South Africa's Cape Winelands & Peninsula – Premier

Begin your stay in the Cape Winelands with an overnight flight to Cape Town, South Africa's 'Mother City'. 

Land at Cape Town airport, where you'll be met by your friendly transfer representative Board the coach and then travel inland to the famous Winelands and the upscale Webersburg Wine Estate, your home for the next seven nights. This five-star estate sits on the lower slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, whose name comes from the Dutch for 'clear mountain'. The farm was established in 1693 under the name Groenerivier, and its whitewashed homestead, with the curved gables typical of Cape Dutch architecture, has stood since 1786. 

After checking in, you'll be welcomed with a tasting of the estate's wines, then have time to settle in before your first dinner at the estate's sophisticated restaurant, overlooking the mountains. 

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on your first morning at the estate before joining the estate team for a private mid-morning tour of the vineyards. Webersburg makes its wines in limited quantities, and you'll hear how the decomposed granite soils and cool sea breezes of this corner of the Winelands give them their character. Afterwards, taste the estate's classic range with views across the vines to the mountains beyond. 

The afternoon is then yours to take advantage of the estate's facilities, perhaps relaxing by the swimming pool or playing a game of tennis. 

Alternatively, if you'd like to explore further under your own steam, you can hop on the free shuttle into Stellenbosch. This town was founded in 1679, which makes it South Africa's second oldest after Cape Town. Its nickname, Eikestad, or 'city of oaks', comes from the oak trees planted along its streets in its early years. 

Stroll along Dorp Street, lined with some of the country's best-preserved historic buildings, or browse the art galleries, boutique shops, and pretty cafés around the Braak, the town's old village green. A stop at a local wine bar also offers the opportunity to taste more of the region's most acclaimed labels and learn about the town's winemaking heritage, which dates back more than 300 years. 

Later, return on the shuttle in time for dinner at the estate. 

Have breakfast before setting out for a full day along the Cape Peninsula. Your first stretch is the legendary Chapman's Peak Drive, a road carved into the cliffs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek. Its 114 curves wind high above the Atlantic, and it's regarded as one of the world's great coastal drives. 

Continue to Cape Point Nature Reserve and the Cape of Good Hope, a rugged headland with clifftop lookouts over the Atlantic Ocean. It isn't the country's most southerly point, but with nothing but open ocean ahead, it certainly feels like it. You'll have time here to explore the reserve on foot, following one of its walking trails along the cliffs. Along the way, take in the colourful native fynbos and, in season, the flower-strewn fields of the UNESCO-listed Cape Floral Region, which covers a tiny fraction of Africa yet is home to nearly a fifth of its plant species. 

Reboard your coach for the return leg of the day's tour. On the way back, stop in or around the historic naval town of Simon's Town, where you'll have time for lunch (at your own expense) in one of its harbourside cafés and restaurants. Afterwards, head to nearby Boulders Beach. The African penguin colony here began with just two breeding pairs in 1982 and is now one of the best known in the world, with boardwalks that let you watch the birds among the granite boulders. It's also a reminder of why conservation matters, as the African penguin is now classed as critically endangered. It makes a great photo stop to round off a memorable day on the Cape. 

Dinner will be served back at the estate. 

After a leisurely breakfast, you'll take part in a chocolate and wine tasting, pairing the estate's wines with chocolate to see how each one brings out different flavours in the other. 

The rest of the day is yours to spend as you like. Meander around the grounds and lakeside, with the Helderberg as a backdrop, or book one of the estate's own experiences, such as a high tea, a Jeep tour through the vineyards, or a cooking experience (payable locally). 

This evening, gather with your fellow travellers for a braai, South Africa's much-loved tradition of cooking over open coals. It's as much a social occasion as a meal, and it matters so much here that 24 September, Heritage Day, is also known as National Braai Day.

When you’ve had breakfast, travel over the hills to Franschhoek. Its name means 'French corner', after the Huguenot refugees who settled the valley from 1688 and brought their winemaking skills with them. Your tour will introduce you to the village, where the Huguenot Monument stands at the end of the main street against a backdrop of mountains. 

If you'd like to see more of the valley, you can join the optional Franschhoek Wine Tram. This hop-on, hop-off route links some of the area's wine estates, travelling by a mix of vintage trams and open-air buses past vineyard-laden hills, and you'll learn about the valley's winemaking history along the way. 

You can enjoy tastings at the winery stops (at your own expense) and tuck into cheese and charcuterie platters as you go. Alternatively, stop for a meal in the charming village (at your own expense), which is known for its restaurants. 

Return to the estate later in the afternoon, perhaps for a swim in the pool or to relax on a lounger, before dinner is served at the restaurant.

Today, following a leisurely breakfast, a special wine blending experience awaits. Many of the world's best-known wines are blends, where the winemaker balances one grape's structure against another's fruit or softness to create something neither could manage alone. Guided by Webersburg's winemakers, you'll begin by tasting the individual varieties on their own and noting what each one brings. Then, with measuring cylinders in hand, you'll experiment with different proportions until you find a blend that suits your taste. Your finished wine is bottled for you to take home, a personal souvenir of your time on the estate. 

This afternoon is set aside for a harvest picnic. Choose a spot in the estate's gardens, perhaps looking out over the lake or in front of the Cape Dutch Manor House, with the old oak trees offering shade. Your basket comes filled with freshly baked ciabatta, marinated olives, a selection of cheeses and a butternut, feta and sundried tomato quiche, and you might spot some of the resident ducks while you eat. 

Spend as long as you like before heading back to your cottage, then join the group for dinner on the estate this evening. 

After breakfast, head out on a full day's tour of Cape Town, which showcases its diverse cultural influences, and most iconic sights. Your first stops are some of the city's most important buildings, including the Houses of Parliament, home to South Africa's legislature, and the Castle of Good Hope, a 17th-century bastion built by the Cape's Dutch settlers. As you travel through the city's bustling streets, you'll also see the impressive Edwardian City Hall, with its intricate limestone facades. 

Next, enjoy a gentle morning stroll through the manicured Company's Garden. First laid out by the Dutch East India Company in 1652 to grow fresh produce for passing ships, it's the oldest garden in the country and is now home to a mesmerising assortment of exotic plants. 

Continue to the Bo-Kaap on the slopes of Signal Hill, where brightly painted houses line cobbled streets. Many of its early residents were enslaved people and political exiles brought to the Cape from Southeast Asia and beyond. Their descendants, the Cape Malay community, shaped the city's faith, language and food, and dishes such as bobotie are still part of everyday Cape cooking. 

From here, travel to the V&A Waterfront, which takes its name from Queen Victoria and her son Prince Alfred, who tipped the first load of rock for the harbour's breakwater in 1860. You'll have free time here for lunch (at your own expense) and a spot of shopping in its waterside boutiques and markets. 

This afternoon, drive up to the foot of Table Mountain, weather permitting. Rising to around 3,560ft, this magnificent flat-topped peak has been an emblem of South Africa since the first European settlers arrived at the Cape. If you'd like, board the aerial cableway for an easy ascent to the summit, where you can enjoy 360-degree views over the city and its glorious surrounding landscapes, perhaps with a drink or a snack from the café at the top. Alternatively, stay at the base station and take in the views from there.  

Return to the estate for your final dinner with your fellow travellers. 

Enjoy a last breakfast looking out over the vineyards before travelling to Cape Town airport for your overnight flight home. 

Arrive back in the UK.