48 Hours at Boschendal: Forget Everything You Know About Wine Farms

 There are so many incredible wine farms in the Cape Winelands that after a while, they start to all blend into one. They all have wine tastings, beautiful views, amazing dining experiences and often picnics. But there’s always been something special about Boschendal. 

At first, I thought of it as just a wine farm, but it’s far more than that. Apart from the incredible restaurants, activities and accommodation, it’s also a functional farm that produces so much more than just wine. (In fact, it only has about two blocks of vineyards.) There are so many different experiences to be had here that you can stay a few days and not get to do them all.

I was given the opportunity to spend two nights here recently, and honestly, my stay gave me so much insight into this incredible place, what separates it from all the others and why it seems to have so much heart. 

Here are some of the many reasons why Boschendal is worth a visit: 

*I was a guest of Boschendal but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Boschendal’s Famous Picnics

As you drive into the property, it’s hard not to be awestruck by the views of people enjoying a meal while lounging on lush green grass in the shade of magnificent oak trees. On Saturdays and Sundays, live music contributes to the festive but also strangely peaceful atmosphere. It’s so idyllic it feels like the set of a margarine commercial. I half expected someone to spin past me in slow motion while overly happy children chased bubbles.

During my stay, I was given the opportunity to experience the full Boschendal picnic treatment. Here you are given a picnic basket (or rather a box) filled with treats. You can sit on the lawn chairs and picnic on the ground, or you can take a seat on a more conventional chair at an outdoor table. 

Of all the things in my box, some of my favourites included the harissa cream cheese dip that went well with the freshly baked bread. I also enjoyed the free-range chicken drumstick with honey and mustard sauce, and obviously, the flourless dark chocolate tart with caramel sauce. Yes, the picnic includes dessert! Everything was nicely complemented with some Boschendal Cap Classique. (I have a weakness for chocolate and bubbles.) 

Don’t expect the same things in your box though; the menu changes seasonally. But you can look forward to some locally made artisanal goods in there, with everything being ethically sourced. 

The picnics are available from Thursdays to Sundays and you can check their website for the schedule of live entertainment, which usually takes place only on weekends.

The Restaurants

There are plenty of other dining options at Boschendal, even just in the Werf area, the main hub of activity. 

The Werf Restaurant

The Werf Restaurant is quite magical. But before I talk bout the incredible food, the amazing views and the fact that the interior features a really awesome mobile display of plates suspended from the ceiling (almost as surreal as the too-ideallic-to-be-true Boschendal Picnics), I should mention that it is closing down soon. Yeah, don’t get too attached! 

They are replacing it with an entirely new concept though, and I’m sure whatever it is will include equally, if not more amazing food, the same incredible views over the garden, and some interior decor that will probably be even more impressive than the plates suspended in mid-air. 

(Watch this space, I will update this blog when it happens)

The Deli Restaurant

What you can rely on for now is the Deli Restaurant. This is the more casual dining option where they serve up farm-style meals, also inspired by the seasons. I had the wood-fired pizza which did not disappoint — Yum! — followed by cheesecake for dessert. 

It doesn’t matter where I go, if I stay anywhere for more than one night, by night 2, it seems the staff are already aware of my weakness for cheesecake. (I’m really starting to develop a reputation for myself and I still haven’t published my blog about the best cheesecake in Cape Town that I have been selflessly working on for you for the past five years. I have literally outgrown my pants twice in the time it has taken me to write this post, but I believe in doing my research properly!)

The point is, their cheesecake is great! 

The Farm Shop

If you've miraculously avoided indulging in a full-blown picnic or a sit-down meal (are you even at Boschendal?), then brace yourself for The Farm Shop. The good news is you can still buy the cheesecake here, along with a number of other pastries made at the onsite bakery. You can take it home (who even has that level of self-control?) or enjoy it at one of the picnic-style tables directly outside in the Werf. 

You also have to try their ‘world-famous pastéis de nata’. This tiny Portuguese tart was so delicious, even it was shocked!

The Farm Shop also sells fresh produce grown on the farm (I really thought Boschendal was a wine farm but it is actually an ‘everything farm’), fresh cuts of meat and charcuterie from their artisan butcher, and other items sourced from ethically-minded local suppliers.

On the subject of shops, The Homeware Shop just across the Werf is equally tempting with some beautiful ceramics, cosmetics, glassware and other items created by local artisans.

