Stellenbosch is turning up the heat with an exciting lineup of new restaurants, tasting rooms, outdoor adventures, Travelstart travel packages and luxury accommodations this winter. The Stay and Play Winter campaign returns this year to invite you to explore the region’s hospitality and wine culture, with special offers to stay longer and experience more.
Plus, you could save when you book your Stellenbosch package getaway with Travelstart.

“From incredible new restaurants to exclusive winemakers dinners and tasting pairings, stunning new villa accommodation and the return of Wine Town Stellenbosch, there’s more reason than ever to linger longer in our warmhearted town,” says Jeanneret Momberg, CEO of Visit Stellenbosch. “Our Stay and Play Winter offers showcase this exciting line-up, making it the perfect season to discover the magic of winter in Stellenbosch. Our partnership with Travelstart gives you even more reason to book and save.”

Book & save with Travelstart:
Get up to R1,000 off when booking a package deal that includes flights to Cape Town and a minimum two-night stay in Stellenbosch at selected properties. Travel before 15 September 2024. Terms and conditions apply. Book here.

What’s new in Stellenbosch:

Hot wining and dining

Stellenbosch’s culinary scene is buzzing with new dining options, offering an array of flavours and atmospheres to suit every palate. Among the newest additions are De Vier, Hoseki at Delaire Graff Estate, Rykaarts at Longridge Wine Estate, VUUR Restaurant (trendy fire cooking), Wijnhuis Restaurant, Lievland Café, and the latest addition to the culinary scene – Melfort at Annandale Wine Estate.

“Another exciting initiative is Onderstok, a group of elite Stellenbosch chefs working together to sharpen their competitive edge and to lift the creative energy of Stellenbosch’s food offering, making Stellenbosch the true heartland of gastronomy,” adds Momberg.

Exclusive winemakers dinners

The wine and culinary capital of South Africa offers exclusive winter winemakers dinners (and a few lunches) hosted by Stellenbosch’s top winemakers at renowned local restaurants.
“These intimate events offer a unique opportunity to savour expertly paired dishes with exceptional wines, providing a truly special culinary experience,” says Momberg.
Winemakers dinners will be hosted at:

• 18 July: Waterford Estate with Shiraz, Fire and Smoke
• 25 July and 29 August: Erinvale Hotel is hosting multiple winemaker evenings in the Magnolia Social Lounge
• 26 July: Cavalli hosts husband and wife winemaker team, Rianie and Louis Strydom
• 30 & 31 July: Weltevreden Estate is hosting a Bertha’s Wine Dinner with chef Cornelle Minnie on 31 July and a Winemaker’s Dinner at Bertha’s Wine Bar on 30 July
• 1 August: Blaauwklippen is hosting a 5-course lunch and wine pairing with winemaker Narina Cloete
• 16 August: Dusk is hosting Aslina Wines
• 25 August & 29 September: Spier will host a Shiraz Exploration Dinner (25 August) and Legacy By Vintage event (29 September)

New Villa Accommodation

For winter getaways with family or friends, such as an indulgent girls’ weekend away or multigenerational family trips, Stellenbosch’s latest villa accommodations ensure there is enough room for everyone.
New villa accommodation options include:

• Hazendal Estate Manor House
• Petites Boules Manor – offers 3 rooms
• Bonne Esperance Villa – offers 3 rooms
• Middedorp Villa (with additional apartments)
• Jordan Estate’s The Villa

New wine tasting rooms & pairings

Wine enthusiasts will be delighted by the new wine tasting rooms that have opened across Stellenbosch. Notable new spots include Stellenbosch Reserve, Winshaw Vineyards, Grangehurst, Deux Frere, Lievland Vineyards, Kaapzicht and Joubert Family Wines.

Creative new pairings include Alto’s Wine & Winter Canapes, Ernie Els Wines’ wine and canape tastings, Blaauwklippen’s wine and honey gummies, Warwick’s Lakrids and wine pairing and Spier’s Sip & Soup. Van Ryn’s Brandy Distillery is another hot stop for brandy and chocolate pairing tastings.

Warm up in the outdoors

The Blaauwklippen Wine Trail offers an 8.5km trek through picturesque vineyards, including tastings at Dornier and Stellenzicht. For a unique water experience, visitors can try trendy eFoiling at Devonbosch Dam. 

Live music and entertainment

Stellenbosch’s vibrant music scene continues to thrive with live performances and special events. Enjoy First Friday at Cavalli featuring a set menu and live music or unwind with Sunday evening sessions at Petites Bulles and Delheim’s Cheese Fondue Sundays with live music.

Wine Town Stellenbosch

The much-anticipated Wine Town Stellenbosch, a 7-day wine-themed celebration returns from 29 July to 4 August 2024. This event offers a week-long celebration of wine, food and family-friendly entertainment, making it a highlight of the winter season in the Winelands. Be sure to book accommodation early.

“Our exclusive Stay and Play winter deals on accommodation and experiences make it easier than ever to enjoy all that Stellenbosch has to offer without breaking the bank,” says Momberg.

Plan your itinerary today at www.stayandplay.visitstellenbosch.org. and follow Visit Stellenbosch on Facebook and Instagram.

Bookings for the Black Friday deals open on Friday, 25 November 2022 and will run until 04 December 2022 for travel between 10 January and 03 July 2023.

“With the demand for travel to Europe at an all-time high, we want our customers to feel confident knowing they secured the best travel deal,” said Niky Terzakis, CEO Air Belgium. “With this Black Friday activation, we want to give more South Africans the opportunity to travel to Brussels and beyond in Europe at a price they can afford. We’re excited to offer South Africans a convenient, affordable and quality air service, with our new direct flights from South Africa to Brussels twice a week, bringing them to the heart of Europe.”

Whether travellers want to reunite with loved ones, take a much-needed family holiday or enjoy a cultural exploration of Belgium, Air Belgium will get travellers to their destination at an affordable price.

While there’s much to see and do in Belgium, the country is also surrounded by France, the Netherlands and Germany, making it an ideal place to kick off a European travel experience. Travellers could easily take a loop tour of Belgium, Amsterdam, or London, or Koln and Paris and surroundings in 10 days without feeling rushed.

A high-speed train will take you from Brussels to Paris in a record-breaking 1 hour and 22 minutes, and to London in 2 hours. Amsterdam is even closer with the high-speed train. The distance between Brussels and Amsterdam is only 210 km.

Discounts will apply to Economy Class return tickets from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Brussels. Seats and available dates are limited. Discounted flights will not be refundable, endorsable or changeable.

The Black Friday deals are available on the Air Belgium website (https://www.airbelgium.com/) or at your favourite travel agent.