Eight Wineries, One Weekend in Wellington, South Africa
Eight wine farms you simply must visit when exploring the Wellington Wine Route.
Navigating a region unexplored is both exciting and daunting. Where do you start? How do you know where to visit? Luckily Visit Wellington Tourism helped me out with a rather great itinerary which I would like to share with you! If you can get through all eight of these farms over two days, then I applaud you!
Stop 1: Imbuko Wines
My 1st stop was Imbuko wines at 09h00. As I arrived, I noticed that there was a park run on the farm so if you are a keen runner, why not start the day with a park run.
"Imbuko" means "Admiration for..." in Xhosa and I sure did have an admiration for the totally yummy Pie and Wine Pairing for R80! I mean, who would say no to a pie for breakfast :) Oh and if it's too early for wine, they have coffee too!
I was also super impressed that one of their tasting options was for 25 wines! Yes, taste 25 wines for R175. With that you will need some pretty awesome platters or freshly baked pies from the kitchen.
There is plenty of seating space both indoor and outdoors plus a large jungle gym and grass area for the kids. Suitable for both winter and summer months.
Contact Imbuko Wines: Tel: +27 (0)21 873 7350 | info@imbuko.co.za
Stop 2: Linton Park Wines
My second stop for the day was Linton Park wines at 11h00. If it's a heritage wine farm you are after, look no further. Linton Park was granted to Louis Fourie in 1699 who is in fact known to be the forefather of all Fourie's in South Africa.
Today, the estate is owned by London Stock Exchange listed company, Camellia Plc, which employs over 80 000 people worldwide. The manor house was respectfully restored to all its glory however sadly is not up for viewing by the public as it is now a private holiday residence.
I started off with a wine tasting across the range (wine tasting is FREE!) The wines were quite high in tannin for my liking however I would definitely recommend visiting this estate for the fabulous MCC and Pizza for lunch! The Pizzas are baked fresh on the estate and you can sit outside under the awning overlooking the stately manor house garden.
Contact Linton Park Wines: Tel: +27 21 873 1625 | info@lintonparkwines.co.za
Stop 3: Welbedacht
My third stop of the day was meeting up with legendary SA Rugby Player, Schalk Burger Snr. This is also a really old heritage estate, established in 1830.
The best part about this wine estate is that it is set up in an old wine cellar and kitted out with a bar, projector screen TV and massive fireplace so that you can enjoy a glass or few whilst watching the rugby.
Welbedacht is definitely known for their Pinotage and their Meerkat range (available at Checkers) is really great value for money at R65-R75 a bottle.
Contact Welbedacht Estate: Telephone: +27 (0) 21 873 1877 | Email: wine@welbedacht.co.za
Stop 4: Bosman
Bosman is one of the more well-known wineries in the Wellington area due to their involvement in the wine nursery business - which means that they are basically the
The tasting room is constructed out of an old concrete cellar and one can still see the original wine channels in the ground, today covered with glass.
Wine tasting is R80 for 5 wines and the cellar is open for tours. I absolutely love their Chenin and Pinot Noir! You should also ask for a tasting of their Loose Cannon MCC. I would recommend this winery whether it is a hot day or a really cold one.
Contact Bosman wines: Tel: +27 21 873 3170
Stop 5: Dunstone
Last stop for the day! Dunstone wines. You may recognise the label for the super cute dog mascot they have on their wines. I was really surprised by the size of the tasting
There is also a massive indoor and outdoor play area for the kids. One thing's for sure, there is plenty of space to bring the entire family. Taste 5 wines for R30! Then why not order a bottle and indulge in a delectable supper. I really enjoyed the Shiraz 2016 and the Burger which came complete with massive onion rings and french fries.
Contact Dunstone Wines: Tel: +27(0)21 873 6770 / 071 7934238
wine@dunstone.co.za
Stop 6: Diemersfontein
After dinner at Dunstone wines, I checked into Diemersfontein accommodation just as the sun was setting. What a beautiful site!
The house I stayed in had six double bedrooms, each with an en-suite, and after a lovely night's rest, we started the day with breakfast at Aan-Tafel and commenced our first wine tasting for the day at 10am.
Diemersfontein is famous for their Pinotage and so we opted for the cheese and biltong wine pairing for R100.
The serving sizes were very generous and the service was really very good. Plus, the outdoor tasting area is covered and overlooks the magnificent terrain of Wellington.
Contact Diemersfontein Wines: Tel: +27 21 864 5050 | Email: tastingroom@diemersfontein.co.za
Stop 7: Wellington Wines
The Wellington Wines tasting room is actually at Bovlei. What a wonderful place to visit during the winter months. There is a fireplace and blankets where you can sit comfortably whilst overlooking the mountains.
Plus! Wellington Wines likes to mix it up a bit by introducing different pairing options. During my visit, they had the
Contact Wellington Wines: Tel: +27 21 873-1582 | Email: marketing@wellingtonwines.com
Stop 8: Doolhof
My final stop for the weekend was Doolhof where one can also get a bite to eat (one never goes hungry in Wellington). Doolhof lies at the end of a long gravel road but it is totally worth it. One can spot many a cyclist and tourist visiting this estate.
Their wines are highly awarded and have some interesting labels to explore like "Legends of the Labyrinth" including "Lady in Red" and "Lady in White". Wine tasting is R50 for five wines. Below you can see a new
Contact Doolhof Wines: Tel: 021 873 6911 or e-mail: wine@doolhof.com
More to explore in Wellington...
If you decide to stay a little longer in Wellington, also see Andreas and Val du Charron Wines which I have visited before.
I had a wonderful time in the Wellington Wine Route. Wellington Tourism is here to help, so if you find the above not to your liking, contact them for some advice: Tel: +27 (0)21 864 1378
Email: wellingtoninfo@dlta.co.za
Wellington Wine Route Email: wine@wellington.co.za