Family Friendly Wine Farms Reshape Weekend Tourism In The Cape Winelands

Picture the scene: you’re sipping a delightful glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and taking in a breathtaking mountain landscape, a cool breeze teasing your hair, while your children explore the outdoors nearby. For many families, this kind of escape has long felt out of reach – wine farms were places for adults, not weekend destinations designed with children in mind.

That perception is changing. As hospitality trends increasingly favour family-friendly wine estates, farms across the Cape Winelands are redefining weekend tourism and hospitality by offering experiences that balance premium food and wine with safe, engaging activities for children. For families planning their next “famcay”, the appeal lies in destinations that allow parents to relax and dine while still providing suitable entertainment for younger visitors.

This trend mirrors a wider shift in wine tourism globally. According to the World Tourism Organization’s 2025 Global Wine Tourism Report, tourism has now become an increasingly critical revenue stream for wine estates, contributing up to a quarter of overall winery income and playing a growing role in regional economic sustainability.

Founded in 1682, the 344-year-old Blaauwklippen Wine Estate is among the Stellenbosch farms leaning into this trend. One of the region’s oldest working wine farms, the estate combines the majestic beauty of Stellenbosch and Cape Dutch heritage with contemporary leisure facilities that appeal to couples, families, and multi-generational groups alike, making it a tourist must.

“Wine farms have always been places where people come together,” Narina Cloete, head winemaker at Blaauwklippen, says. “What’s changed is the way estates are thinking about hospitality, recognising that if families feel welcome, they stay longer, and build stronger connections with the wines and the place.”

Visitors can still enjoy the perfect pairing with a delicious meal at the foothills of the majestic Stellenbosch mountains while waiting for a cellar tour. But while wine remains central to the experience, the estate has steadily broadened its appeal beyond tastings alone. For longer family outings, guests can spend the entire weekend at Blaauwklippen and enjoy the family market, the popular Galileo Outdoor Cinema and night markets, or linger over a specially prepared meal rather than rushing through a single experience.

For families, the estate offers a diverse range of activities designed to keep children busy and active while parents relax. Young visitors are spoilt for choice with an on-site bike park featuring a Velosolutions Pump Track catering for all skill levels, two expansive jungle gyms, a zipline, and dedicated play areas, all designed to provide safe, engaging outdoor fun while parents enjoy the estate at their own pace.

Given its memorable setting and scale, Blaauwklippen also hosts a variety of lifestyle-focused markets and events throughout the year, drawing both locals and regular tourists for social gatherings and seasonal entertainment.

“Blaauwklippen has stood for over 340 years because every generation has understood that a great wine estate is more than what’s in the bottle. It’s about the people who visit, the families who return, and the memories made here. That is the legacy we are committed to building on,” Mr. Olebogeng Manhe, Chairman of Blaauwklippen Wine Estate, says.

Ultimately, for families seeking some much-needed time away without compromise, the rise of child-friendly wine farms offers a new kind of weekend escape where good food, quality wine, and rejuvenating time outdoors coexist with space for children to explore and learn. It is a model that reflects how families travel, and why wine estates are adapting to meet them.

“For us, it’s never been about choosing between serious winemaking and a welcoming environment. The quality in the glass still comes first, but when people can feel comfortable bringing their whole family, knowing that their entire family can enjoy the estate, they experience the wine and the farm in a far more relaxed and memorable way,” Narina says.