Located only 45 minutes from city center and the Cape Town international airport in the Stellenbosch wine region, Zevenwacht Wine Estate offers everything one looks for to indulge in Cape Town’s budding wine and food tourism industry. Zevenwacht, which translates “seven expectations,” highlights the many spoils guests can experience at this luxury resort and working wine farm.
Enjoy luxury accommodation with a view
The first thing guests notice when stepping into their luxury suite at Zevenwacht is not the room itself, but the commanding views. Each of the 12 suites has a private terrace with an overlook that stretches from the property’s vineyards out to False Bay, Table Bay, and Table Mountain. The sight is so spectacular that the room itself gets lost, and it shouldn’t.
At 1,460 ZAR (106 USD) a night, the rooms are stacked with all the comforts that one expects in a luxury hotel. The comfortable king sizes beds will easily put you to sleep if the complimentary bottle of wine doesn’t. There is also ample room to stretch out with a cozy sitting area and spacious bathroom to truly feel at home. Besides the luxury suites, Zevenwacht offers alternative accommodations in the Vineyard Cottages, which caters to larger groups for 690 ZAR (50 USD) a night, and a self-service chalet for 2,900 ZAR (211 USD) a night.
Sip a perfect sampling of South African wines
The wines are obviously the showcase of Zevenwacht. The winemaker honors century-old winemaking traditions to produce classic and finely crafted wines. He allows the soils and climate of the vineyard’s 120 hectares of sloping hills to style his product with the nuances of Zevenwacht’s unique terroir. Guests of the hotel are welcome to sample the wines in the winery’s tasting room. For a truly unique tasting experience, opt for a wine and cheese pairing.
Wines of note are the 360 Degree Sauvignon Blanc. The wine is made more from the land than the barrel. The grapes are planted on a southern facing slope in east west rows. The high elevation provides a cool climate for the ideal ripening of the fruit and the direction of the rows shades the grapes from direct sunlight. Another favorite is the Z Grenache. While normally the Grenache vines requires a lot of pruning, at Zevenwacht, the baboons do the hard work for the winemaker.
Zevenwacht is more than just wine though
After a wine tasting, a leisurely stroll through the vineyards themselves is a fun activity. The more ambitious (and sober) sort can venture further on the 14 km hiking trail into the Rheebokrand Hills. Other on property activities include a day at the Mangwanani African Spa or a dip in the pool.
In the evening, most guests mingle in the Manor House and have dinner at the resort’s restaurant which features South African entrees prepared with classic technique. I recommend the oxtail stew for a true tasting adventure. The restaurant also serves breakfast and lunch. A highlight are the gourmet picnic baskets that can be enjoyed on the shores of the property’s pond or on adventures further into Cape Town.
The perfect escape
Zevenwacht Wine Estate is the perfect escape for both Cape Town locals and international tourists alike. The resort offers everything guests look for in luxury resort with all the benefits of staying on a working vineyard. At the same time, the resort is also a great hopping off point for deeper exploration of Cape Town’s wine regions. It’s a true Cape Town Experience.
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