Grape location ... guests can relax in the heart of the vineyard at the Steenberg Hotel & Spa.
Mont Rochelle Hotel & Vineyards, Franschhoek
Touring the vineyards in the Dassenberg mountains on horseback, with stops for tastings, is the primary appeal of a stay at the Mont Rochelle estate. It also has a 16-room hotel with typical Cape Dutch architecture - thick white walls and a thatched roof. Some rooms have outdoor plunge pools as well as marble baths; the bar features dark wood, leather couches and fireplaces; and there's a fantastic restaurant, Mange Tout, where you can pair the estate's cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot with dishes such as springbok shank and oxtail cannelloni.
Phone +27 21 876 2770, see montrochelle.co.za. Rooms from 2300 rand ($337), including breakfast.
Lanzerac Hotel & Spa, Stellenbosch
The 300-year-old Lanzerac has 48 lavish rooms in the beautiful Cape Dutch manor house and in cottages in the grounds. All have private terraces with views of vineyards and the Helderberg mountains. This winery produced the world's first pinotage - a South African cross between pinot noir and cinsault (hermitage). There's also a great spa and excellent food by chef Stephen Fraser, who has cooked for Sean Connery, David and Victoria Beckham and Calvin Klein.
Phone +27 21 887 1132, see lanzerac.co.za. Rooms from 765 rand a night, including breakfast.
Klein Genot, Franschhoek
Klein Genot is a boutique abode designed with advice from a feng shui expert, with airy spaces, fountains and seven bedrooms off an atrium. It specialises in red wines, with a few recently released whites, all served in a spectacular dining room with wooden beams and chandeliers.
Phone +27 21 876 2738, see kleingenot.com. Rates from 978 rand per person a night, including breakfast, afternoon tea and soft drinks.
Bo La Motte Guest Cottages, Franschhoek
At the foot of the Middagkrans mountains in Franschhoek, these four self-catering cottages are set amid the estate's pear orchards and vines. It specialises in Rhone varietals such as viognier, shiraz and grenache and is also good for families. One of nine Huguenot farms settled in 1672, it has a swimming pool and offers fly-fishing.
Phone +27 21 876 3067, see bolamotte.com. Cottages from 600 rand a night.
Seidelberg Wine Estate, Paarl
Near the historic town of Paarl, the Seidelberg estate was established in 1692 and called "de Leuwen Jagt" (the Lion Hunt). Now guests hunt only pinotage and merlot. Sleep off the excesses of the day in one of three cottages, featuring chandeliers and four-poster beds.
Phone +27 21 863 5200, see www.seidelberg.co.za. From 1400 rand a night for a cottage sleeping four, including breakfast.
Diemersfontein Wine & Country Estate, Wellington
This sprawling estate offers 14 simple rooms or self-catering cottages with verandas, fireplaces and kitchenettes. Famous for its pinotage, the estate is a good base for exploring the Wellington wine route, with horse riding and hiking nearby.
Phone +27 21 864 5050, see diemersfontein.co.za. Doubles from 924 rand, including breakfast and wine tasting.
Sumaridge Wine Estate, Hermanus
Further afield, the Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven and Earth) Valley just outside the seaside town of Hermanus (where whales can be spotted in winter and spring) has excellent wineries. Sumaridge Wine Estate offers self-catering accommodation in five rooms with oak floors and floral themes.
Phone +27 28 312 1097, see sumaridge.co.za. Doubles from 700 rand, room only.
Steenberg Hotel & Spa, Tokai
Mixing antique furniture with sleek timber finishes, this grand hotel has a slick cellar door bar serving zesty sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and a good range of reds. From the mountain slope you can glimpse the sea at False Bay. Another plus is the choice of two restaurants and the on-site spa.
Phone +27 21 713 2222, see steenberghotel.com. Double rooms from 2050 rand; heritage suites from 8500 rand. All rates include breakfast.
Malaysia Airlines has a low-season return fare to Cape Town for about $1640 from Melbourne and Sydney, including tax. The flight is non-stop to Kuala Lumpur with a change of aircraft for the flight to Johannesburg, then on to Cape Town.
- Guardian News & Media
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