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If you're nowhere near ready for Cape Town's summer to end (baring any unwanted heat waves), then the Durbanville Wine Valley is definitely calling.
March usually signals warm, lazy evenings that stretch well past sunset, giving you the perfect reason to be outside with a glass in hand. After attending the annual Harvest Tasting Under the Stars, this wine valley just 30-minutes drive north of the city centre, is about as good a way as any to make the most of the season's final act!
Durbanville Hills, perched high on the slopes above Table Bay, is a modern winery that has earned its reputation on two fronts: affordable, easy-drinking wine, and exceptional views. The tasting room is a glass-walled beauty with an outlook that takes in the iconic silhouette of Table Mountain - a panorama affectionately called the Deadman's Chest. Watch it catch the last golden light of the day from their upstairs open-air balcony, glass of Sauvignon Blanc in hand, and you'll understand why this place fills up fast.
Alfresco dining at the Olive Grove Bistro
The Harvest Tasting Under the Stars, an annual event, saw a curated five-course wine-and-food pairing beneath the winery's olive trees decked with twinkly lights for added effect. Olive Grove Bistro is one of two dining options at Durbanville Hills, the other being its upstairs restaurant, Tangram. It's a relaxed experience - the kind where the conversation lights up quite easily, and nobody's in a rush.
The pairing menu moved through five of Durbanville Hills' standout bottles, each matched with a thoughtfully composed bite. The standout pairing of the night was the Collectors Reserve Pinotage together with seared sirloin wrapped in fresh herbs on a garlic crostini, finished with parmesan cream and a smoked blueberry compote. Definitely could have had more than one of those!
The evening wound down with a tasting of lightly salted chilli and dark chocolate mousse with honeycomb, alongside the Merlot Potstil Brandy 10yr or the choice of Noble Late Harvest. It was a sweet, smoky finale appropriate under the darkening summer sky.
Time Out Tip: Beyond the Harvest Tasting, the Olive Grove Bistro is worth a visit in its own right. These portions were tasting-menu-sized rather than dinner-sized. If you do visit, their broader menu with wood-fired pizzas, fresh West Coast oysters, calamari with gin-infused mayo, or a cheese and charcuterie board all make an excellent choice.
Set on the lawned area below the main winery, Olive Grove is family-friendly (with a dedicated kids' play area) and genuinely lovely for early summer evenings. They will also be hosting their final Sundaze Session on 28 March until 6pm, so don't miss that.
A Valley Worth Exploring
Durbanville Hills is a popular destination in its own right, but it far from the only reason to make the trip to the northern Winelands region. The broader Durbanville Wine Valley is one of Cape Town's most underrated day-trip destinations in my opinion. Shaped by cool Atlantic breezes and morning mists, it's known for producing some of the Cape's best Sauvignon Blancs, with a growing cast of exciting producers across a range of styles.
Klein Roosboom is a must for something playful and memorable, and their themed wine caves carved into old fermentation tanks are unlike anything else in the Winelands. Diemersdal is where the serious Sauvignon Blanc lovers go, with a sixth-generation winemaker, Thys Louw, who really knows his stuff. Nitida is low-key, with a Pinot Noir that punches well above its weight. And for farm-to-fork dining that leans proudly South African, Groot Phesantekraal's restaurant - complete with its own butchery, smokehouse and vegetable garden - is definitely worth visiting.
If you'd rather not worry about driving between estates, the Durbanville Wine Safari runs a hop-on, hop-off loop linking the valley's top cellars in safari vehicles. It is consistently rated one of the best things to do in Cape Town.
Summer in the Cape is fleeting, even if it never quite feels that way. A night under the stars at Durbanville Hills, with a glass of Pinotage and a view of Table Mountain going pink, is a decent argument for slowing it all down just a little.
Upcoming Durbanville Wine Valley Events
While you may have missed this one, there is a host of indulgent Durbanville Wine Valley Events coming up over the next couple of weeks. And while you're planning your visit, try our ultimate guide to this lesser-explored wine valley right on the city bowl's doorstep.
Diemersdal: Francois van Coke Live Show
- When: 18 March, at 18:30
- Cost: R650 per person. Tickets are limited. Book now via Dineplan (select 18 March).
- Where: The Farm Eatery at Diermersdal. Seating is arranged at beautifully set communal tables of 10 guests, creating a vibrant, shared dining experience.
Diemersdal Wine Estate will host this spectacular evening featuring the iconic Francois van Coke live under the stars. This is an intimate setting on one of the Cape’s most beautiful wine estates. Your ticket includes The Farm Eatery’s signature feast, perfectly cooked steak, golden chips and rich béarnaise sauce — crafted for the occasion and enjoyed alongside an evening of incredible live music.
De Grendel: Unwin(e)d Tapas Evening 14 April
- When: 14 April at 5pm
- Cost: R530 per person - includes a welcome drink as well as 3 Tapas Style Food dishes each paired with a glass of wine.
- Booking: via Dine Plan or via email to tasting@degrendel.co.za
Due to popular demand, The Unwined Tapas Evening that formed part of Durbanville Wine Valley’s Tasting under the stars Harvest Celebration in March, is back for another night. Same vibe, different date.
Ntida: Dirty Sauvignon Blanc, Tank to Glass
- When: 19 April
- Cost: R350 per person - including tasting, blending and a platter to share.
- Booking: Only 20 spaces available: shelley@nitida.co.za
An interactive and unconventional tasting experience with Winemaker Helgard van Schalkwyk, where guests are invited to blend the perfect Sauvignon Blanc. This “tasting with a twist” explores different components and styles before blending them into a personalised expression of Nitida’s Dirty Sauvignon Blanc.
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