Benguela Cove Lagoon Estate
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In Their Words
Benguela Cove History & Location
Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate is situated at the gateway to the cool Walker Bay Wine Region – just 18 kilometres outside of Hermanus and an hour’s drive from Cape Town International Airport.
Poised on the edge of the Bot River Lagoon, this 200 hectare residential estate and working wine farm is teeming with bird life and natural fauna and flora, with the Atlantic Ocean gracing the horizon.
British entrepreneur Penny Streeter OBE acquired the estate in 2013 and it now has 70 hectares under vines, with 10 hectares dedicated to olive groves. It is fast becoming a wine tourism destination with a plethora of dining and wine related experiences in addition to boat cruises, an art gallery, tea terrace and adventure golf and splash park for kids.
If the thought of beautifully landscaped surrounds, the distinct smell of the ocean and award-winning, unique cool climate wines pique your interest, then do join us! We are also a pet friendly estate; well behaved dogs on short leads are welcome.
Benguela Cove Operating Hours
Wine Tasting: open daily 10am-6pm (platters 10am-5pm).
Oyster & Wine Pairing: available Sat & Sun (pre-booking essential).
Chocolate / Charcuterie & Wine Pairing: available daily (pre-booking recommended).
Moody Lagoon Restaurant: open Wed to Fri 12pm-3pm, Sat & Sun 10am-3pm.
Gourmet Picnics: available year round Wed to Sun, 11am to 4pm (24 hour pre-booking essential).
Afternoon Tea: please check with the estate for timings (pre-booking essential).
Art Gallery: open Fri to Sun 10am-6pm.
Cellar Tours: on request (pre-booking recommended).
Wine Blending: on request (min 8 people, 48-92 hour pre-booking essential).
Vineyard Safari & Wine Tasting: on request (pre-booking recommended).
Private Vineyard Tour & Lunch: available Thu to Sun at 12pm (pre-booking recommended).
Pontoon Cruises: available Wed to Sun (weather permitting, pre-booking essential).
Ultimate Benguela Experience: available Wed to Sat (pre-booking essential).
Pirate Adventure Golf: open Fri to Sun 10am-6pm (daily during school holidays & public holidays).
Splash Park: open Fri to Sun 10am-6pm (daily during school holidays & public holidays).
Blackbeard’s Diner: open Fri to Sun 10am-6pm (daily during school holidays & public holidays).
*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.
Benguela Cove Wine Tasting
Benguela Cove is renowned for producing elegant cool climate wines, delivering on the expectation of elegance, character and longevity. We produce a range of award-winning wines from Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Sémillon, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Malbec and Mourvèdre grapes.
At Benguela Cove’s Cellar Door, our friendly and informative wine ambassadors will guide you through a tutored wine tasting. expect a warm greeting, exceptional service and a luxurious Tasting Room complete with panoramic views.
We also offer a wide range of food pairings, tours and activities. Wine and food pairings are below, however for tours and activities, please refer to the Tours & Activities section. Please note food platters are available up to 5pm only.
Wine Tasting Prices
Benguela Cove offer a wide selection of tasting and food pairing options.
Our Estate Wine Tasting includes 5 Estate/Lighthouse Collection wines for R90pp. The Bubbly Tasting includes two different Cap Classiques for R100pp including Joie de Vivre, voted best Cap Classique in South Africa 2020. The Flagship Wine Tasting includes 3 wines tasted in stemware specifically selected to complement each wine for R250pp.
For wine and food pairing, choose from: 4 Oysters & Wines for R200, 4 Handmade Chocolates & Wines for R150pp, 4 types of Charcuterie & Wines for R160pp, 5 types of Cheeses & Wine for R160pp or 3 types of Sweet Desserts & Wine with our Decadent Indulgence Pairing for R180pp. All pairings are available daily except the Oysters, which are Sat & Sun only. We recommended you pre-book all pairing experiences. For Group Tastings, please refer to Tours & Activities.
Food platters include Seafood, Charcuterie or Cheese. Priced from R370 for 2.
Benguela Cove Restaurants
Benguela Cove offer a wide selection of dining experiences.
The Moody Lagoon restaurant is set in the heart of the Benguela Cove winery complex, with an elevated setting offering expansive views of the lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. Inside and outside covered dining is available.
Afternoon Tea at Benguela Cove is served in Moody Lagoon from 1pm-3pm. It offers a stunning luxurious tea experience, with a range of sweet and savoury eats ideal for sharing. A perfect option for bridal showers, baby showers and so much more, pre-booking is essential.
Benguela Cove also offer Gourmet Picnics with several unique picnic spots that suit groups of all sizes. Pre-booking 24 hours in advance is essential (48 hours for dietary requirements).
Blackbeard’s Diner is a small family-friendly dining outlet with the 18 hole Pirate Adventure Golf area.
Benguela Cove also offer Private Dining experiences in either our Vinotheque (up to 12 guests) or our Barrel Room (up to 100 guests), combining exceptional food, superb wines and outstanding service. Bookings essential.
Menus & Pricing
The Moody Restaurant menu changes frequently, based on the best available seasonal produce. Usual items include soups, salads, fish and chips, risottos, burgers and a selection of desserts. Mains from R130pp. At weekends we also offer brunch.
For Afternoon Tea, expect finger sandwiches, scones and cakes for R350 per tray (serves 2). Cream Teas cost from R145pp. A kids’ menu is available for R200 per child and gluten and dairy free options are available, with 48 hours’ notice.
With our Gourmet Picnics, expect breads, pickles, olives and pesto, plus cold meats, cheese, salads and a dessert. Priced at R600 for 2. A kids’ basket is also available for R180 per child. Wine is not included but is available for purchase.
