The 10 best Cape Winelands picnics

With the road into the valley recently upgraded, there are few better ways to spend a lazy Winelands afternoon than tucked into a private picnic pod beside the dam at Jordan Wine Estate. Set on the lawns with wide-open views across Stellenbosch Kloof, each pod (comfortably seating up to eight adults) is kitted out with blankets, cushions and an ice bucket, so all you have to do is arrive, uncork and exhale. To eat? The generously stocked basket from The Cellar Door is a proper feast: fresh-baked breads, local charcuterie and cheeses, estate olives, preserves and dips, plus savoury tarts, rice paper rolls and a fresh salad, finishing with the chef’s dessert of the day. Picnic collection starts at 12:30, and the pod is yours until 16:00, so there is no need to rush. Kids get their own fun basket with a pizza roll, chicken strips and a S’more.

Cost: R734 per couple; kids R235

With blankets spread across shady lawns just below the gabled Manor House at Groot Constantia, offering views over some of South Africa’s oldest vineyards down to False Bay, picnics at Jonkershuis are a delight. And best of all, you’re only 20 minutes from most parts of Cape Town, so there’s no long drive to and from the Winelands. 

On arrival, you’ll discover all the hard work has been done for you: blankets are spread beneath the oaks, accompanied by low picnic tables, cushions, and blankets that invite a languid afternoon. The menus here are generous and lean into upmarket picnic fare infused with Cape flavours: think Woodstock Bakery baguette with whipped herb butter and dips, smoked snoek pâté with apricot relish, local cheeses and charcuterie, vibrant tomato-and-olive salads, and rich chocolate brownies. There is also a breakfast picnic option with yoghurt terrine, quiche, and pastéis de nata, as well as classic and estate baskets (the latter including pork pie and chicken liver pâté), plus a hearty vegetarian choice. Only Groot Constantia wines are served, with a good selection available by the carafe. No BYO allowed.

Cost: From R480 per person

Not so fast with the food! Spier is a true all-day destination, even before you tuck into the picnic goodies. Arrive early to make the most of the farm shop and contemporary art on display across the historic werf and in the galleries. Book a wine tasting, or perhaps a Segway tour of the vineyards and farm tours to dig into the estate’s regenerative farming story.

Hungry? Excellent. Now it’s time to collect your pre-booked basket from the Spier Picnickery and wander off to find a spot. Families will be happiest on the lawns out front, while couples might prefer the peace and quiet of the more distant spots on the lawns along the dam and Eerste River. Here, birdsong and spectacular mountain views set the scene, instead of the chatter of children. The seasonal, farm-driven spread leans on produce from Spier and its neighbours, with charcuterie, cheeses, salads, and baked treats packed in eco-friendly containers. Vegetarian and vegan options are available, along with dedicated kids’ baskets. Blankets, lawn chairs, cutlery, and glassware are included with pre-booked baskets, but if you forgot to book in advance, you can also build your own picnic at the well-stocked Picnickery deli. 

Cost: R395 per person. R180 per child under 12

An early pioneer of the Winelands picnic scene, Boschendal remains one of the most popular options in the Cape Winelands, especially if you’re a large group needing plenty of space to spread out. The Boschendal Werf baskets on the Pavilion Lawn are a classic for good reason, with baskets built around produce from the food garden and butchery. Expect still-warm farm breads, local charcuterie and cheeses, biltong and droëwors, seasonal salads, free-range roast chicken or generous vegetarian dishes, plus something sweet – perhaps a chocolate tart, marshmallows, or the excellent pastéis de nata – to finish. Blankets and low chairs are provided (or you can request a table setup), and there is plenty of space for children to roam, with dedicated children’s baskets available. There is often live acoustic music on weekends, providing a soundtrack for the summer.  

Cost: R430 per person. Kids’ baskets R250

Warwick has long been picnic-central in the Simonsberg, with guests able to choose between a classic ‘blankets-on-the-lawn’ set-up, or level up to the ‘Posh Picnic’ served in the signature private Forest Pods at Warwick Wine Estate. These timber ‘nests’ are exclusive-use spaces tucked under the trees, with low tables, cushions and views over the vineyards and dam – ideal for couples or small groups who want a bit of privacy without losing the laid-back Winelands feel.  

Both the regular and ‘posh’ baskets are properly generous, packed with farm breads and smoked-paprika butter, local cheeses and charcuterie, seasonal salads and something sweet to finish, with vegetarian/plant-based options and a separate kids’ box. Dogs on leads are welcome, and you can easily turn it into a full day out with a vineyard safari or wine tasting before or after your picnic.

