Home to South Africa’s largest concentration of award-winning restaurants, celebrated wine estates, visionary chefs and artisan producers, Stellenbosch once again invites visitors to experience why it is recognised as the country’s leading food and wine destination.

Some destinations are known for great restaurants. Stellenbosch is something else entirely.

Here, award-winning chefs, passionate winemakers, artisan producers, farmers and welcoming hosts come together to create a destination where every meal tells a story. Whether it is an intimate chef’s table, a long table feast among the vines, an innovative tasting menu or a leisurely brunch that turns into an afternoon, food is not simply something you enjoy. It is how you experience Stellenbosch.

It is this extraordinary concentration of chefs, winemakers, farmers, cheesemakers, bakers, distillers, olive producers and hospitality experiences, all within minutes of one another, that makes Stellenbosch unlike anywhere else in South Africa. Every meal begins long before it reaches the table, rooted in exceptional local produce, generations of craftsmanship and a culture that celebrates creativity, collaboration and genuine hospitality.

Recognised by the Eat Out Awards, Gourmet Guide and the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants, Stellenbosch continues to set the benchmark for culinary excellence in South Africa. Home to some of the country’s most celebrated restaurants and wine estates, the destination has earned a reputation for delivering world-class food and wine experiences that are authentic, innovative and deeply connected to place.

“Taste Stellenbosch is more than a celebration of exceptional food and wine. It is a celebration of the people, passion and craftsmanship that have shaped Stellenbosch into South Africa’s leading food and wine destination,” says Annemie Liebenberg, CEO of Visit Stellenbosch.

“Every chef, winemaker, farmer, artisan producer and host contributes to a culinary story that is uniquely Stellenbosch. Here, remarkable experiences begin with extraordinary ingredients, are brought to life by talented people and shared around tables that inspire conversation, connection and discovery. Taste Stellenbosch invites visitors to slow down, savour every moment and experience a destination where every meal becomes a lasting memory. We hope every visitor leaves inspired, already planning their return, because the very best way to discover Stellenbosch is one unforgettable meal at a time.”

This year’s programme celebrates the remarkable breadth and diversity of Stellenbosch’s culinary landscape. From intimate chef collaborations and immersive food and wine pairings to vineyard feasts, long table gatherings, heritage dining experiences and menus created exclusively for the season, every experience has been thoughtfully curated to showcase the creativity, generosity and unmistakable sense of place that define South Africa’s leading food and wine destination.

“Taste Stellenbosch is an invitation to experience the extraordinary diversity of our destination,” says Daniel Kriel, Chairman of Taste Stellenbosch.

“Whether it is an intimate chef’s table, a vineyard feast, a long lunch with friends or discovering a hidden culinary gem for the first time, every experience has been thoughtfully created by passionate people who love sharing Stellenbosch. Visitors won’t simply enjoy exceptional food and wine. They’ll discover the warmth, creativity and generosity that make this destination so memorable and leave with every reason to return.”

Highlights of Taste Stellenbosch 2026 include:

• De Warenmarkt’s interactive Test Kitchen and Pinotage & Venison Winemakers’ Dinner with Beyerskloof.

• 96 Winery Road Restaurant’s nostalgic four-course celebration of 30 years of Good Food, Good Wine and Good Times.

• HŌSEKI at Delaire Graff Estate’s Nihon Jūdan, an elegant culinary journey through regional Japanese flavours.

• Muratie Farm Kitchen’s Story Room Experience, where exceptional wines, slow-cooked cuisine and heritage storytelling come together.

• Pink Valley Restaurant’s Pink Drinks & Petite Plates experience, pairing rosé wines with beautifully crafted tasting plates.

• Warwick Wine Estate’s signature gourmet slider and wine pairing.

• Lanzerac’s guided Taste Lanzerac experience and Family Style Sundays.

• Klein Joostenberg Bistro’s spectacular long table farm brunch celebrating seasonal produce, artisan charcuterie, oysters and sparkling wine.

But Taste Stellenbosch doesn’t end at the table.

Some places deserve more than a day

Exceptional seasonal accommodation experiences at boutique guesthouses, luxury hotels, vineyard estates and countryside retreats invite visitors to slow down and stay a little longer. Wake up among the vineyards, linger over another breakfast, discover another cellar, book another table and give yourself the greatest luxury of all: another day to experience the flavours, people and unexpected moments that make Stellenbosch unforgettable.

Because the best meals are never rushed. Neither is Stellenbosch.

Taste Stellenbosch accommodation highlights include:

• 10 Alexander B&B: Stay for two nights and savour a third night free at the #1-rated Tripadvisor B&B in Stellenbosch.

• Rozenburg Guesthouse: Stay within walking distance of Stellenbosch’s historic village centre, top restaurants and wineries, and enjoy 30% off your accommodation.

