Considered to be the jewel of the Cape Winelands, Delaire Graff is a high-end estate that combines art and wine to provide visitors with a unique experience.
Read on to discover everything you need to know before visiting this beautiful wine estate.
The Delaire Graff Experience
What to expect
An upmarket and luxurious environment
Welcoming and attentive staff
Delicious wines with bold flavors
A beautiful collection of local and international art
We recommend
The Estate Range tasting, featuring our ultimate favorite Sauvignon Blanc
Browsing the paintings and statues found all over the farm
If we had to sum it up
Delaire Graff offers one of the most luxurious and high-end wine farm experiences in the country with their fine dining options, on-site jewelry store, and extensive art collection.
However, the extravagance of the venue doesn’t mean that the staff are unapproachable or that you’ll feel out of place.
Their personnel go the extra mile to make your visit unforgettable, from providing extra information during wine tastings to ensuring that you are comfortable at all times.
Location and Opening Times Delaire Graff is about an hour’s drive from Cape Town, offering stunning views of the valley and surrounding landscape along the way. It’s located along the Helshoogte Mountain Pass just outside of Stellenbosch.
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10 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday, and 10 am to 4.30 pm on Sundays First impressions
The views surrounding the drive to the farm are beautiful, and there are also plenty of other top-rated wine estates along the way.
Although the property is small, they make exceptional use of the space. Vineyards fill the outside and come right up to the parking area, and the bar features wrap-around seating to maximize the inside space.
The guest area contains a beautiful building with an intimate open-air patio where you can enjoy a glass of wine or a meal. The tasting room is on the inside, next to the jewelry and clothing store.
You can see a photo of the patio here 
Waterways pass through the building, giving the entire property a feeling of tranquility that encourages visitors to relax and unwind.
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There is a ton of parking available on the estate, making it easily accessible if you want to drive there yourself. It also offers parking space for minibuses transporting guests. Art galore
Delaire Graff is one of the few wine estates that has an extensive art collection on display for the public.
Bronze statues can be found all over the property, and a stunning assortment of paintings by local and international artists decorate the inside of the buildings.
One of the highlights of their collection has to be Chinese Girl by Vladimir Tretchikoff—often considered to be one of the most iconic pieces of the 20th century.
The girl in the painting was a laundromat worker in Cape Town who caught the eye of the Russian painter in the 1950s.
The painting was bought by Laurence Graff—the owner of the estate—for £1.5 million in 2013, and it has adorned the walls of the farm ever since. It’s currently on display at the entrance of Delaire Graff’s main building.
You can read more about the background of the painting here.
Visitors can explore the various sculptures spread out across the garden. You’ll find abstract pieces by Anton Smit and South Africa-inspired bronze sculptures by Dylan Lewis, among others.
The garden itself is also a work of art created by the globally recognised Keith Kirsten. He used his extensive knowledge of African flora to create a lush environment brimming with indigenous trees, flowers, and plants.
Our wine experience
The tastings are done in the wine lounge and bar, a beautifully decorated space that captures the upmarket vibe of the estate perfectly
Inside Info
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We enjoyed the Estate Range, which features three signature Delaire Graff wines for R75 ($4).
Our favorite was the Coastal Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc — think tropical fruit flavors that are fresh, crisp, and extremely easy to drink — and the Rosé was a close second.
Our third wine was Shiraz, which was also delicious. It has rich plum and dark chocolate flavors, perfect for a winter’s day.
A friend who joined us for the tasting wasn’t a big red wine drinker, and the staff happily exchanged her Shiraz for a Chardonnay.
Speaking of the staff, the wine steward leading our tasting was fantastic, too.
He was incredibly knowledgeable and provided extra tidbits of information on how the wines are produced and which foods to pair them with.
Other tasting options include:
- Estate Range with four wines for R100 ($5) or five wines for R125 ($6)
- Red wine tasting with five wines for R280 ($15)
- Icon tasting with five wines for R350 ($18)
All the wines offered in their tastings are available for purchase by the glass or bottle.
They also have assorted cheese, charcuterie, and olive platters available to snack on while enjoying the wines.
Below is a photo of the wine bar and some of their very attentive staff.
Other Delaire Graff Details
A brief history
The property where Delaire Graff sits was founded in 1679 by Simon van der Stel, an explorer with a dream of bringing viticulture to the Western Cape.
In 1982, the estate was named Delaire—meaning “from the sky”—as an ode to the magnificent views.
In 2003, the wine farm was purchased by the chairman of Graff Diamonds, Laurence Graff. He vowed to transform it into the country’s most desirable wine estate and is responsible for the world-class destination Delaire Graff is today.
The wines of Delaire Graff
Delaire Graff is home to 17 hectares of vineyards that benefit from a combination of different soils. This makes it the perfect location for creating wines with rich and bold flavors.
