Groot Phesantekraal: Everything You Need To Know Before Visiting

Cassy van Eeden

Groot Phesantekraal is the ideal estate if you’re looking to kick off your wine farm journey.

It’s a small and intimate farm in the Western Cape that offers a variety of wine-tasting options and a seasonal menu with something for everyone.

We visited Groot Phesantekraal on a summer’s day, starting with breakfast at their restaurant and then learning about the farm’s history while we sipped wine in their tasting room.

Keep reading to discover what we loved about our visit and why we’d return for more.

The Groot Phesantekraal Wine Estate Experience

Here’s what you can expect and what we recommend after our trip to Groot Phesantekraal: 

What to expect

✔️ A small, intimate wine farm

✔️ A restaurant perfect for experiencing local cuisine

✔️ Wine tastings in the tasting room

✔️ A working farm with animals like zebras and buffalo

This image shows the shaded outdoor seating area on the estate. By D.Koen
This image shows a glass of red wine and carafe, placed on a table next to a GROOT PHESANTEKRAAL brochure. By D.Koen

We recommend

☕️ Breakfast and coffee at the wine estate restaurant

🍷 A glass of their Berliet Pinotage 2021

This image shows a man holding a bottle of Berliet Pinotage and a carafe of red wine. By D.Koen

If I had to sum it up…

This is one of the smaller wine farms I’ve visited, but the intimate atmosphere is ideal if you’re looking for a quiet, relaxed day out.

Their restaurant offers a wide variety of meals and a diverse menu—you’re sure to find something you’ll love.

The farm’s newly renovated tasting room has limited tables and an outside patio, creating a private and intimate tasting experience.

💡 Visiting Information

The Groot Phesantekraal wine farm is located in the Durbanville Wine Valley near Cape Town. 

The farm is a 40-minute drive from the Cape Town city bowl and is located around 18 miles from the Cape Town International Airport.

Address:

Klipheuwel Road

R302

Cape Town

Contact Details:

+27 (21) 825 0060

restaurant@phesantekraal.co.za

Opening Times:

  • Restaurant:Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:60, and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 to 16:30 (kitchen closes at 15:30)
  • Tasting Room:Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 18:00, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 17:00 (the last tastings start at 17:30 during the week and 16:30 on weekends)

 

How to Book:

Reserve a tasting slot or table at the restaurant by visiting the Groot Phesantekraal website.

First Impressions

Groot Phesantekraal is a working farm surrounded by wide open spaces. The expansive vineyards meet wheat fields in the distance.

You’ll get to see buffalo, sheep, geese, cattle, and zebras as you explore the estate.

There’s ample parking space, and guests can visit the tasting room, restaurant, and vegetable garden, all conveniently located within the same small vicinity.

Although this is a historic farm, you can expect quite a modern space.

Our Wine Experience

When we visited the newly-renovated tasting room, we asked the staff to let us taste their most popular and elegant wines. We were presented with two of their most renowned options: their Chenin Blanc 2023 and Berliet Pinotage 2021. We had a glass of each.

Here I am reading about the wines:

This image shows a woman being served in the estate's wine tasting area. Bottles of wine and jars line shelves on the wall. By D.Koen
This image shows a woman reading a menu. Jars of ingredients line the shelves on the wall. By D.Koen

Here’s what we learned about these two Groot Phesantekraal wines:

🍷 Chenin Blanc

This wine has won gold at the International Wine and Spirits Awards and the Veritas Gold Award in 2023.

This image shows a waiter pouring white wine into a carafe. By D.Koen
This image shows a glass of white wine and carafe on a table. By D.Koen
This image shows a close-up of the estate's Sauvignon Blanc wine next to a carafe filled with it. By D.Koen
This image shows a bottle Sauvignon Blanc on a bar next to an empty glass and carafe. By D.Koen

The Chenin Blanc grapes ripened later than usual. This allowed for extended hang time in the vineyard, leading to a higher concentration of flavours in the bunches. 

I found this wine to be sharper than what I would typically expect from a Chenin Blanc. It has tropical fruit aromas with a hint of pear.

🍷 Berliet Pinotage

The Pinotage vines at Groot Phesantekraal are planted on the south-easterly facing slope of the farm. As a result, they have slower ripening times and prolonged hangtime for the bunches. This results in a higher concentration of flavours in the final profile of the wine, giving it a complex, rich taste.

This image shows a man pouring red wine into a carafe. By D.Koen
This image shows a woman preparing to drink a glass of red wine. By D.Koen
This image shows a waiter pouring a glass of red wine for a woman. By D.Koen
This image shows a bottle of wine next to a full carafe. By: D Koen

This wine has bright red fruit on the nose, together with a bouquet of allspice, vanilla, and cinnamon, as well as nuances of dried rose petals.

The Berliet Pinotage is a limited release and will develop further complexity with careful cellaring, so be sure to pick up a bottle while you’re there.

