Stellenbosch has 167 wine cellars to choose from but not all of them are located close to the Stellenbosch University (SU) campus.
This is according to Mike Froud, editor of Top Wine SA and manager of the South African Wine & Cellar Classifications.
“The wine farms that are closest to the town and university include Asara, Beyerskloof, Blaauwklippen, Glenelly, Kleine Zalze, Lanzerac, Neethlingshof, Remhoogte and Rustenberg,” Froud said.
MatieMedia visited three of these wine farms that are relatively easy to reach for the student community.
Stellenbosch is home to 167 wine cellars, according to Mike Froud, editor of Top Wine SA and manager of the South African Wine & Cellar Classifications. PHOTO: Dominique Fuchs
Rustenberg
Rustenberg Wines is located in Idas Valley, and dates back to 1682.
“Our beautiful manor house gardens are open to the public free of charge every day. We like to think time stands still here and [we] encourage our visitors to take their time to enjoy the wines and the gardens,” said Tammy Barlow, business manager at Rustenberg Wines.
Rustenberg has beautiful manor house gardens, which are open to the public free of charge every day, according to Tammy Barlow, business manager at Rustenberg Wines. “We like to think time stands still here and encourage our visitors to take their time to enjoy the wines and the gardens,” she said. PHOTO: Dominique Fuchs
Barlow described the atmosphere as casual, relaxing and welcoming.
“We make 19 different wines: One rosé, eight white wines, seven red wines, and three dessert wines. There really is something for everyone,” said Barlow.
The wine tasting costs R40 for any six available wines and the tasting fee is waived upon the purchase of wine, according to Barlow.
*Cost of Uber:
R66 for two people
R78 for three people
R85 for six people.
“We focus purely on the wine and on the farm. We don’t have a restaurant or tours or accommodation, but pour everything into making the best wines we can. We also believe our wines are very good value for the quality you get, and have wines at various price ranges to suit most palates and budgets,” said Tammy Barlow, business manager at Rustenberg Wines. PHOTO: Dominique Fuchs
Glenelly
Glenelly Estate’s tasting room is located on the top floor of the winery overlooking Simonsberg Mountain.
Bronwen Adams, manager of Glenelly’s tasting room, described the wines as “South African wines with a French twist”.
Glenelly has loads more to offer than just a wine tasting, according to Bronwen Adams, manager of Glenelly’s tasting room. “There is a glass museum, where our owner madam May de Lencquesaing’s privately owned glass collection is on display,” she said. The collection contains 480 pieces, according to Adams. PHOTO: Dominique Fuchs
“The estate is French-owned by an owner whose family has been making wine for over 250 years. We take a French approach when it comes to the winemaking method,” she said.
The cost of the wine tasting is R60 for four wines or R90 for six wines, said Adams.
Glenelly Estate focuses on red wines and only produces chardonnay as a white grape variety, according to Bronwen Adams, manager of Glenelly’s tasting room. “Since 2019, we also started producing rosé.”
*Cost of Uber:
R54 for two people
R62 for three people
R69 for six people
Lanzerac
Lanzerac Wine Estate is nestled in the Jonkershoek Valley, providing views of the surrounding mountains.
The atmosphere at the tasting room and deli is “vibey”, relaxed and fun, said Marisa Calvert, the marketing and sales manager at Lanzerac.
Lanzerac offers a free shuttle service from Stellenbosch central to the tasting room, according to Calvert.
“Students are able to catch the shuttle every hour from 12:00 until 18:00, Monday to Friday.”
The shuttle’s pick-up and drop-off points are: 47 Church Street (Visit Stellenbosch’s office) and the corner of Victoria Street and Neethling Street.
“We offer a more lifestyle type of wine that suits a young palette,” she said. For R80, customers can select five wines from Lanzerac’s premium range to taste. This includes a variety of red and white wines, said Calvert.
“We offer a more lifestyle type of wine that suits a young palette, including a variety of red, white and rosé, as well as our Lanzerac MCC,” said Marisa Calvert, marketing and sales manager at Lanzerac Wine Estate. PHOTO: Dominique Fuchs
*Cost of Uber:
R61 for two people
R73 for three people
R78 for six people
*Uber prices were calculated on 3 October at 10:00. Stellenbosch University was the starting location and the prices are for a one-way trip. Uber prices can vary depending on the time of the day.