Franschhoek · Groot Drakenstein, Franschhoek
Boschendal Wine Estate
The most complete winelands day out — vineyards, restaurants, farm shop, cottages and the famous picnic.
About Boschendal Wine Estate
One of the oldest Cape Dutch estates in South Africa — 2,200 hectares of vineyards, orchards, cottages, restaurants and the iconic Boschendal Picnic on the lawn.
Boschendal sits between the Simonsberg and Groot Drakenstein mountains at the Stellenbosch–Franschhoek boundary. The estate is enormous — a fully working farm with produce, meat, wine, cottages and no fewer than four food offerings, all in a national-monument Cape Dutch setting.
History
Granted in 1685, the estate is one of the oldest in South Africa. The current owners have restored the manor houses, invested heavily in the farm-to-table food programme and rebuilt the wine offering under new cellar leadership.
The wine experience
Standard, Reserve and Chocolate & Wine tastings run all day. The Cellar Door has a walk-in bar; the Werf tasting room offers seated flights. Vineyard tours by e-bike are also available.
- Standard tasting
- Reserve tasting
- Chocolate pairing
- E-bike vineyard tour
Signature wines
- Grande Cuvée Brut Rosé
- Reserve Collection Chardonnay
- Grande Reserve (Bordeaux blend)
- Nicolas Bordeaux blend
Food on the estate
Werf Restaurant (fine dining), The Deli, Farm Shop, and the iconic outdoor Picnic (summer).
Pros and cons
An honest read from a driver who's been to every farm on this list.
Pros
- Iconic outdoor picnic on the lawns is a defining Cape summer experience
- Enormous variety — four food offerings and multiple tasting formats
- Beautiful historic Cape Dutch architecture
- Farm shop is one of the best in the winelands for artisanal produce
- Cottages let you stay overnight on the estate
Cons
- Extremely busy in summer — book the picnic 3–4 weeks ahead
- The scale can feel touristy versus intimate family cellars
- Werf fine dining is expensive
- Traffic on the R310 backs up on summer weekends
Best for
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about visiting Boschendal Wine Estate.
How much does a wine tasting at Boschendal Wine Estate cost?+
Tastings at Boschendal Wine Estate start from R120 per person. Options include Standard tasting, Reserve tasting, Chocolate pairing, E-bike vineyard tour. Prices are typically waived or discounted with a bottle purchase — confirm current rates directly with the estate as they change seasonally.
What are Boschendal Wine Estate's opening hours?+
Boschendal Wine Estate is open Mon–Sun 09:00–18:00. Tastings are pre-booked and the last tasting slot usually closes 60–90 minutes before the estate does, so arrive with time to spare.
How far is Boschendal Wine Estate from Cape Town and Stellenbosch?+
Boschendal Wine Estate is roughly 55 minutes by car from central Cape Town and about 25 minutes from Stellenbosch town, traffic depending. The estate is at R310 Pniel Road, Groot Drakenstein.
Do I need to book in advance at Boschendal Wine Estate?+
Yes — like most Franschhoek estates, Boschendal Wine Estate works on pre-booked tastings, especially on weekends and in peak season (November–April). Walk-ins are sometimes possible mid-week but never guaranteed.
Is there food available at Boschendal Wine Estate?+
Werf Restaurant (fine dining), The Deli, Farm Shop, and the iconic outdoor Picnic (summer).
Can Stellenbosch Shuttles drive me to Boschendal Wine Estate?+
Yes. We run private, all-inclusive day tours to Boschendal Wine Estate and the wider Franschhoek winelands from Cape Town, Stellenbosch and the Winelands hotels. One flat rate covers the vehicle, driver, fuel and tolls — you taste freely, we drive safely. Request a quote for your dates and group size.
More wine farms in Franschhoek
La Motte
Rupert-family estate with Pierneef art museum, hiking trails and the Pierneef Collection Shiraz.
Babylonstoren
A 3.5-hectare formal garden, farm-to-table restaurants and Cape Dutch cottages that redefined the winelands.
Haute Cabrière
Cellar carved into the mountainside and the Pierre Jourdan Cap Classique that pioneered Cape bubbly.
Visiting Boschendal Wine Estate? We'll drive.
One flat all-day rate — driver, fuel, tolls and cellar-door bottle collection included.