Alluvia Boutique Winery
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In Their Words
Alluvia History & Location
With fine wines, indulgent rooms, hearty cuisine and unparalleled mountain views, Alluvia Boutique Winery is an unforgettable destination located in the heart of the Cape Winelands, just outside Stellenbosch.
One of the youngest wine farms in the area, Alluvia is a place to savour award-winning wine and gourmet cuisine, find solace in luxurious accommodation or simply escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Your vineyard escape awaits!
Alluvia Operating Hours
Wine Tasting: open daily 10am-5pm, with tastings starting from 9am on Sat & Sun.
Restaurant: open daily, 8am-10pm.
Picnics: available daily, year round (pre-booking essential).
*PLEASE NOTE*
All times, prices and facilities listed are subject to change. We recommend checking latest details directly with the farm and pre-booking experiences wherever possible, to avoid disappointment.
Alluvia Wine Tasting
Alluvia encapsulates the complete spirit of wine, our land blessed with tiny fertile alluvial deposits of Table Mountain Sandstone and Granite which gives us a perfect platform to produce world class wines of integrity. We constantly challenge the boundaries of traditional wine making styles; an approach that earned us top honours at the Decanter World wine awards for Alluvia’s Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as The International Wine & Spirits awards and numerous other accolades.
Our Alluvia wine tasting lounge takes you on a sensory journey from soil to sip. Sample our signature wine range – including our award winning Cabernet Sauvignon – and unlock the secrets of each bottle with our knowledgeable tasting team.
Wine Tasting Prices
Sample our 3 varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and & Sauvignon Blanc – for just R40pp. We also offer a wine & food pairing option for R150pp or offer pre-booked picnics year-round to be enjoyed near our dam, for R495 for 2.
Alluvia Restaurants
Overlooking the Banhoek Valley, Alluvia’s restaurant is perfectly poised to take in the full glory of the Stellenbosch winelands. From the sweeping outdoor deck, watch the first sun creeping down the Simonsberg mountains or toast a vineyard sunset with a cocktail tailored from our mixologists. Step through our wide glass stacking doors and you’ll find elegant interiors, bespoke lighting and sociable seating, extending toward our exclusive wine lounge.
With its picturesque location, Alluvia is also the perfect spot for a year round Cape Winelands picnic. Set out a picnic blanket beneath an old oak, a cascading willow or alongside the serene dam. With panoramic views in every direction and delicious picnic baskets to tuck into, prepare for an unforgettable afternoon of al fresco dining, no matter the season!
Menus & Pricing
In our restaurant, hearty cuisine, awe-inspiring scenery and a relaxed ambience define Alluvia’s unique dining experience. In addition to our a la carte offerings, do also keep an eye out for seasonal menus such as our Sunday Spit Braai Carvery.
Previous a la carte staples have included Korean Fried Chicken, Fish Tacos, Slow Roast Lamb Shoulder, Gourmet Pizzas, Pork Belly and Cape Brandy Pudding. Prices start from R120pp for mains, R375 per adult for the Sunday Carvery, R185 per child.
For our pre-booked Gourmet Picnics, expect seasonal delicacies and artisanal snacks including homemade bread and dips, pasta salads, charcuterie, Korean chicken and grilled riblets, salads and sweet treats. Priced at R 495 per basket for 2.
Alluvia Tours & Activities
Currently Alluvia do not offer any tours as standard, however are popular for private events and weddings. Contact the farm for more information and they will assist.
Alluvia Accommodation
Experience the splendour of the Stellenbosch countryside when you stay in our luxurious suites – the ultimate Cape Winelands retreat. Lush undulating mountains, verdant valleys and sun dappled vineyards form the backdrop for your stay, perfected by premium amenities, personalised service and a rejuvenating spa.
Whether you choose a Superior Suite, the Honeymoon Suite or the Family Suite, all rooms are sanctuaries of relaxation with exquisite views. Let the natural beauty of the valley invigorate and revive you.
Pricing
Prices from R2000 per room per night including breakfast for 2, based on low season (winter).
When Lucy Visited
The word ‘stunning’ is often overused when describing wine farms, however if there was EVER a word created to describe Alluvia’s incredible setting, ‘stunning’ would be it!
So What Makes Alluvia Stand Out?
