These scenic properties offer new ways to experience the region
Babylonstoren
Historical Preservation
One of the oldest and most scenic properties in the Cape Winelands, Babylonstoren is known not only as a winery, but also as a luxury resort, with a farm, hotel, and fine dining. Now, guests can add museum to that list, thanks to the opening of The Story of Wine. Set in a former aging cellar, this interactive exhibit includes a collection of antique corkscrews, poems about wine in seven languages, a breakdown of how different soil types affect wine, virtual reality pods that explain the winemaking process, and more.
Boschendal
Art Appreciation
Another one of the most venerable properties on the Western Cape, Boschendal boasts farm-to-table restaurants, boutique shops, mountainside cottages, and farm tours. Fine art fits in quite well amid all that bucolic luxury, so the estate has partnered with Cape Town–based Brundyn Arts and Culture (founded by former Norval Foundation CEO and Zeitz MOCAA director Elana Brundyn) to display rotating exhibitions of contemporary art from South African and international artists in the property’s restored Manor House.
Painted Wolf Wines
Wildlife Conservation
Emma and Jeremy Borg founded Painted Wolf Wines in 2006 with two goals in mind: to make great wine, but also to raise money to support the conservation of endangered African wild dogs (also known as painted wolves). The winery has opened a new venue at the Simondium Guild, an enclave of artisan businesses located between Paarl and Franschhoek, where nature-loving guests can try award-winning pinotages, chenin blancs, and other wines while learning about how the winery supports conservation projects throughout Africa.
The Wine Arc
Inclusive Representation
Since 2016, the nonprofit SA Wine Industry Transformation Unit has sought to rectify a troubling lack of diversity among South African wine producers. Among the organization’s initiatives is The Wine Arc, which recently opened in Stellenbosch with the goal of showcasing Black-owned wine brands. At the tasting room, you can sample wines from companies such as M’hudi, which was the first Black-owned, family-managed winery in the country, and Bayede!, which works to create employment in disadvantaged communities.
