The bottles stand in a row on the counter, and there is little else to distract you. Kanonkop has no restaurant and offers no wine and food pairings, as the estate itself puts it. You taste in the tasting room, look round the gallery, which is free, and walk through the cellar on your own. Older write-ups mention snoek snacks with the tasting. That no longer matches what the estate says, as of September 2026.
- first wine under its own label
- 1973
- on the slopes of the Simonsberg
- R44
- gallery and self-guided cellar walk
- free
- restaurant or pairings
- none
The name comes from a hill. In the 17th and 18th centuries a cannon shot fired from there announced that ships had arrived in Table Bay. Kanonkop has bottled under its own label since 1973, and the flagship is named after Paul Sauer, who died in 1976. The Krige family estate calls itself the “Pioneers of Pinotage”, and its cellar masters have included Jan “Boland” Coetzee, Beyers Truter and Abrie Beeslaar. Part of the vineyard is old dryland bush vines on granite on the slopes of the Simonsberg.
- When
- Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 3pm, public holidays 10am to 4pm, as of September 2026
Our tipEat before or after at another estate, because there is no restaurant at Kanonkop. The estate lists no Sunday opening hours, as of September 2026.
Kanonkop: frequently asked questions
Can you eat at Kanonkop?
No. Kanonkop near Stellenbosch says it has neither a restaurant nor wine and food pairings. Older reports of snoek snacks with the tasting no longer match what the estate says.
What is Kanonkop known for?
Kanonkop calls itself the “Pioneers of Pinotage” and has bottled under its own label since 1973. Its flagship wine is named after Paul Sauer.
Is Kanonkop open on Sundays?
Kanonkop lists no Sunday opening hours. The tasting room opens on weekdays, Saturdays and public holidays (as of September 2026).