Durbanville Wine Valley

The Durbanville Wine Valley. Photo courtesy Craig Strachan

Fantastic wines, excellent restaurants and gorgeous views of the Tygerberg Hills... The Durbanville Wine Valley has so much to offer – and it's just 20 minutes from Cape Town.

You’ll find the Durbanville Wine Valley, with its rolling vineyards and hospitable atmosphere, nestling in the Tygerberg Hills. Nine wineries make up the Durbanville Wine Route.

The cool climate, and the proximity to the cold Atlantic (just 15km or 9mi away) and the mountains create something unique. There have been many accolades for the estates:

Altydgedacht (+27 (0)21 976 1295): Established in 1698, this family-run farm produces noble wines of quality and character.

Bloemendal (+27 (0)21 976 2682): This estate has been producing fine wines for 300 years. Try the Winehouse restaurant for a delicious meal.

D’Aria (+27 (0)21 975 5736): The first wines were launched in 2005, and since then the D’Aria label has grown from strength to strength. Book your space at Poplars restaurant for a memorable lunch or dinner.

De Grendel (+27 (0)21 558 6280): From the top of Tygerberg Hill, De Grendel has views of Table Mountain, the city and the seaboard.

De Vallei (+27 (0)21 979 5194): Six generations of De Villers winemakers have continued the tradition of producing well-reputed, handcrafted wines at this relatively young winery.

Diemersdal (+27 (0)21 976 3361): Making wine runs in the family at Diemersdal. Six generations of winemakers have worked on this estate, since the early 1800s. Today the Diemersdal label is recognised worldwide.

Durbanville Hills (+27 (0)21 558 1300): Enjoy a wine-tasting with views of Table Bay, Robben Island and Cape Town in the distance. Durbanville Hills is known for its excellent selection of red and white wines.

Hillcrest (+27 (0)21 975 2346): Hillcrest Estate is high up in the Tygerberg Hills. Although it’s a new vineyard, with a limited stock of wines, the attitude here is that quality rules above quantity.

Klein Roosboom: The unique terroir of Durbanville makes allowance for chardonnays and sauvignon blancs to be cultivated on cooler slopes, while warmer temperatures favour the production of grapes for rich reds.

Phizante Kraal (+27 (0)21 976 2114): Although their sauvignon blanc is a popular choice in white wine, Phizante Kraal also has a wide range of robust reds.

Meerendal (+27 (0)21 975 1655): Meerendal Wine Farm dates back to 1702, when the farm was granted to Jan Meerland, one of the founding fathers of viticulture in South Africa. There are four excellent restaurants from which to choose on this estate.

Nitida (+27 (0)21 976 1467): Nitida Estate has produced award-winning wines over the years and the owners acknowledge the cool climes of Durbanville as the secret to their excellent wines.