If you’re in the process of planning an epic family holiday to South Africa, let us tell you all about the South African wine farms and in particular the South African wine farm picnics for kids.
Hear us out. You may not initially think that visiting a wine farm in South Africa is an activity suited to families but we’re here to tell you it most definitely is.
There are quite a few family-friendly South African wine estate picnics to choose from but these are our absolute favourites.
Before we cover our recommendations on the best South African wine farms picnics for kids, we just want to suggest that if you are going to sample the wines, pick your designated driver or take an organised tour with a driver/guide or even book an Uber or a Tuk-Tuk!
Some of these wine farms are on the Franschhoek Wine Tram route which is also a fun way to get around.
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A little bit about the South African winelands
If you haven’t yet discovered the winelands in South Africa then you’re in for a treat.
We have spent a lot of time in the Cape Winelands with children and would say that it is one of our favourite areas in South Africa.
There are actually lots of different wine regions in South Africa and they’re mostly located in the Western Cape.
The winelands cover an area around 21,000km2 and has a huge number of wine estates with some dating back to the late 1600s. In fact, Groot Constantia in Cape Town is the oldest wine farm in South Africa and they have a lovely picnic – but it isn’t the most family-friendly.
The most well known wine regions in South Africa are Constantia, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl. The scenery in the South African winelands is just stunning.
You’ll find vines growing everywhere you look with dramatic mountain ranges and beautiful white Cape Dutch buildings. It’s hard to think of a more scenic area for a picnic.
Why wine estate picnics are great for families
Still not convinced? Here are some of the reasons we love South African wine farm picnics with kids.
Enjoy delicious food: The food provided in these wine farm picnics is very special. I don’t know. Maybe it tastes better because of the stunning views and the (optional) wine but they source fresh, local ingredients and everything is neatly packaged to provide you with a truly gourmet al-fresco dining experience.
Eat in stunning locations: All of the wine farms we recommend are surrounded by truly stunning scenery so there are beautiful views every which way you look whilst eating your picnic.
Eat a family meal in a relaxed setting: ‘Family meal’ and ‘relaxed’ were not words we used together when the kids were young. Meals out were always a stressful affair but there is absolutely nothing stressful about a picnic. Kids can be kids and roll around on the grass. It doesn’t matter. There will be other kids doing the same thing. They may even make friends in the play areas. It’s all good.
Our favourite South African wine farm picnics for kids
Are South African wine farms child-friendly? It’s a resounding yes from us – if you choose carefully.
So many of the wine estates in South Africa are family-friendly but some aren’t so much and some are just hands down better than others.
We wanted to narrow the list of family-friendly wine farms in South Africa so you can easily add them to your South Africa family vacation.
We have based our recommendations on the availablity of a kids menu, a suitable eating area and a lovely play area. Some might even have child-friendly activities.
Vergelegen
Vergelegen is located near Somerset West which is only 50 minutes from Cape Town.
It was founded in 1700 and is one of the most beautiful wine estates we’ve visited. We also happen to really love their wines.
The picnics at Vergelegen are taken in various locations around the wine estate. When we visited we ate in an enchanted camphor forest. This year they are being served on the banks of the Louren River. Wherever you eat it is bound to be spectacular as it is one of the poshest wine estate picnics for families in South Africa we’ve ever had.
If this sounds too formal, don’t worry. There are beanbags for the kids to relax in next to the table once they’ve finished eating.
Menus also change so check here for picnic details but in general you will enjoy home made breads, pates, chutneys, cold meats and cured fish, cheese and a dessert in your picnic basket.
Picnics are are served daily between 12.15 – 13.30 during the summer months and you need to book at least 24 hours in advance.
After lunch, you can enjoy a walk around the grounds and the kids can have a play in the large playground.
Boschendal
Boschendal is located in the Franschhoek region and can be reached by Wine Tram.
The picnics are served between 12.00 – 14.00 on the main lawn near the bandstand. There are several trees providing shade.
Grab a picnic rug and a few chairs if you wish and relax while listening to live music playing.
The food is local and ethically sourced and delivered in a lovely Boschendal basket. We really enjoyed the unusual squid ink baguette with the cheese and preserves.
The kids had their own mini hamper which consisted of a chicken sandwich, meatballs, fresh fruit salad and a kit to make their own smores. It couldn’t get much better for them. See here for more picnic info.
To make the most of your Boschendal experience, we would highly recommend staying here. It is one of our favourite accommodation options for families in the Cape Winelands because there is so much focus on kids.
They have an excellent kids club which our boys thoroughly enjoyed. They went on a walk around the grounds and learned about what grows on the estate. They also loved playing in the large kids play area. Boschendal really is one of the most child-friendly wine farms in South Africa.
See here for accommodation options. We highly recommend the Orchard Cottages.
Throughout the year there are child-friendly events taking place. Just take a look here for more information.
Warwick Estate
Warwick Estate is situated in the Stellenbosch region in an idyllic setting next to a lake with gorgeous mountain views.
Rugs are laid out under large umbrellas and the adult picnics are served on a wooden tray. If you want a more exclusive picnic experience, try their ‘Posh picnic pod’ with equally posh picnic menu.
They are available 7 days a week from 11am to 3pm. They provide high-quality produce from locally sourced artisanal producers. We enjoyed their breads, charcuterie, cheese, onion marmalade.
The kid’s picnic comes in a separate box with a cheese roll, hummus and crudités and a sweet treat. It also includes an ice cream cone or lolly at the end.
See here for more picnic details.
When our kids had finished their picnic, they were able to run over to the play area while we finished our picnic in peace, able to keep a close eye on them.
Allee Bleue Wine Estate
Allee Bleue is located in the Franschhoek wine area and can be reached by Wine Tram.
The setting of the picnic is not quite as stunning as the other wine farms we’ve mentioned. The picnics don’t come in a lovely hamper and are served on picnic tables rather than blankets and the food wasn’t as fancy as the other picnics we mention.
Despite this, it was one of the more relaxed picnics we’ve had and considering kids aren’t too fussed with a posh setting and fancy food, it is one of the most kid-friendly wine estate picnics in South Africa.
The picnic area is completely enclosed and the small play area is close to the tables so you can keep an eye on the kids.
From here, the kids could easily run off for a play when they had finished, and we could keep an eye on them while we finished up at a leisurely pace.
They provided a huge selection of cold meats and cheeses and olives, salads and pies, chutneys and breads. The kids gave a thumbs up to their cheese and ham ‘kebabs’ and the chicken wraps.
Picnics are available Wednesdays to Sundays through the summer months. Find out more here.
Kloovenberg Wine & Olive Estate
A lesser known wine area of South Africa is Riebeek Kasteel but it is easily reached from Cape Town in 90 minutes.
It is a little off the beaten track and we loved that about the area.
The wine farm we loved in Riebeek Kasteel is Kloovenberg. It is a little different to the other wine estate picnics because you browse their shop for picnic ingredients and make a pick and mix picnic.
If nothing takes your fancy they also have an outdoor pizza kitchen.
The play area for kids is just fabulous with trampolines, climbing frames and even a small bike track. There are also several short hiking trails to explore if you have time. It is well worth a visit if you are in the Riebeek Kasteel area.
They are actually a wine and olive estate so make sure to check out their olives if that’s your thing.
Also worth visiting is their other enterprise – Eight Feet Village. Enjoy a coffee on the deck looking out over the breathtaking Riebeek Valley.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our recommended wine estate picnics in South Africa for kids.
