Spend the day at Lourensford in the Western Cape

A fun day activity when you're in Cape Town, South Africa during the summertime

Lourensford started life back in 1709 when it was carved from part of the old Vergelegen farm. After centuries as a fruit farm, winemaking came back to life here in the early 2000s under South African businessman Christo Wiese. The modern cellar and vineyards you see today were developed with great care, blending old-world roots with new-world thinking.

Where & what to expect

Lourensford Wine Estate sits in the Helderberg Valley, just outside Somerset West in the Western Cape of South Africa.

About 45 minutes from Cape Town by car
Right at the foot of the Helderberg Mountains
Close to the coast, so the estate gets cool sea breezes
Surrounded by vineyards, forests, and wide open lawns
It’s an easy stop if you’re staying in Somerset West, Stellenbosch, or Gordon’s Bay, and it works well as a relaxed half-day outing rather than a rushed tasting.

You drive in expecting a wine farm, and you arrive at something that feels more like a country village spread across green space — calm, scenic, and very easy to enjoy at your own pace.

A Travel and Home Review of our trip to Lourensford Wine Estate:

Our visit to Lourensford in Somerset West was a pleasant surprise. Having read about the market on Facebook, we expected to only find a wine estate with a few market stalls, but we got a whole lot more.

Firstly the natural landscape and the mountains surrounding Lourensford are jaw-dropping beautiful. From the moment our car turned towards the entrance, all the way to the market itself, we were using words like “Oh wow” and “Oh my word it’s beautiful”.

So what to expect:

First of all – Loads and loads of fun for the kids. There were playgrounds and safe-for-all-ages water activities as well as seating for parents to enjoy their food, while the kids were playing in a safe zone. There are loads of picnic spots, some under the trees, and some on the grass near the water play area. People were having their lunch at pretty benches under trees, or on their picnic blankets.

Secondly – Loads of fun for the adults. There was a band playing and the big seating area in front of the band was packed with people enjoying their food and drink. It clearly is a favorite venue for many. You can browse the many food stalls for something nice to eat, or you can go to one of the restaurants/deli on the property and get a formal table. We opted for a table under the trees at one of the restaurants and the food, as well as the service, was fantastic.

What is there to do

On top of the above, you have the arts and crafts as well as the award-winning wine-tasting opportunities. Or you can just stroll along on a lazy afternoon in the beautiful gardens. In my opinion, there was not a huge variety of craft / market / gift stalls on that specific day (we went on a Sunday). Advertised as a ‘market’ you would expect a bit more, but having said that, it is still a fantastic stop, no doubt.

If you’re looking for a relaxing morning, afternoon, or day out in the fresh air, we definitely recommend a visit to Lourensford.

Lourensford also offers:

Wine Pairing
Vinfari – Explore the vineyard on a private tour
Vodka Tasting
Life Retreat studio – for Yoga and meditation
A ropeyard – for treetop adventures
Clay Pigeon Adventures
A Wellness center
And many more… Something for everyone’s taste.

There are loads for the children to enjoy as well, so this is also a perfect family friendly place to visit – if you’re wondering what to do with kids in Cape Town, while on vacation.