🍷 Wine tasting options

The Groot Phesantekraal’s tasting room offers two options:

  • The Reserve Tasting: Five wines for R120 ($6) per person, including their 2023 Rosé, 2023 Chenin Blanc, 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, 2022 Cape Francolin Red Blend, and 2021 Pinotage
  • The Estate Tasting: Five wines for R100 ($5) per person, including their Cap Classique De Blanc, 2022 Anna de Koning Chenin Blanc, 2022 Marizanne Sauvignon Blanc, 2022 Syrah, and their 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Here’s a photo of the wine-tasting menu so that you can learn more about what this experience offers:

This image shows the Groot Phesantekraal wine-tasting menu. By D.Koen

You can add a cheese and charcuterie platter to your tasting for an additional R335 ($17). All wine tastings are free if you purchase a cellar-door wine for more than R650 ($33). An extra-large glass of wine from their limited-release range can be added to your tasting for R25 ($1).

We recommend you set aside at least 50 minutes to an hour to enjoy the complete tasting experience.

Hungry, Anyone? What We Ate (and What We’ll Go Back For)

The wine estate restaurant is located in restored mule stables and offers a combination of contemporary and country-style meal options. You’ll get to experience seasonal menus showcasing a variety of authentic recipes.

💡 Visiting Information

Reservations:

We recommend making a booking ahead of time by calling +27 (21) 825 0060.

Menu:

You can view their full menu on the Groot Phesantekraal website

Seating:

Indoor and outdoor seating is available.

For breakfast, you can choose from options like the Hunter Benedict, brioche French toast, or even apple crumble parfait.

Lunch includes dishes such as rooibos smoked salmon, vegetarian samp and bean risotto, and a selection of pizzas with interesting topping combinations like pork belly and pumpkin.

This is what the restaurant looks like:

This image shows a glass door and blue-and-white china plates on display at the entrance of the restaurant. By D.Koen
This image shows the shaded outdoor seating area on the estate. By D.Koen

The restaurant is the ideal place for adults to relax, unwind, and enjoy excellent food and wine, but it’s not really suitable for children.

What stood out for us was the coffee they served us with breakfast. If you love it as much as we did, you can purchase their beans from the restaurant while you’re there.

Here’s us enjoying a cappuccino:

This image shows a cup of coffee being stirred. By D.Koen
This image shows a cup of coffee on a table. By D.Koen
This image shows a bag of coffee beans produced on the estate. By: D. Koen
This image shows a person enjoying coffee while reading a menu. By D.Koen

If you’re looking for a less traditional breakfast, we recommend you try the Shakshuka! Here I am enjoying every bite:

This image shows a close-up of shakshuka being eaten. By D.Koen
This image shows shakshuka being served in a brown bowl, with two wraps on the side. By D.Koen
This image shows hands holding a bite of shashuka. By D.Koen
This image shows a close-up of the shakshuka. By D.Koen

We’d definitely visit the restaurant again to try more dishes on the menu and participate in one of their wine tastings.

Everything Else You Need to Know about Groot Phesantekraal Wine Estate

Groot Phesantekraal has a rich history and offers a wide selection of wines, so you’re sure to find a favourite.

📜 History

The wine farm was founded by Captain Olof Bergh in 1698 when the land was given to him by the governor at the time. By 1756, over 40,000 vines had been established.

This image shows the modern entrance of the farm, with the GROOT PHESANTEKRAAL inscription and crest. By D.Koen

It was then passed on to the Louw family, who lived on the farm for several generations until the property was purchased by Andrew Brink in 1897. The Brink family now manages the farm.

Their very first Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz were bottled in 2005, when the Phesantekraal brand was launched. Subsequently, their first Pinotage was produced in 2007.

🍇 Their wines

The Groot Phesantekraal farm is in the perfect location to grow vines and produce wine. This is because the environment benefits from a cool sea breeze from the Atlantic Ocean and the dry heat of the Durbanville Wine Valley.

This climate and the farm’s fertile soil enable the Brink family to produce award-winning wines such as their Chenin Blanc. They’re also well-known for their Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, and Shiraz.

This image shows five bottles of wine displayed on a wooden board with roses behind them. By D.Koen
This image shows a bottle of MCC alongside a glass of it. By D.Koen
This image shows a row of Groot Phesantekraal Pinotage bottles. By D.Koen
This image shows three bottles of a limited edition Chardonnay Pinot Noir blend. By D.Koen

You can shop their entire range on the Groot Phesantekraal website, with prices ranging from R84 to R290 ($4.50 to $15).

👉 The last sip

This was a unique wine farm to explore, as it’s much smaller than some of the other estates in the area. 

If you’re looking for an intimate wine-tasting experience and want to try some interesting dishes, Groot Phesantekraal is a great choice.

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Groot Phesantekraals Explorer: Megan Haskis

This image shows the site explorer.

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.

Favourite Wine

Red: Shiraz

White: Chenin Blanc

Ideal Wine Farm: 

Somewhere relaxed with mountain views

Our Writer: Cassy van Eeden

This image shows the writer.

Cassy is a senior copywriter based in Cape Town. She loves visiting local wine farms, especially those on the Durbanville wine route.

Favourite Wine:

Anything semi-sweet

Ideal Wine Farm:

One with plenty of space to kick back and relax

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