Find out more about Boschendal’s picnics and dining options here. 

Boschendal's Wine 

While Boschendal is so much more than a wine farm, the wine is still really good. As I mentioned, I enjoyed a glass of their Cap Classique. Okay, glasses. (For my international readers, this is basically sparkling wine that you can’t refer to as ‘champagne’ because it’s not from Champagne.)

There are a number of wine pairings available. I enjoyed the chocolate and wine pairing which includes tastings of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinotage and Shiraz from the 1685 range, each perfectly paired with a chocolate. By ‘1685’, I mean the name of the range which derives its name from the year when Boschendal was founded. The wine wasn’t actually bottled in 1685. 

If you only sample one of Boschendal’s wines, opt for the Black Angus. It takes its name from the Black Angus cattle that live here on the farm. (Yes, they have cows! Not that I saw them - this place is huge!) It’s a Shiraz-led blend with black pepper and cherry flavours.

The Werf Food Garden

Not only does this manicured garden make for incredible views and a great backdrop for selfies, but it also moonlights as the restaurants’ produce aisle. Everything is grown 100% organically with regenerative and sustainable practices. You can even take a walking tour through the garden, if you’d like to pick up some tips or just be impressed.

Sunset Drinks in the Gardens: Rose cordial with pink tonic, berries and mint

The Accommodation: The Werf Garden Suites

From self-catering accommodation to their luxurious mountain villa, Boschendal has a number of options available to accommodate different sized groups of people with a range of preferences.

I stayed in a Werf Garden Suite, which was conveniently close to the Werf area. This spacious cottage had an open-plan kitchen, lounge and dining area, and a large bedroom with an ensuite bathroom complete with a clawfoot bathtub. (Yes, more opportunities for failed attempts at trying to look sexy in a clawfoot bathtub!) The living room opens out onto its own private garden and gives you access to a shared swimming pool. 

A stay here also comes with breakfast (currently at the Werf Restaurant but subject to change), a complimentary chocolate and wine pairing, an inclusive minibar with craft beer, cider, etc, and access to the hiking and mountain bike trails.

I also appreciated the teeny weeny personal private gym in the suite to help you stay in shape for future clawfoot bathtub pics. 

Find out more about the Werf Garden Suites here: 

The Hiking

Yes, I hiked. Voluntarily. Before breakfast. Please hold your applause.

I took advantage of the opportunity to experience Boschendal’s hiking trails and joined the guide, Assi, for an early morning 3.7km adventure.

The views of the rising sun were spectacular, and it felt really good to be walking off some of the amazing food that we had eaten (while making room for more). 

Assi explained that since 2015, Boschendal has been involved in an alien clearing and water conservation project. They have cleared more than 500ha of alien invasive flora, and in the process, they have made more water available to support the indigenous fynbos native to the area. The farm received WWF Champion Status in 2016 for its commitment to biodiversity-friendly and regenerative farming practices, the conservation of natural areas and the improvement of water and energy efficiencies. 

 

Assi also told us about Boschendal’s work with the Cape Leopard Trust. The Simonsberg side of the farm has five camera traps, and any photographic evidence of leopard sightings captured by these devices is shared with the trust, who use the data in their research and conservation efforts.

 

The Bertha Retreat

On a different part of the Boschendal estate (you need a car to reach it), the Bertha Retreat is a strange but inspiring mix of a conferencing venue and a centre for social justice. 

The property offers conferencing facilities, meeting rooms and accommodation for up to 34 people, catering to corporates and various members of the public. It also functions as a community resource centre where people from the surrounding communities (Pniel, Meerlust, Kylemore and Languedoc) can use it for sports clubs, extracurricular activities and events that foster community connections. It is currently home to a study room for matriculants, a library, and a micro-farming and food production project. 

Whether serving the community or commercial customers, all the facilities are world-class, decorated with bold African prints and surrounded by immaculately manicured gardens. Different rates are available for commercial customers based on what they are able to pay. 

The whole centre feels like a strange but awesome mix of a commercial conference centre and a non-profit organisation that serves corporates and significantly less affluent local people equally well. I still struggle to get my head around how that works but the fact that it seems to be working is profound and inspiring.  

Find out more about the Bertha Retreat here. 

Things I Didn’t Get To Experience

The Friday night markets  

On Friday nights in summer, there is an outdoor food market with a number of food vendors and live music.

