Romantic getaways in Cape Winelands

Oak-lined valleys, wine tastings that drift into long lunches and cottages tucked between the vines: the Cape Winelands are South Africa's classic romantic weekend, and they are less than two hours from Cape Town.

Franschhoek is the best-known valley, with a village full of restaurants and estates on every side. Stellenbosch has the widest choice of farms and is closest to the city. Wellington, Tulbagh and Wolseley are quieter and more rural, ringed by mountains and with a relaxed pace that suits a slow weekend.

Many of the stays we list here are on working farms, in cottages and cabins rather than big hotels, which gives you privacy and space. A lot of them have a hot tub or a fireplace, which makes the Winelands just as good in winter as in summer.

Plan your tastings so that nobody has to drive: stay somewhere you can walk to a few estates, book a driver, or use the Franschhoek wine tram. Most tasting rooms close in the late afternoon, which leaves the evening free.