Cost: R860/R465 for two/one person. Kids’ picnics R240. Posh Picnic R1600pp

Our advice? Kick your shoes off on arrival. Because picnics at Nederburg are made for long, lazy afternoons on the lawns in Paarl, with blankets under old oaks and mountain views on the horizon. Collect your basket, find a patch of sun or shade, and unpack a generous spread that feels both nostalgic and on trend: local cheeses, marinated olives, seasonal fruit and house-made onion marmalade with crisp lavash, plus artisanal breads with whipped butter and smoked trout pâté. The heartier bites include grilled free-range chicken in a velvety coronation sauce, rustic baby potato salad and beetroot with creamy feta and herb vinaigrette. Dessert? Look forward to classic milk tart and peppermint crisp tart for dessert. There are delicious vegetarian baskets on offer, along with a separate kid-friendly picnic option. Families are welcome, and even well-behaved dogs on leads can join in.  

Cost: R385 per person. Kids’ baskets R195

It pays to make a day of it when you head out to Vergelegen, one of the Cape’s grand old wine estates. The nominal entry fee gives you access to formal gardens and historic homesteads, a tasting room with cheese platters and the charming Potting Shed gift shop laden with estate goodies. But the picnics at Vergelegen are the most enchanting way to experience it all. Collect your wicker basket and wander into the serene camphor forest, where white tablecloths are laid beneath towering trees and dappled summer light to create a distinctly upmarket picnic vibe. The menu is suitably indulgent, from chilled vichyssoise to local charcuterie and cheeses, coronation chicken and spanakopita with tzatziki. Salads, dips and pâtés fill out the corners, and you’ll end with homemade ice cream. To drink? An excellent choice of Vergelegen’s award-winning wines, across a range of price points. Standard, vegetarian/vegan and children’s options are available. Bookings are essential for the summer season.

Cost: R540 per person. Kids’ picnics R230

Hidden away near the top of the Franschhoek Valley, Holden Manz offers a delightfully low-key picnic option that flies under the radar.  Collect your basket from the Franschhoek Kitchen on-site, then wander through the vineyards to your pick of shady spots along the Franschhoek River. Lay out your blanket (supplied) under 200-year-old oaks and yellowwoods to a soundtrack of birdsong and the gurgle of the river. Baskets are designed for two and include a bottle of Rothko Rosé plus still or sparkling water. The ‘Rustic’ option is filled with hearty country fare, from Dalewood cheeses for slicing over artisanal ciabatta, to halloumi salad, chicken Waldorf crêpe, lamb meatballs, honeyed gammon and smoked trout pâté. The vegetarian basket swaps in couscous salad, butternut frittata, hummus and veggie crêpes and spring rolls. Cutlery, crockery, blanket and pillows are all included. Just bring an appetite.

Cost: R825 for two. Order 48 hours in advance.

At this Noordhoek gem, you’ll find that vineyard views aren’t the main attraction. Instead, from high up on the slopes of the Silvermine mountains, the picnic lawns at Cape Point Vineyards serve up some of the best sea and sunset views the city has to offer. Collect your pre-booked basket and flop onto a blanket and cushions under trees or umbrellas, while the kids run wild on the grass. The standard baskets are filled with the usual suspects, from artisanal charcuterie to Cape cheeses, seasonal fruit to dips and preserves. A proper sandwich rounds things out nicely here. Of course, there are vegetarian, vegan, and kids’ options too. Unsurprisingly, the whole spread is designed to pair with the estate’s Sauvignon Blancs, best discovered at the nearby tasting room.

Cost: R725 per basket for two. Kids’ basket R185

The quirky ‘wine caves’– tiny tasting rooms carved into old concrete tanks – at Klein Roosboom are a charming, cocooned choice for winter, with hearty reds poured in candlelit corners. Come summer, though, you want to be outside, unpacking a picnic amid the vines. Pre-booked summer boxes for two are generous and unfussy: homemade bread with salted farm butter, olives and harissa hummus, a selection of Winelands cheeses, charcuterie with biltong and pickles, Greek salad and, in the upgraded option, BBQ chicken skewers and a creamy corn pasta salad. It’s all rounded off with a decadent chocolate brownie and strawberries. Collect your box from the tasting room and wander out to claim a patch of lawn with vineyard views. Don’t forget to buy a bottle (or two) from the cellar.

Cost: R500-R600 per box (for two)

In the heart of the Durbanville winelands, and as famous for its bubbly as its Sauvignon Blanc, Canto does picnics a little differently: there are no pre-packed baskets, just a well-stocked deli and a big lawn waiting for you. Once you have spent at least R180 at the deli – on cheeses, cold meats, condiments and whatever else catches your eye – you secure one of just 10 picnic spots. But, they’re on a first-come, first-served basis, so aim to get there early. Load up on savoury bites, grab a bottle (or two) of Canto’s MCC, and head outside to spread out on the grass. Kids can tear around the oversized lawn, while the grown-ups take in the vineyard and mountain views. It is an easy, low-fuss way to spend a Durbanville weekend.

 Cost: Minimum deli spend of R180 per picnic spot.