Sip, Savour & Soak in Spectacular Scenery!
Embark on an enchanting journey with the Franschhoek Wine Tram, where a world of wine wonders awaits. From vineyard vistas to delectable pairings, this unique hop-on hop-off tour offers a cornucopia of experiences to captivate every connoisseur and curious soul. Immerse yourself in the essence of the vine, relish in artisanal treasures, and unravel the mysteries of wine-making in this revered realm.
Choose from a vibrant array of routes, each a unique colour, with stops showcasing distinct attractions & highlights. For an unforgettable family-friendly funday, opt for the Red Line consisting of wineries with dedicated areas for tots; or, for the winos, take the Purple Line to unearth some of Franschhoek's most exceptional wine farms.
Hop aboard and raise a glass as we journey through our favourite family-friendly Franschhoek Wine Tram Wineries (in no particular order)!
*Please note: all information is correct at the date of publication. See winery website for up-to-date info!
Solms Delta
Embark on a historical journey & embrace the past, present & future of wine-making at Solms Delta Wine Estate. Experience the essence of SA culture at the farm which pays homage to the diverse influences that shaped the land in a harmonious blend of historical charm & modern innovation.
Unwind in the historic cellar for an exquisite wine tasting experience. Relax in the spacious, elegant room & immerse yourself in the farm's cultural heritage with musical instruments & artifacts adorning the space. Choose between their Standard @R50pp & Premium Wine Tasting @R100pp (premium includes desiccated wines Africana & Koloni) or pamper your palate with their Wine & Food Pairing @R150pp, Wine & Chocolate Pairing @R100pp, or Wine & Cheese Pairing @R100pp.
Celebrate cultural diversity & culinary heritage of the Cape at Fyndraai Restaurant, a rustic treasure exploring the rich tapestry of Cape cuisine, blending European, Asian & African flavors. Farm-fresh ingredients from the Dik Delta Fynbos Culinary Garden are harvested daily to conjure an exclusively tantalizing dining experience. Lavish in local dishes like Warm Prawn & Cured Snoek Terrine, Cape Malay Roti, Warm Piesang Malva Poeding & Wilde Kruie and Rooibostee Cheesecake.
Let the sounds of nature serenade you during a memorable picnic escapade in the magical forest of Solms Delta. For just R135 per adult, you'll receive a curated picnic basket brimming with delectable treats including an array of sandwiches, salads, cheeses, cold meats & divine desserts. Relax on a cozy blanket amidst the soothing surroundings while your tots explore & play to their heart’s content!
What’s for tots? Engage in the wonders of Solms Delta where adventure & exploration await. Let your tot's imaginations run wild as they roam amidst nature's embrace & unleash their energy at the kid's playground, complete with swings, slides & a thrilling jungle gym. Engaging guided tours, workshops & an interactive museum cater to the curious minds of both young & old, offering unforgettable educational experiences.
Leopard’s Leap
A wonderful destination for wine lovers with a versatile wine range & breath-taking backdrop. Join their year-round events where wine & food unite in perfect harmony, and culinary enthusiasts can partake in cooking classes or book launches.
Step into their spacious tasting room for a sensual tour of their diverse range of wines to please every palate including the approachable & refreshing Lookout Range and the refined elegance of their sophisticated Family Collection. Wine tastings are priced @R60pp (up to 5 individuals), while group tastings for 6/more can be booked @R70pp.
Leopard's Leap Rotisserie Restaurant beckons with its striking setting, creating the perfect air for a superb dining spectacle. The restaurant is enveloped by a flourishing veggie & herb garden, providing fresh ingredients daily. Satisfy your culinary cravings with their enticing Rise & Shine breakfasts or rotisserie lunches (think succulent meats & vibrant side dishes, each bite a feast for the senses). Submerse yourself in the rich diversity of SA cuisine with the South African Table, an exclusive 4-course food & wine pairing @R395pp.
Experience warmth & togetherness at The Family Table and engage in a sociable meal like no other with a dedicated waiter ensuring ample wine refills. Feast from a spread of salad platters, succulent meats & indulgent desserts @R435pp (beverages excluded). Celebrate cherished moments, birthdays & anniversaries, or simply gather friends & family for a treasured meal.