That million dollar view for starters. Located at the top of the Helshoogte Pass (pronounced hels-hook-ter) around 10 minutes’ drive from the centre of Stellenbosch, this area boasts a number of iconic wine farms and sits within a natural amphitheatre of mountains and valleys. As you turn off the Pass and drive down the steep bank into Alluvia’s farm, you realise you’re in a picturesque, quiet valley with 180 degree mountain views on all sides. You will be hard pressed to find any wine farm in all of South Africa with such an unimpeded mountain view from the restaurant/tasting area – making it worth the trip for that fact alone.
So What About The Farm Itself?
Alluvia is a relatively new winery, having been converted from a farm produce stall less than 5 years ago. Boutique in size and stature, its sloping position makes for great views however one point to note, this does mean the walk from the car park to the restaurant and tasting area is a little steep (high heel wearers, take note!).
The centrepiece for day visitors is the bistro restaurant and adjacent tasting area, which sits on a raised deck spilling out onto a veranda with spectacular mountain views. Dotted around the rest of the grounds are several guest rooms which form part of Alluvia’s luxury accommodation. I only saw a couple of rooms from the outside as I walked past – they looked modern, bright and comfortable. The ones by the pool enjoy amazing views but weren’t particularly private; however the website advises which rooms to book if you are looking for seclusion as they have a reasonably wide choice (mainly couples but they do have a 2 Bed Villa suitable for groups or families). There is also a sloping lawn down to a pretty dam area, which is suitable for wedding ceremonies and picnics.
The farm feels smaller, more intimate and casual than its famous wine farm neighbours, which is no bad thing. They produce just 3 wines: an award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon, a Cabernet Franc and a Sauvignon Blanc – some grapes are sourced from neighbouring farms.
What About The Food & Wine Tasting?
Alluvia offer breakfast, lunch, picnics, wine tasting or (as at the time of writing) a wine tasting plus food pairing option.
Wine tasting is offered either on their small sunny outdoor tasting deck (which has 3 or 4 tables plus lovely mountain views) or inside next to the deck. This room had been cordoned off on the day I visited for a wedding brunch, so I couldn’t take photos. It’s absolutely worth pre-booking due to limited space. Wine tasting prices were pretty average at R55 for all 3 wines.
I couldn’t find a wine/food pairing menu on the website so I called ahead and they explained this changes regularly – so I took a gamble and pre-booked this on the main outside restaurant deck. On the day I visited, the 3 pairings included Pulled Pork, Sesame Tuna/Noodles plus a Cape Malay Curry, which are actually tapas sized portions of some of their popular menu items. Really rich and bold flavours (delicious) which paired well with the wines, which I also really enjoyed. Great value too at R150 pp including the wines.
The restaurant features around 20 inside tables and just 6 or so outside, all with that premium view. Note, it can get exceptionally hot here in the summer, even under the umbrellas. The menu is quite meat and fish-heavy but is extensive, with small and larger bowls on offer at pretty average prices, plus a kids’ menu (note however there are no other specific kids facilities here). I was impressed with the large array of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on offer, which would suit families and non-wine drinkers too.
The restaurant is warm and cosy with a fairly rustic style, think dark woods and brightly coloured leather seats. It was buzzing with small groups, couples and older families and there was nice background music. This isn’t fine dining, but I don’t think it’s pretending to be. Expect traditional ‘crowd pleasing’ South African fayre but served with love, in a homely environment.
Atwell waited on us and he was fantastic, very knowledgeable about the farm’s history and the wine. At the time of writing these are only available for purchase at the farm, but I was pleasantly surprised by how easy drinking they were – ideal for immediate opening and enjoyment rather than wines meant for ageing. The reds were both rich and silky smooth with light tannins, whilst the Sauv Blanc was tropical and zesty. Good value too at between R100-R200 per bottle.
Finally, you can pre-order a picnic package for around R495 for 2 – which looks great value and the setting is unbeatable. I haven’t seen the picnics but the menu looks like one of the most extensive I’ve seen, plus they’re on offer these year round – ideal as we can still get some beautiful sunny and warm winter days in the winelands.
In Summary
If you’re looking for one of the most iconic mountain views in Stellenbosch – or in fact anywhere in the Cape Winelands – Alluvia could well be it. Pop in for a casual hearty lunch with friends, stay overnight in one of their more secluded guest suites, base yourself here as you ‘wine hop’ around the other farms in the local area or even book here for your wedding! The views are mind blowing.
Top Tip!
For the best views, pre-book outside seating if you can. At midday in summer the sun is directly overhead though, making photos a challenge (and it is seriously hot during these months), so perhaps book later in the day for better pics of the beautiful light against the mountains.