Red wine
The estate produces a variety of red wines, blended and aged to perfection. Here’s what you can look out for:
- Shiraz
- Delaire Graff Botmaskop (red blend)
- Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve Merlot
- Delaire Graff Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
- The Banghoek (a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Malbec)
- Laurence Graff Reserve
White wine
Delaire Graff produces a range of white wines and MCCs that are refreshing, crisp, and easy to drink. Here’s what’s available:
- Delaire Graff Coastal Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc
- Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve Chardonnay
- Delaire Graff Estate Terraced Block Chardonnay
- Delaire Graff Sunrise Brut MCC NV
Rosé
Although the estate only has one Rosé on offer—the Delaire Graff Cabernet Franc Rosé—it has become a popular product among visitors.
It offers a light and refreshing drinking experience that can be enjoyed year-round.
Dessert wine
For the perfect end to a delicious meal, the Delaire Graff dessert wines are a great choice. You can choose between:
- Delaire Graff Sunburst Noble Late Harvest (white)
- Delaire Graff Cape Vintage (red)
Dining at Delaire Graff
Delaire Graff Restaurant
This restaurant is a year-round culinary destination where visitors can enjoy bistro-style favorites with a South African flair.
You’ll have a few dining options at the Delaire Graff restaurant. Choose between a casual alfresco style—on the terrace under the oak trees—or an upmarket indoor meal surrounded by the estate’s art collections.
The restaurant also offers a Signature Chef’s Dinner that features a specially-crafted seven-course menu, complete with a wine pairing.
It’s priced at R1,550 ($82) per person and must be booked beforehand.
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Bookings are essential and can be made by phoning HÕSEKI
HÕSEKI—meaning “jewel” in Japanese—is a fine dining restaurant where guests can indulge in contemporary cuisine with a vibrant and creative flair.
Dishes are served to be shared, and styled to honor Japanese culture and customs.
This gave us the perfect opportunity to taste a variety of the foods on offer—and with so many options to choose from, this was really a bonus!
We highly recommend the ostrich tartare soup or the spinach, walnuts, apple, and radish salad to start your meal.
For mains, the salmon tataki or ume-glazed duck breasts are both great choices. You can also go for the vegetarian option: aubergine miso yaki.
Finish your fine dining experience with HÕSEKI’s iconic green tea cheesecake or the classic South African favorite, a Sweetie Pie, paired with raspberry sorbet.
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Stay at Delaire Graff
For visitors looking to spend more time exploring the estate, Delaire Graff has a number of luxury accommodation options.
- The Superior Lodges offer single-bedroom options that can be interconnected. Each one is complete with a living room, private deck, and heated plunge pool. It’s ideal for small families or couples traveling together.
- The Luxury Lodges are single-room options with an en suite, private plunge pool, and living room. This is a great option for couples looking for a romantic getaway.
- The Garden Lodges overlook the estate’s private gardens and offer an en suite bathroom, private terrace, and heated plunge pool. It’s also a lovely choice for couples or solo travelers looking for a peaceful vacation.
- The Presidential Lodges are the epitome of luxury living on the estate. Both of these rooms offer exceptional views of the mountains and vineyards. Guests can enjoy the spacious living areas, kitchen, outside dining terraces, pool deck, and large plunge pool.
To avoid disappointment, make sure to plan ahead and book online.
The Delaire Graff Spa
For a day of wellness and relaxation, Delaire Graff’s art-inspired spa is the place to be.
The bespoke treatments are delivered by expert therapists, and the spa prides itself on using globally recognised products to deepen your experience.
When you arrive at the spa, a therapist helps you create a tailored package that addresses any specific needs you may have. These spa experiences range from 45 minutes to 8 hours.
You can also opt for their Icon journeys, which feature half-day spa and steam room experiences, complete with a three-course lunch from HÕSEKI.
Guests have exclusive access to the on-site pool and jacuzzi—a relaxing spot to unwind after your treatment. We highly recommend enjoying a glass of bubbles here, too!
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The Last Sip
Our day at Delaire Graff was truly remarkable, and I would recommend it to anyone who visits Cape Town.
The staff are some of the friendliest I’ve encountered, and they made the entire experience so much more enjoyable.
It was lovely to walk around inside to enjoy the stunning art collection and stroll through the gardens to marvel at the sculptures.
The peaceful and intimate setting of the estate feels like a real spoil, and I would definitely go back to taste more of their wines—and revisit that Sauvignon Blanc!
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Delaire Graff Explorer: Megan Haskis
Megan has lived in Cape Town for 5 years and has dedicated much of her free time to exploring the amazing wine farms in the area. Favorite Wine: Red: Shiraz White: Chenin Blanc Ideal Wine Farm: Relaxed, with mountain views |
Our Editor: Nicola Spingies
Favorite Wine: Rosè: Any dry variation or Pinot Noir blend White: Chenin Blanc Ideal Wine Farm: Anywhere with mountain views, lots of trees, and a big lawn for a picnic |
