Plan to visit some wine farms?
Most of the wine farms in Stellenbosch and surrounds are quite large and are located approximately 7-10 kilometers between each other. If you are planning to visit a few farms or wineries here are some of the best ways to do it.
Join a group wine tour departing daily
Arrange a private or custom wine tour
Do a cycling wine tour and explore on bikes
Hire a car and drive yourself (Don't forget a driver)
Or contact us for more help - Bookings open until 21h00
Avontuur Estate, home of Fine Wines and Fast Horses, nestles against the Helderberg between Stellenbosch and Somerset West. Visit us on the Stellenbosch Wine Route for wine tasting, wine sales and a bite to eat in our deli-style restaurant.
The Winemaker can only complete what nature has started. As of 2004, we only make use of natural yeast, as grown on the vine.
This philosophy of minimal interference in the cellar is also applied to the handling of the wine, where gravity is used rather than pumps.
We welcome visitors throughout the year to come and taste our wines in our famous "Downstairs" cellar. It is one of the few farms where you can sit and relax, while enjoying a wide selection of wines. For those who like their wines aged, we have the "Collectors Corner" where you can browse at your own leisure, or admire our spider web covered windows which has become a legend of its own.
Plaisir de Merle is a historic farm located in the fertile Groot Drakenstein valley near Franschhoek dating back to 1693 when it was granted to a French Huguenot family Marais.
The new cellar which houses wine production at Plaisir de Merle represents a minor architectural triumph. Designed by architect Chris de Hart and completed in 1993, it is a harmonious blend of functionalism and aesthetics.