Wine Tasting in the Tulbagh Valley

If you are looking for a more exclusive wine tasting experience and a laid-back weekend away, you will love Tulbagh. This sheltered valley has some of the best conditions for wine production in South Africa and is a welcoming little town with charming architecture and quaint restaurants and cafes. Protected by the snow-capped mountains, Tulbagh produces red, white and sparkling wine of superior quality. The Cape-Dutch architecture, stunning mountains view and sunny skies provide the perfect setting for a wine tasting experience, you will not forget.

Tulbagh Viticulture

Tulbagh’s terroir is so diverse that is allows for the production of a variety of excellent wines. The valley enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate. The surrounding mountains cause a generous amount of rain during the winter and shelter the valley from the summer winds. The winemakers use the fertile soils to produce award winning wines and welcome visitors to taste their divine products.

Even though Tulbagh is renowned for their quality wines, the tastings are very personal and unobtrusive. Most of the wine estates of the valley offer tastings and cellar tours that breathe tradition. The lack of organized tours of the area makes Tulbagh an authentic experience of great wines and the people who make them.

Tulbagh Wine Estates

The inviting and reputable wine estates in the Tulbagh area are many. However if you enjoy Champagne style sparkling wine, Twee Jonge Gezellen is the place you don’t want to miss. On this estate the Krone family has produced wines since 1710. Twee Jonge Gezellen has gained a reputation for superior Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) sparkling wines. The manor house, cellars and wine tasting facilities all soaked with a 300 year tradition of quality wine making. The view from the roof terrace is spectacular and is the perfect spot for an afternoon of indulgence.

Rijk’s Private Cellars produce red and white wines for sophisticated wine enthusiasts. This fairly new wine estate is passionate about producing the best grapes and turning them into top-end wines with great maturing potential. A wine tasting will take you through 12 awarded red and white wines, a memorable experience for the sophisticated palate.

Accommodation and Transport

Tulbagh is only an hour’s drive from Cape Town and is a great destination for a weekend out of town. Themika offers accommodation in Tulbagh with great views of the valley. Since there are no organized tours you need to organize your own transport between the wine estates. One of the nicest ways to do a wine tour in Tulbagh is by cycling, which allows you to fully appreciate the views and the mild climate of this friendly valley.