About Blaauwklippen Wine Trails
Guided hiking & tasting tours currently run every day of the week, starting at 07:45. Pre-bookings only.
Bookings will close 24 hours prior to commencement time and date.
Get ready for an outdoor adventure that will invigorate mind, body and soul and allow you to immerse yourself in the beauty of the Stellenbosch Winelands! Located just off the R44 outside Stellenbosch and set against the backdrop of Stellenbosch mountain, you’ll find the historic Blaauwklippen Wine Estate.
Blaauwklippen, established in 1682, is one of the oldest wine estates in South Africa, boasting centuries of winemaking tradition and expertise. The estate has over 300 hectares under vine. With its spectacular setting it is truly an idyllic spot for wine lovers and adventurers alike. It is easily accessible for day trips or weekend getaways and certainly one of South Africa’s most beloved wine destinations.
There is a lot to experience on the estate itself, but the purpose of our Blaauwklippen Wine Trails network is to not only show off our estate as a departure point and grand finale lunch venue after your walk, but it is also to provide a fun day out for visitors in a truly inspiring winelands setting.
The trail distance is 7.5km in total and a comfortable walk for anyone with a fair level of fitness. No special hiking equipment is required, but we recommend the following:
comfortable clothing and walking shoes (sneakers are sufficient / no need for hiking boots),
a lightweight backpack or shoulder bag for your phone, camera, wallet, and a bottle of water,
a warm jacket and rain jacket as it may get chilly along the way or start drizzling,
binoculars,
sunscreen and a hat or cap.
After the tasting at Dornier, we only have a relatively short distance to cover, reaching the very impressive and unique Stellenzicht Wine Pod. The distinctive shape of the venue was specifically designed to ‘bring nature into the structure’. You would want to tell everyone about the Wine Pod, but at the same time keep it a secret as this tranquil spot simply must be savoured and shared with special people. As you step into the wine tasting area and are seated, wine glasses and chocolates laid out for the tasting experience, you already feel pampered. The journey through the wine and chocolate pairing is memorable and information given about the unique setting and wine-making philosophy always leave our guests yearning for a return visit to experience more!
We are delighted and honoured to have partners like Dornier and Stellenzicht on our Blouklip Trail who are collaborating with us and adding fantastic value to our Wine Trails offering.
The BLOUKLIP TRAIL meanders through lush vineyards, indigenous fynbos and orchards. Along the way, your guide will point out places of interest, various landmarks, share some of the local history, as well as fascinating details about the local fauna and flora.
On the Blouklip Trail you will have the opportunity to appreciate the rich biodiversity of our Cape Floral Kingdom. South Africa lays claim to the third highest level of biodiversity in the world. Much of this natural heritage cannot be seen anywhere else on earth. Covering 90 000km², it is estimated that each 1 000km² of this floral kingdom contains a staggering 465 species!
Marvel at the kaleidoscope of colours and textures displayed by the region’s native plant species, from delicate wildflowers to hardy shrubs and aromatic herbs. Keep an eye out for elusive wildlife, including various bird species, small mammals, and endemic reptiles that call this unique habitat home. (See our Fauna and Flora page for more information.)
As you first walk through the vineyards and then through the section of fynbos with the mountains as a background, you get a sense of how precious the ecosystem is and every creature that lives within it. Protecting our natural environment and educating our visitors about the fauna and flora in this region, are part of what we’re passionate about as we develop this network of trails.
As you’ll see from our route map, our first wine tasting is at the impressive and modern Dornier Wine Estate tasting centre where we sit in the courtyard to taste three wines and enjoy a delicious fresh bagel. This serves as very welcome mid-morning sustenance to get us through to lunch later.
Dornier is situated within the famous wine sub-region, The Golden Triangle, which stretches from the foothills of the Helderberg to the edge of the Stellenbosch Mountains. Dornier’s focus is on the production of premium quality red and white wines that are expressive of the unique terroir of the area. The tasting centre staff treat our group of hikers to a very informative tasting and truly exceptional wines. (You’re welcome to place your orders to take home or be delivered.)
But the festivities do not end here! Our journey back to Blaauwklippen is a fun Tractor Ride back down the valley, bringing our group to the restaurant for a leisurely lunch, paired with a selection of our premium wines that capture the essence of the Winelands terroir. From our signature Bordeaux blends to our award-winning Chenin Blanc, each bottle tells a story of passion, dedication, and the unique character of our vineyards. Our guests are offered insights into our winemaking techniques and the history of the estate.
After lunch we say our goodbyes and wish you safe travels until we meet again for another Wine Trail!