The winery has quite a few holiday surprises in store, besides the wine tasting, of course (which is fantastic). There's a bakery, a generous lunch is served, you can enjoy a more elaborate or quick dinner, and if you don't want to go home, there are also several attractive bedrooms. Although, between all the drinking and eating, we also highly recommend stopping by Boschendal Rent a mountain bike for a long or short bike ride through the wine country. Which you will of course finish with a farm style lunch at one of the Boschendal seats, which are spread across the estate like small islands. 

Or strap a picnic basket, well-stocked by the bakery, winemakers, and farmers of Boschendal, onto your bike and choose your own spot. Highly recommended. The locals love cycling anyway: they regularly organize a mountain bike race from Stellenbosch to the farmAnd on Friday evenings, there's a night market. Party time. Fun for everyone, but Boschendal is definitely recommended for those traveling with kids thanks to the garden, including plenty of water fun for the little ones. Add to that thebuild your own pizza' at the Deli, and – for those who dare – a horseback ride at the weekend (three euros for children), and the party called Boschendal is complete.

And as if all that wasn't enough, chef Peter Tempelhoff (of the award-winning FYN in Cape Town) has opened Arum Restaurant, also opening its doors on the Boschendal Estate. Along with culinary director Ashley Moss and sommelier Jennifer Hugé, Tempelhoff is bringing fire-driven cuisine to the valley, inspired by the arum lily, the flower that grows ubiquitously in the region. The restaurant opened in the historic Werf Building (the original cellar of the 1812 manor house).

Anyway: staying where things are happening is, of course, a more than excellent idea! The Boschendal Farm Estate is just across the street (which you usually do by car), and that initially seemed a bit of a disappointment to us, but it turned out to be wonderfully pleasant and peaceful, yet still right in the heart of Boschendal. goodness.

If it is not what you are looking for (we can hardly imagine it), we can direct your attention to The Farmstead, a little further on? Best value for money we found in all of South Africa. No common areas, but a top location and great self-service houses.