• Spier Wine Farm: Book two nights or more and receive R1,600 credit to indulge across dining, wine and spa experiences.

Discover the full range of participating accommodation at: taste.visitstellenbosch.org/accommodation/

Come hungry. Leave inspired. Return soon.

Taste Stellenbosch runs from 1 August to 20 September 2026.

Discover the full programme of dining experiences, accommodation packages and seasonal inspiration at: taste.visitstellenbosch.org

About Visit Stellenbosch

Visit Stellenbosch is the official destination marketing organisation for Stellenbosch, working in partnership with tourism businesses, local government and industry stakeholders to position Stellenbosch as one of South Africa’s leading year-round leisure, lifestyle and business events destinations. Through strategic destination marketing, visitor services and industry collaboration, Visit Stellenbosch inspires travellers to discover the region’s exceptional wine, award-winning culinary experiences, rich heritage, vibrant culture and breathtaking natural landscapes.

“This vegan certification not only demonstrates our commitment to a greener, animal-friendly future; it also means that vegan drinkers can now enjoy our wines,” says Frans K. Smit, Spier’s Cellar Master. “The certification of these four ranges is an important first step and represents a significant percentage of the wines we offer. This does not affect the taste of the wines in any way, and we intend to have the rest of our wines Vegan Standard-accredited in the coming years.”

Veganism is a growing trend globally for various reasons; these include carbon footprint reduction and the prevention of animals’ exploitation and suffering.

“Trustworthiness and credibility of certain claims – vegan in this instance – through independent auditing and certification is of paramount importance,” explains Jordi Meijer, the Managing Director (South Africa) of Control Union, an international certification and inspection company with operations in over 70 countries. “When they see the Control Union Vegan Standard seal, vegans can be confident that they are buying something that aligns with their ideals.”

Why are wines often not vegan?

In order to make wines clear and bright, many wineries use animal-derived fining agents. The most popular of these are casein (a milk protein), albumin (egg whites), gelatin (animal protein) and isinglass (fish bladder protein). During the winemaking process, harmless organic particles that make the wine cloudy (including protein and yeast molecules) become attached to the fining agent and sink, making it easy for them to be removed – and for the wine to become clear. Because tiny traces of the fining agent may be absorbed into the wine, the wines that use animal-derived fining agents are not considered vegan.

Fortunately, there are non-animal alternatives – such as activated charcoal, bentonite or clay-based fining agents – which Spier is now using instead. In addition, Spier only uses vegan-friendly wine additives and cleaning materials.

You’ve probably heard some of the weird and wonderful stories over the years, from tales of aircraft toilets that will suck you in to not drinking the water on board. Here are some of these myths demystified by the Association of Southern African Travel Agents (ASATA):

1. You can get sucked into an aircraft toilet

While it is true that aircraft toilets operate with a very powerful vacuum system, the truth is that’s highly unlikely. The vacuum system on aircraft toilets only work near or close to mouth of the disposal pipe. Thus, unless, there is an airtight seal between the bowl and seat, it is highly unlikely that you will be flushed away. So, basically the good news is that toilets and the vacuum systems on aircraft are designed in such a way that you will not be sucked into the toilet.

2. Opening a door during a flight

There are at least a couple of reports annually about an unruly passenger who has threatened to open aircraft doors mid-flight. However, it would probably require the strength of the Incredible Hulk to open an aircraft door mid-flight. The pressure inside and outside the aircraft cabin is not the same after take-off. The mechanical system locking the doors allow for cabin pressure to be exerted on the door after it is closed and basically the force with which this takes place is determined by the difference in interior and exterior air pressure and the surface area of the door. In short, you cannot just open the door at cruising altitude.

3. Lightning strikes

Flying through a thunder storm will certainly cause a great deal of turbulence, but sophisticated navigation systems and up-to-date weather reports help aircraft avoid flying through these so that their passengers remain comfortable, not necessarily to keep the plane in the air. When it comes to lightning strikes, it is true that a strike can damage an aircraft’s systems. The good news is that this will not be to the extent that the flight’s safety will be jeopardised.

4. Dumping of toilet waste

There is a huge misconception that aircraft dump their toilet waste above the ocean. This is by no means true. All waste during a flight is sucked down a pipe into waste tanks located near the rear of the aircraft and then emptied at the arriving airport after each landing.

5. You get drunk quicker on a plane

Of course, it’s never a good idea to stretch your limits on the amount of alcohol you can consume thousands of feet in the air or any other time for that matter. But in truth, you wouldn’t get drunk quicker than on land if you were to do so. If you feel like your normal one or two glasses of wine has more of a kick than usual, it’s simply because of the effect of drier air and less oxygen at a higher altitude.