The Tree House 

When I saw that there was a treehouse on the property, this was one of the first things I wanted to check out. Turns out that this is the name of their kids' centre. Boschendal is easily one of the best wine farms for kids, with a whole programme of activities for them. Yes, they can entertain your children in the play area while you do a wine and chocolate pairing (I get it, no one wants to have to share their chocolate) but they also have a whole holiday programme where they can also get your child out in nature, teach them how to pick and cook their own food, and return them to you having had fun and learnt something. 

The only catch is that you have to be a kid. I’ll try not to show my disappointment.

A pony ride  

Yes, there are pony rides! I really wanted one but I just ran out of time. 

A film shoot

I know that Boschendal is used as a shoot location for various movies and series that get filmed here in Cape Town, and I heard a rumour that a certain very attractive Hollywood movie star, whose name I cannot mention, has visited the farm for this reason. The fact that the management at Boschendal cannot confirm or deny this — I guess they signed an NDA — confirms my suspicions that the rumour is true. And this makes me like Boschendal even more!

The wedding venue: The Olive Press

Boschendal does seem like a beautiful place for a wedding, so it makes sense that they have a wedding venue. As you may know, I do enjoy 'exploring places on my own’ (which in some cases falls into the realm of ‘trespassing’) and I enjoy crashing weddings. So, in my exploration of Boschendal, I managed to find the wedding venue, but sadly, there was no wedding taking place there at the time. 

I’m glad that they are prepared though. This could be very convenient if they shoot a sequel to the movie that I cannot mention and I apply my wedding crashing skills to film sets. A girl can dream!

The helipad

I could have brought my ‘copter but I didn’t know that was an option, so instead I rode in the transfer with the rest of the media group that was arranged by the folks at WTM Africa. 

Why Boschendal Seems To Have So Much Heart

At 1800 hectares in size, Boschendal is one of the largest working farms around. It also employs more than 650 people. 

I’ve already mentioned its efforts in alien clearing, water conservation, regenerative farming, its work with the Cape Leopard Trust, and the fact that it has WWF Champion Status. Here are some of the other things that you can't not like about it:

• In its quest to lessen its carbon footprint on the planet, they have a solar farm on the property and a lot of the farm is solar-powered. 

• It has a dedicated recycling centre and a composting facility, allowing them to minimise waste as much as possible, recycle and create compost to aid the farming.

• They employ ethical farming practices with detailed plans for soil restoration and pasture management.

• They practice ethical animal husbandry.

• Boschendal subsidises the Excelsior School, a preschool for the children of the farm’s employees with an aftercare and school holiday programme for older school children as well.

There are so many luxury experiences to be had in the Western Cape, and while there seems to be a general movement towards sustainability and social equity, Boschendal’s efforts seem to be more advanced, more diverse and more embedded into multiple areas of the farm’s operations and the surrounding communities than those of others. After spending two days there and getting to speak to various employees and explore more of the farm than the average visitor, I can see why this wine farm seems to have a little bit of extra warmth.

In closing

Behind those idyllic margarine commercial-worthy picnics and excellent dining offerings, behind the accommodation experiences where whims you hadn’t had yet are already catered for, behind the beautiful scenery, the fine wine, the manicured gardens, and even the pony rides, the commitment to sustainable practices and community upliftment is quite astounding.

Boschendal is not just a wine farm, or even just an ‘everything farm’, it offers a number of truly wonderful experiences. And when you peel back the curtain, to see what goes into it, instead of being disappointed (like the time I got stuck on the ‘It’s a Small World’ ride at Disney World and had to be escorted out of the back entrance), it leaves one feeling even more impressed. 

I left with a full tummy, a calm mind, a phone full of pictures and a little more hope for the future of tourism, farming, and community upliftment …and at least two bottles of wine, obs. I will return, if not to gatecrash a movie set, at the very least, to ride a pony or even just eat more cheesecake. 

Sip, Stay, Snuggle

Boschendal is currently running a winter special where you can enjoy a R550 F&B voucher to spend at any of Boschendal’s restaurants if you book a stay with them from 1 May to 31 August 2025 (*Terms and Conditions Apply)

Find out more here.

Where is Boschendal?

Boschendal is conveniently located between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek and can easily be included in a day trip to either one of these wine regions. It is also a stop on the Franschhoek Wine Tram.

You can find its location here.

Other things to do in the area:

• Here's my guide to Stellenbosch in the Summer
• And here's my guide to Stellenbosch in the Winter