Waterford Estate: Vineyard Safaris + Wine Walks

Dramatically framed against the Helderberg mountains, Waterford Estate’s terracotta roof tiles and monumental archway into the wide courtyard may evoke Tuscany, but the family-owned wine estate has its roots firmly in the vine-friendly soils of Stellenbosch’s Golden Triangle. It breathes the elegant cabernet sauvignons that these prime slopes are renowned for, but also speaks of family and warmth, with myriad stories to tell. While these stories can enjoyably be sipped in the tasting room, they really come alive when you get out into the landscape, exploring picturesque pockets of vineyards surrounded by wild nature on a wine drive safari, or adventuring through vineyards and fynbos on the guided Porcupine Trail wine walk.

Wine drive safari

Heading up the farm roads and scenic mountain slopes that make up Waterford Estate’s 120 hectares in the estate’s safari vehicle, you experience the terroir that shapes the wines first hand: crumble the soil between your fingers, picking out shards of quartz; feel the difference between cool coastal breezes at higher altitudes and the warmer lower slopes protected by trees; see how the same vine material grows differently in different blocks. By the time you arrive back at the cellar for a behind-the-scenes tour and a tasting of six wines (accompanied by a gourmet platter), you can picture where they were grown, gaining a deeper understanding of the terroir that formed them. The three hour adventure threaded by expert storytelling brings a whole new dimension to the tasting experience.
Cost R2 340 per person (3 hours: safari drive, cellar tour, tasting 6 wines, gourmet platter)

Porcupine trail wine walk

A guided tour on foot through fynbos, woodland and vineyards gives you an appreciation of the diversity of this Stellenbosch mountainside landscape. The porcupines that give the trail its name may not appear (they are shy and nocturnal) but you might find their shed quills along the route as you learn about local flora and fauna, experience the rich biodiversity of the farm first hand and discover how this connects to Waterford Estate’s sustainable and conservation-minded approach to viticulture. There’s a choice of walking routes of varying intensity, and the three-hour wine walk includes a tasting of three wines and a light snack along the way.
Cost R1 075 per person (3 hours: guided walk, tasting 3 wines, light snack)

Breathtaking scenery and immersive outdoor adventures take your wine journey to another level on this Stellenbosch wine estate, as you connect with the landscape and vineyards to experience wine right where it begins.
Book through DinePlan

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