What’s for tots? The Rotisserie Restaurant offers a dedicated kid's menu, a tasteful outdoor play area & more recently a bicycle pump track to cater to the whole family's enjoyment. Browse through their shop, offering lifestyle products & books for adults & tots, adding an extra touch of enjoyment to your visit. The Family Table encourages long-lasting memories with your loved ones in a hassle-free environment. Take advantage of their cooking classes for all ages - an interactive culinary venture using local ingredients & techniques.
Chamonix
Perched atop the Franschhoek mountains, Chamonix Wine Farm offers a mesmerizing escape surrounded by pristine natural beauty. With a rich history dating back nearly 350 years, this quaint farm seamlessly blends warm hospitality, exquisite facilities & culinary delights.
In the rustic ambiance of "The Blacksmith's Cottage" lies Chamonix's inviting tasting room offering an enticing assortment of charcuterie, cheeses & scrumptious dishes from their changing blackboard & à la carte menus. Savour the joy of Chamonix's wine with multiple tasting options: Lifestyle tasting @R75pp, Premium tasting @R100pp, Reserve tasting @R90pp, or Full tasting @R225pp (includes all 11 wines & spirits, Cape Dry Gin & Grappa!).
Discover the culinary creations of Arkeste, the farm’s modern restaurant, showcasing an ever-changing menu that reflects the chef's ingenuity & a specials board with lip-smacking options like lamb shank, pork belly & a seafood platter.
What’s for tots? Arkeste offers a variety of family-friendly breakfast & lunch options that cater to a range of tastes & preferences. Diverse flora & fauna surround the farm, making for hours of exploration & education for the tots! Chamonix also hosts a variety of accommodation options catering to all budgets, from charming cottages for a romantic getaway to spacious lodges & chalets perfect for family holidays.
*unfortunately the jungle gym was removed since we last visited
Mont Rochelle
Mont Rochelle, an exquisite hotel & vineyard belonging to Virgin Limited, boasts luxury accommodations, gourmet dining, wine tasting, spa indulgence & more, epitomising grace & sophistication.
Housed in the historic winery building is the homely wine tasting room. Distinguish between the diverse tannins of Mont Rochelle's wines through their 4 flight tastings: White Wine Flight, Red Wine Flight, 6 Wine Flight, & MIKO Wine Flight, each featuring a selection of their own vineyard wines with prices ranging from R60 to R120pp. For an exquisite gastronomic discovery, try their Gourmet Tasting @R175pp - 6 wines artfully paired with tasty dishes like baby marrow taquito, panko-crusted goat's cheese & grilled beef sirloin.
Mont Rochelle flaunts 2 outstanding restaurants: MIKO and The Country Kitchen. MIKO, the flagship restaurant, is an expression of South African favourites (think succulent springbok loin, roasted lamb rump, grilled kingklip...). The refined, romantic air of MIKO is enhanced by a cosy fireplace & a terrace with panoramic vistas of the vineyard & mountains – perfect for date night! The Country Kitchen offers a more casual setting with a dedicated kid’s menu as well as a general menu featuring burgers, pizzas & pastas to cater to all palates.
Luxuriate in a day of rejuvenation and relaxation at the Mont Rochelle Spa - an oasis of revitalisation offering bespoke nourishing treatments using exclusively natural organic products. Unwind with facials, massages, scrubs & a heated pool.
What’s for tots? The kid’s menu at The Country Kitchen offers simple favourites, while picnic baskets provide a convenient option. Enjoy lawn games, spa treatments & even a babysitting service upon request for a family-friendly experience! Mont Rochelle Hotel caters to families looking to stay over with their private 4-bedroom villa.
Franschhoek Cellar
Franschhoek Cellar, a renovated historic landmark, combines the allure of country living with the sophistication of a top-tier venue. The garden, adorned with vibrant flowers, shaded lawns & a tot's play area, provides a whimsical setting for alfresco lunches & astonishing views of the valley & mountains.
