Discovering the Best Winelands Cheese and Wine Experiences

Cheese and wine are two of my favourite things, an experience elevated by enjoying them in the beautiful Cape Winelands. Although many wine estates or farms offer cheese and wine experiences, some pitch higher than the rest!

Discovering the Best Cheese and Wine Experiences

Having had a few standout Winelands adventures last year, I am sharing my Top Cheese and Wine Experiences to help you find the best spots to enjoy two of life’s greatest pleasures! Each experience brings its unique charm and delicious flavours, and I’ve ranked them in no particular order for you to explore.

Backsberg

Sometimes the spur of the moment experiences turn out to be the best ones! We decided on a whim to venture out to Franschhoek and found ourselves at Backsberg Family Wines.

Greeted by the super friendly staff, we picked a spot overlooking the stunning valley and mountain. Grant and I both opted for the “Fifth Generation” wine tasting, which includes 5 Fifth Generation Backsberg wines. We also ordered The Grazer sharing platter for two – it was packed full of delicious goodies and excellent value for money. The inclusion of salmon trout on the platter is great for non-meat eaters. This delicious platter was the perfect accompaniment to our wine tasting.

Overall, it was fantastic and one of my top cheese and wine experiences – great food, wine, and excellent company, not to forget the wonderful service!

Tasting Menu:

Express tasting of any three Fifth Generation Wines – R55
The Fifth Generation tasting of five Fifth Generation Wines – R85
A Family Affair tasting of any six wines from the Fifth Generation, Family Tree, and Patriarch ranges – R130
Kosher Tasting of any three kosher wines. These wines are Mevushal and Kosher for Passover – R70
Cheese Platter – R180
The Grazer (serves 2) – R280

Morgenster

Since moving to Somerset West, Morgenster Wine & Olive Estate has become one of our favourite spots for wine tasting, as well as delicious cheese and charcuterie boards!

In addition to their wine tasting menu, I highly recommend the Italian Experience (for two) – it is an excellent option if you would like to learn more about their Olive Oils. The Italian experience includes an extra virgin olive oil tutored tasting, an Italian-style platter, as well as a bottle of wine from the Giulio Range.

Tasting Menu:

Olive Oil Tasting – R85
Olive & Wine Tasting – R135
Bordeaux Style Tasting – R110
The Giulio Range Tasting – R85
Single Cultivar Range Tasting – R75
Italian Platter – R350
The Italian Experience – R540

In my opinion, all the Morgenster Wines are fantastic! There are, however, a few personal favourites – namely the Vespri Vermentino, Sangiovese Rosé, the Rigoletto Sangiovese, the Morgenster Cab Franc and the Reserve Red. Good food and wine, as well as breathtaking views – cheese and wine experiences do not get much better than this!

Stellenzicht

Stellenzicht Wine Pod has become one of our go-to places in the Stellenbosch Winelands! It is the ideal spot for relaxing, unwinding and enjoying a great time with friends and family.

The setting is rather unique as you feel fully submerged in nature, and you cannot help being wowed by the majestic backdrop of the Stellenbosch and Helderberg mountains! Whether seated indoors or on the patio, you can appreciate the tranquillity and natural beauty as you taste Stellenzicht’s fantastic selection of wines and enjoy a delicious cheese and charcuterie board. If you have yet to visit, it is a must!

Tasting Menu:

Choose four wines from the Thunderstone Range or the Varietal Range – R80
Stellenzicht Experience (excluding the Acheulean Range) – R140
The Acheulean Tasting – R120
Stellenzicht Chardonnay Tasting – R100
Varietal Range Chocolate Pairing – R135
Cheese Board – R160
Add a selection of charcuterie – R55

Peter Falke

Grant and I recently enjoyed a fantastic wine tasting and cheese board at Peter Falke Wines in Stellenbosch. Sitting on the patio overlooking the beautiful gardens, with the mountains in the background, made for the perfect setting!

There are a variety of tasting options available. Grant and I enjoyed the Signature Tasting, which included the Cap Classique and Muscat. We also enjoyed a wonderful cheese platter – it was the perfect way to spend an afternoon in the Winelands. If you plan on going with the family, there is a small kiddies menu and a jungle gym area to keep the young ones occupied.

Tasting Menu:

PF collection (6 wines) – R100
Red wines only (5 wines) – R100
Signature & PF collection (8 wines, excl. MCC & Muscat) – R135
Signature & PF collection (11 wines, incl. MCC, Muscat & Kailani) – R220
Peter Falke Signature Kailani only – R50
Cheese Platter – R278
Charcuterie Platter – R278

Vergenoegd Löw

I rediscovered Vergenoegd Löw last year, and I have subsequently enjoyed a few of the different offerings on the estate.

If you are looking for a unique wine tasting experience, the Indigenous Tasting at Vergenoegd Löw Wine Estate is definitely something different! This tasting showcases the estate’s wines paired with local heritage flavours such as bokkoms, biltong, amasi, herbs, spices, and homemade onion marmalade.

Their wines are fantastic, with standouts including the Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot and Malbec. I would recommend a “Taste any 5 Wines”, which gives you the opportunity to try a cross-section of their wines, and enjoy this with a Cheese & Charcuterie Platter for Two.

Tasting Menu:

White Wine Tasting – R90
Red Wine Tasting – R110
Taste any 5 Wines – R120
Indigenous Experience – R220
Cheese & Charcuterie Platter for Two – R 380

DeMorgenzon

Our most recent tasting experience was at DeMorgenzon Wine Estate in Stellenbosch – a true hidden gem! The gardens are breathtakingly beautiful, and the atmosphere is wonderfully tranquil.

One of the highlights for me was discovering that guests can create their own bespoke wine tasting. Each of their wines is individually priced – with a price for “tasting”, “glass”, and “bottle”. It is an inspired offering, allowing you to mix and match across the ranges and varietals.

The wines that stood out for both of us included the DeMorgenzon Chenin Blanc Cap Classique, the Reserve Chardonnay and the Reserve Syrah.

After our tasting, we enjoyed a sharing platter with a glass of the DMZ Rosé. The platter was delicious and reasonably priced – yet another highlight.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience, made even more so by the excellent staff. I highly recommend adding it to your to-do list if you have not yet visited the estate.

Tasting Menu – Download PDF

In Closing

If you have enjoyed this round-up of my Best Winelands Cheese and Wine Experiences, please follow me on Instagram to see more of the places I visited and subscribe to my blog to read more in-depth posts and reviews. I would also love you to share a few of your favourite wine tasting experiences in the comment section below, and please let me know what other food and wine experiences you would like me to share.