The safari through vines and farmland lasts three hours and takes no more than nine guests (as of September 2026). Boschendal is big: 1,900 hectares at Groot Drakenstein, where the Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek valleys meet. For tastings the estate requires you to book and pay in advance, and walk-ins get a seat only if one is free. You taste at the Cellar Door and in the Manor House.
- title deed, Huguenot Jean le Long
- 1685
- size of the estate
- 1,900 ha
- manor house built
- 1812
- Wine Tram lines: Orange and Green
- 2
The title deed dates from 1685, and the first owner was the Huguenot Jean le Long. The de Villiers family farmed here from 1715 to 1879, and in 1887 Cecil Rhodes bought the farm for his Rhodes Fruit Farms. Boschendal changed hands several times after that: to Anglo American in the late 1960s, to investors around Clive Venning in 2003, and to South African investors in 2012. The manor house has stood since 1812. The estate is known for its Blanc de Noir.
If you want more than wine, there are picnics on the werf, a deli, the Retreat and Arum restaurants, a farm shop with a butchery, horse rides and, for children, a treehouse, playground and pump track (as of September 2026). The Franschhoek Wine Tram stops here on the Orange and Green lines. From the stop a farm vehicle takes you to the tasting in 10 to 20 minutes.
- When
- Cellar Door daily 9.30am to 4.30pm, as of September 2026
Our tipBook and pay for your tasting online beforehand, especially at weekends. The Saturday morning Wine & Wander Safari has only nine places, as of September 2026.
Boschendal: frequently asked questions
Do you need to book a tasting at Boschendal?
Yes. Boschendal requires tastings to be booked and paid in advance, and walk-ins are seated only if there is space (as of September 2026).
Can you have a picnic at Boschendal?
Yes, Boschendal near Groot Drakenstein offers picnics on the werf, the historic farmyard. There is also a deli, two restaurants and a farm shop with a butchery.
Can you get to Boschendal on the Wine Tram?
Yes, the Franschhoek Wine Tram stops at Boschendal on its Orange and Green lines. From the stop a farm vehicle takes guests to the tasting room.