The wine tasting room offers a stylish & spacious setting to sample their extensive wine selection, also connecting seamlessly to the wine bar, bistro & beer garden for easy access to tasty meals & snacks. Franschhoek Cellar has a vast wine list & an assortment of tasting options to choose from, such as the Franschhoek Cellar Wine Range @R70pp (pair these wines with 6 cheeses/choccies @R120pp), the Pinotage Experience @R150pp, the Passport option @R220pp (18 wines & a selection of snacks), the Sweet Treat option @R150pp, the Brampton Wine Range (sample 3 or 6 wines from a range of vivacious, accessible wines that reflect the personality of Stellenbosch @R40 for 3 & R70 for 6 wines), or the Bellingham Wine Range @R70 (savour 6 wines from a range of innovative, expressive wines that showcase the diversity of South African terroirs). For connoisseurs, there's the Premium Wine Tasting @R30 per wine, showcasing exclusive red blends and premium selections.
The Wine Bar & Beer Garden are an integral part of the bistro, decorated with vintage signs & memorabilia to reflect the rich history of Franschhoek Cellar. The Wine Bar features a selection of wines from various cellars as well as cocktails & spirits. The Beer Garden presents craft beers from local breweries, and with a large screen for sports events & a pool table, it's a great place to let loose. The outdoor garden provides a lovely setting to enjoy a meal paired with a tantalizing glass of wine or an ice-cold craft beer.
The Platform Bar and Bistro, located at an old railway platform, is a nostalgic, rustic space resembling a train carriage. Attentive expert servers cater to families, couples & groups seeking a laid-back meal. The versatile menu features an abundance of items, including breakfast choices, sandwiches, wraps, platters, soups, curries, steaks, fish & more!
The Grape and Bean, Franschhoek Cellar’s freshest meeting spot, produces top-notch takeaway coffees, deli delights & thoughtful gifts. It's an ideal stop to begin or wrap up your Franschhoek visit, or simply grab a quick snack.
What’s for tots? The farm is incredibly family-friendly with a large supervised play area, an oversized chess set for the older tots & board games. The menus offer a variety of kid-friendly food & drink options for even the pickiest eater!
Hop aboard the Franschhoek Wine Tram for a delightful day out in the Cape Winelands - truly an adventure to remember!
Take it slow visiting 3 or 4 beautiful wineries or make it your challenge to see how many you can taste in one day... either way you won’t be sorry! (We even visited 6 in one day with our tots ;-))
Contact Me – Hilary - at hello@winetots.com for more details on your favourite spots to visit & to book a personalised tour of your own – behind the scenic routes of the Cape Winelands & beyond!
Please register on www.winetots.com to stay up to date with new discoveries and ideas for Wineland adventures.
Click here to check out our previous blog “Top 10 Wineries: Franschhoek Wine Tram Pt 1”!
Important info:
Solms Delta: https://www.facebook.com/SolmsDelta/ (website under construction); charne@solms-delta.co.za ; 066 200 9397
Trading Hours: Daily 9am - 5pm
Leopard’s Leap: https://leopardsleap.co.za/ ; reservations@leopardsleap.co.za ; 021 876 8002
Wine Tasting Trading Hours: Tues – Sun 9am – 5pm
Restaurant Trading Hours: Wed - Sun 9am - 4pm
Chamonix: https://www.chamonix.co.za/ ;staff@chamonix.co.za ; 021 876 8400
Wine Tasting Trading Hours: Daily 10am - 5pm
Mont Rochelle: https://www.virginlimitededition.com/en/mont-rochelle/wines ; reception@montrochelle.virgin.com ; 021 876 2770
Wine Tasting Trading Hours:
MIKO Trading Hours: Daily 8am - 10pm
The Country Kitchen Trading Hours: Daily 12pm - 5pm
Franschhoek Cellar: https://franschhoekcellar.co.za/ ; fhccellardoor@dgb.co.za ; 021 876 2086
Wine Tasting Trading Hours: Mon - Fri 10am - 6pm ; Sat & Sun 9am - 6pm
Beer Garden and Platform Trading Hours: Mon - Sat 10am - 6pm ; Sun 10am - 5pm
Franschhoek Wine Tram: https://winetram.co.za/ ; info@winetram.co.za ; 021 300 0338