Only an hour's drive from Cape Town, Darling is down-to-earth with stunning estates, delicious food and blooming wildflowers abound!
*Please note: all information is correct at the date of publication. See individual winery websites for up-to-date info!
Meander the Wild Flower Route to discover nature's beauty, or enjoy the scenery accompanied by the historic wine farms of The Darling Wine Route.
Please note: unfortunately the annual Darling Wildflower show will not be happening this year, however, the Darling Wildflower Society will be offering guided wildflower walks & tours this month. Contact them on 084 916 1111 or info@darlingwildflowers.co.za.
If you enjoy live performances, be sure to visit Evita se Perron for unique experiences. For the more adventurous, day hikes at Rondeberg can leave you feeling fulfilled and at one with nature! Be sure to have a look at Waylands farm & Duckitt's orchid nurseries for some agri-tourism too!
The Darling Wine Route is a must-visit for wine- and nature-lovers alike! Sip on organic, eco-conscious vintages while soaking in the rich, vibrant wildflowers and breathtaking mountainous views. In this edition, we have a peek at some of our favourite West Coast wineries that are sure to put a spring in your step!
Cloof
Nestled in the beautiful region of Darling lies Cloof Wine Estate, with bold, rich wines unique to the region's terroir. Being a WWF Conservation Champion, Cloof is committed to conservation, responsible production, environmental management and spearheading innovations in water, energy efficiency & climate adaptation.
It warms our heart seeing the wine industry look after the natural environment and hope we can all lend them the same support!
Cloof boasts fynbos walking trails & cycling tracks which can be enjoyed with a can of wine! That's right, a can! With a low carbon footprint and a higher recycling rate than glass, Cloof has introduced this new product line in hopes of combating climate change.
Organically grown produce from their garden fills the kitchen; salads often picked minutes before appearing on a guest's plate.
Groote Post
Wide open grasslands covered in wildflowers, a historic 18th century farm settled amidst Darling's green hills, and the superb wines they yield.
This can all be enjoyed at The Groote Post!
The Estate is situated in a lovely green valley threaded by the Klawer River, watched over by the Klawer Valley homestead & imposing bell tower (depicted on their wine labels).
Tasting Fee:
R30 per wine tasting for 6 wines.
Daily 10h00 - 16h00,
Groote Post has a 2 000-h game camp, shared with neighbouring farmer Henry Louw, that is home to indigenous species such as kudu, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, bontebok, springbok, quaggas, eland & gemsbok.
Enjoy a game drive @ R225 pp (18+) & R95 for Children (Under 3 Free), Drives start at 9am lasting ± 2hrs, and includes a beautiful Cheese & Wine stop in the vineyards overlooking Table Mountain.
On the Klawervlei dam, the Groote Post Bird Hide offers over 30 different bird species- truly any bird lover's paradise! The Bird Hide is accessible by reporting to the tasting room & is available to the public free of charge.
Darling Cellars
Spring bubbles! Nestled in a region blessed by superlative vineyards, exquisite flamingos and rare orchids, Darling Cellar is a privately owned winery with almost 1,300 hectares under vine!
Since the cool influence from the Atlantic Ocean makes Darling the ideal area for growing premium quality cool climate grapes, Darling Cellar has mimicked what nature intended as closely as possible, with 95% of their vineyards being unirrigated bush vines!
Enjoy 8 of the cellars wines for only R50 along with some tasty food options & knowledgeable staff to make for a lovely sunny afternoon.
Ormonde
You can’t visit Darling without enjoying a tasting at Ormonde Private Cellar, a farm that prides itself on accentuating the environmental characteristics of their wines.
They’re passionate about Darling, delicate with their wines, yet intricate with their production process, leading to some unique vintages!
Imbue yourself with nature's scenery as you experience an array of local delicacies and divine chocolates, paired with the splendid cultivars of this pristine estate.
You'll always find fun things to do like swan feeding, nature walks and more at Ormonde!
So if you're planning a trip to the West Coast, head down to one of these wineries and get started! - You haven't experienced Darling until you've seen them all!
Please support our SA wineries, stay safe and take care!
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Contact us for bespoke offerings & personalised tours across the Cape Winelands.
Important info:
Cloof:
https://www.cloof.co.za/ ; info@cloof.co.za ; 022 4922 839
Groote Post:
https://www.grootepost.co.za/ ; wine@grootepost.co.za ; 022 492 2825
http://www.darlingcellars.co.za ; info@darlingcellars.co.za ; 022 492 2276
http://www.ormonde.co.za ; info@ormonde.co.za ; 022 492 3540