursday: 10am to 6pm
Friday: 10am to 7pm
Saturday and Public Holidays: 10am to 4pm
Sunday: 11am to 4pm
The Durbanville Wine Route will take you on a journey of only the best wine estates that the town and greater Cape Town has to offer. There are a number of other memorable estates on the route that are also worth experiencing, including:
- Diemersdal
- Altydgedacht
- Canto
- Bloemendal
- Hillcrest
- Klein Roosboom
- N'Tida
- Phizante Kraal
- Signal Gun
Living in the town means you will be placed in the heart of Cape Town's exquisite winelands. If this sounds like your ideal residential destination, speak to RED Properties today and we will find your perfect Durbanville forever home.
