Hazendal: The 10 Best Things To Do At This Wine Estate Near Stellenbosch

The Bottelary Hills are the scenic backdrop for this historic wine estate – the first in the area and one of the oldest in Stellenbosch. But Hazendal also has its feet firmly planted in the present day, with a range of offerings to suit every interest. From its art and architecture to a jazz club and virtual reality, this is truly a one-of-a-kind Winelands destination. Here are 10 reasons to visit:

A wonderful wine-tasting lounge

Hazendal’s Wine Lounge is one of the most stylish tasting venues around, set in the original 19th-century cellar and furnished with plush couches and armchairs, a central circular fireplace and copper-clad bar. Visitors are expertly guided through the tasting, which can include the easy-drinking Christoffel Hazenwinkel range or the flagship Hazendal wines, as well as two MCCs. Cheese and charcuterie are available to accompany the tasting.
Good to know Take your tasting up a notch by booking a two-hour Sensory Experience in the Wine Library, where each wine is paired with delectable micro-plates of food courtesy of chef Michélle Theron. It also includes a welcome glass of MCC and a guided cellar tour.
Cost Wine tasting: R65 – R130 (depending on number of wines)
Sensory Experience: R950 per person
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday; 11am, 12.30pm or 2pm
Sensory Experience: Monday – Sunday at 12.30pm
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The Babushka Deli

Babushka hints at the homely experience you’ll find at Hazendal’s family-friendly deli-restaurant. The shelves are stocked with pickles, preserves, relishes and more, and the bakery churns out delectable pastries and artisanal breads (notably, a black baguette). The all-day-dining menu includes soup, sandwiches, curry, beef stroganoff, croquettes, and cheese and charcuterie platters. Enjoy your meal inside or under the trees, where there is also a toddlers’ playground. Of course, it’s a good choice for tea and cake too, and there’s a tempting array of take-home freshly baked goods.
Good to know Babushka does generous picnic baskets filled with seasonal treats to be enjoyed on the lawns, in a dedicated garden picnic spot or alongside the wetlands. They cost R350 per person (R175 for kids). Vegetarian and vegan options are available, too.
Book a picnic
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday, 8am – 5pm (kitchen closes at 4pm)
Picnics: 10am or 1pm (basket collection)
Book Through DinePlan

A luxury overnight stay

Hazendal offers overnight guests a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stay in the grand Cape-Dutch Homestead dating back to 1790. Original features have been retained, along with period furniture, but it’s also equipped with all the modern luxuries and filled with beautiful art. It has five suites for exclusive use (sleeps 10), with dedicated staff and a butler service, and the rate includes breakfast, snacks and treats, a wine-tasting, an art tour and access to Wonderdal for children.
Good to know A new 34-room, five-star hotel and spa is set to open in 2023.
Cost From R31 500 (exclusive-use)
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Golfing for all ages

Hazendal boasts an 18-hole par-3 golf course, where you can enjoy a game amid beautiful Winelands scenery. It’s superbly designed, with glistening water features, indigenous trees and pockets of local vegetation. A maximum of four players is permitted per tee time, and golf gear can be rented. In the late afternoon, visitors can grab a quick three-hole game, plus there’s a 270-metre driving range to perfect your swing (with the aid of state-of-the-art tracking tech) and virtual golf (where you can enjoy a round on world-famous courses).
Good to know The 27-hole Kleine Hazen putt-putt course is ideal for family outings. There’s also a playground, giant chess, picnic areas and a coffee kiosk.
Cost R220 per player; R30 for 3 holes; R125 (under 25 years old)
Driving range: R35 – R150 (depending on the number of balls); virtual golf from R90
Putt-putt: R80 (13 years and older); R60 (children); R260 (family of four + R50 per extra child)
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday, 7am – 3pm (last tee time)
Driving range: 7am – 6pm (5pm on Sundays)
Putt-putt: 10am – 5pm (from 8am on weekends)
Contact 021 206 8537, golf@hazendal.co.za
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The Hazendal Jazz Club

Avant-Garde is the ideal setting for these sophisticated jazz sessions, where well-known musicians serenade diners while they enjoy a three-course dinner of contemporary cuisine courtesy of executive chef Michélle Theron.
When Last Thursday of the month
Time 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Cost R595 (excludes wines or drinks)
Contact bookings@hazendal.co.za

The Marvol Gallery

At Hazendal, art lovers can feast their eyes on anything from paintings by Pierneef, Tretchikoff, and more, as well as fascinating cultural artefacts and rare antiques displayed in the Jonkershuis and Homestead. There are also regular exhibitions by contemporary artists, and eye-catching sculptures dotted throughout the gardens. Visitors can join the art walk on Thursday mornings at 11am (R60) or book a tour at another time.
Contact gallery@hazendal.co.za

Wonderdal for the kids

This state-of-the-art edutainment centre is the first of its kind in South Africa, combining advanced technology and physical activities to create an innovative space for children aged 5 to 13 years. Not just a playground but an exercise in immersive fantasy, Wonderdal is designed to make children feel part of a story. As they explore, they will be accompanied by the Amuki, the virtual inhabitants of Wonderdal who love to pop up unexpectedly from their secret corners.
Good to know The “Playdate for Parents” special offer gives discounts to use at Hazendal, so they can drop their kids off here and go and explore the many attractions of the wine estate.
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday, 9am – 5pm
Cost R85 – R190 (depending on day and duration)
Contact 021 205 5624, bookings@wonderdal.co.za
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The Kraal

Hazendal’s nod to Eastern European beer culture, The Kraal opens in spring every year to offer a buzzing, family-friendly experience of flame-grilled fare all through summer. With its own brand of pilsner served alongside other craft beers, spirits, estate wine and cocktails, and a menu that ranges from pizzas, burgers and BBQ bowls to sausage platters and eisbein, it’s a magnet for relaxed alfresco dining.
Good to know Hazendal’s cool food truck (parked near Wonderdal) offers quick, tasty grab-and-go snacks, such as falafel in a black pita or Asian BBQ pork bao buns.
Opening times Friday – Sunday, 11.30am – 5pm
Book Through DinePlan

A fabulous special events venue

Tegan Smith Photography

This beautiful estate is blessed with an array of stunning locations for special occasions – from impossibly romantic nuptials to the big milestone celebrations, birthdays, launches, corporate gatherings and more. These include the magical Glasshouse, a striking cube-shaped Pavilion that hovers in the centre of a pond, and the opulent Avant Garde venue and adjacent Wine Lounge. There’s also the Grand Hall and, for an alfresco event with a rustic feel, The Kraal.
Good to know The glass-walled garage that houses the classic car collection is also a unique venue worth considering (plus a car can be hired for the bridal party to travel in style).
Contact weddings@hazendal.co.za, events@hazendal.co.za

This is a wine estate with its historic roots firmly planted in the soils of Stellenbosch, but one which is constantly reinventing itself. There is always something new and exciting to discover here in the Bottelary Hills…

Good to know Bookings are essential for any of the activities on the estate. While walk-ins will be accommodated if possible, it is better to book to avoid disappointment. Hazendal is also a cashless property.
Contact 021 903 5034, bookings@hazendal.co.za
Where to find it Ronelle Street, via Kruis Street, off Bottelary Road, Stellenbosch