At Blackbeard’s Diner, the kids-only menu includes a small selection of items such as burgers, hot dogs, chips, ice cream and slush puppies. Please enquire with the estate for prices5
Benguela Cove Tours & Activities
There are a huge selection of tours and experiences on offer at Benguela Cove, and we recommend visiting their website for the most up to date information on prices, departure days and times: www.benguelacove.co.za/.
Our 1 hour guided Cellar Tour allows you to explore our winemaking processes with a barrel tasting. An informative and interesting journey full of flavours and wine making techniques! Priced from R100pp.
The 1 hour Vineyard Safari & Wine Tasting tour journeys through the 200 hectare estate, giving you an opportunity to learn more about our winemaking. Cost from R250pp including tastings, child and family prices available. Pre-booking recommended.
Our 2 hour Wine Blending Experience includes a cellar tour, plus hands-on wine blending experience where you blend your own wine from our estate cultivars. Priced from R400pp, minimum 8 guests and must be pre-booked 2-4 days in advance.
For families, our 18 hole Pirate Adventure Golf & Splash Park offers plenty of thrills and laughs for all ages. Entry is separate for both, with prices starting from R50 per child. Please check www.benguelaadventure.co.za/putt-putt and www.benguelaadventure.co.za/splash-park for latest costs. Group bookings, school groups and birthday parties welcome.
Benguela also offer an Adventure Membership, the ultimate package for families and fun lovers. For R500, receive group discounts, benefits and perks – see www.benguelacove.co.za/adventure for more information.
The Art Gallery at Benguela Cove features displays from many of South Africa’s famous and up and coming artists. Owner, Penny Streeter OBE, loves the way art brings a room to life and is particularly interested in contemporary art and sculpture.
Our 1 hour relaxing Pontoon Cruises travel across the lagoon allowing you to take in the natural biosphere of the estate and the surrounding mountains; the perfect way to experience our nautical property. Bookings are essential and are weather permitting. Please contact the Estate for pricing (free when you purchase 6 wines or more).
The whole day Ultimate Benguela Experience includes a pontoon cruise, Pinot Noir tasting, cheese platter, cellar tour, 2 course lunch at Moodys, plus a vineyard tour and tastings. Priced from R1400pp for 7 hours. Bookings essential.
Are you looking for the ideal location to host your wedding or special event? The picturesque Bot River Lagoon and Palmiet Mountains provide the ideal backdrop and every Benguela Cove event is tailormade by our in-house team. We offer a wide choice of interior or exterior spaces to suit all sizes, whether seated for a formal lunch, dinner, for a drinks and canapés reception, team building event, baby shower or business conference. Please contact the Estate for more information.
When Lucy Visited
With lots to see and do, stylish Benguela Cove is a wine farm you’ll probably want to come back to, time and time again. Take a look at their website in advance of your visit as there are so many tours, tastings and experiences on offer you’ll not want to miss out!
So What Makes Benguela Cove Stand Out?
There’s just something for everyone at this glamorous waterside estate. Benguela Cove have gone out of their way to offer an extensive range of experiences which immerse you in their story, whether you’re visiting as a couple, part of a group or as a family. From intimate wine tastings or food pairings to afternoon tea, lunches, boat trips, wine blending, tours of the cellar or vineyard, kids putt putt, their splash park… heck even just browsing their art and sculptures or playing giant lawn chess is fun!
So What About The Farm Itself?
Located around 20 minutes’ drive west from Hermanus on the banks of the Bot River Lagoon, Benguela Cove is situated on a sprawling 200 hectare estate, home to vineyards, a working wine farm and luxury residences. It’s a highly desirable area with a gorgeous waterside setting, coupled with sculptures and art works adorning many corners. The British owners of Benguela Cove also own the stunning Leonardslee Gardens in the UK and have a partnership with renowned South African sculpture, Anton Smit.
The estate is easy to navigate on foot. As you enter, there’s a lovely shop selling glassware and crafts on the left, whilst turning to the right takes you to the stylish and expansive indoor Tasting Room (more on that later). Head straight outside from here and you’ll reach Benguela Cove’s central courtyard: the hub of the estate. Here is the Art Gallery (gorgeous pieces), the oversized lawn games (artificial grass so never muddy), plus plenty of outdoor seating. While sliding glass doors retract to face the lagoon, unfortunately both times I’ve visited the weather was so poor they were closed, however I can imagine this area buzzing on a sunny day.
Continue through the courtyard and you’ll hit the beautiful restaurant. A huge towering space, the decor is bright and chic, with plush velvety seats, enormous metallic statement drop lights, contemporary artworks, roaring fires and views out towards the lagoon. It was busy with groups of friends and couples when I had lunch. The menu is smart casual, with favourites like fish and chips, grilled meats and colourful salads. They offer a kids’ menu and Bottomless Bubbly Brunch on weekends (R99) which is definitely worth coming again for! Normal menu prices are slightly higher than average but not by much and it’s expected as it is an elegant space.
Note, you can’t wine taste in the restaurant. I just had lunch and a glass of their award-winning Chardonnay based Joie de Vivre Brut Cap Classique – it won best bubbly in South Africa in a recent blind tasting by winemag.co.za! Yum!
Finally if you go through the restaurant and keep walking, you’ll hit the kids’ Splash Park and Pirate putt putt area. You have to pay to enter (from R50) so I didn’t go in, but it looked pretty extensive. It was packed the first time I came (windy but dry) but this time it was raining so it was quiet. My two step sons would LOVE this place but I would plan for a sunny, warmish day. There are no other jungle gyms here but most kids would still enjoy exploring all the estate’s nooks and crannies (and there’s plenty of birdlife).
What About The Wine Tasting & Tours?
Firstly, definitely pre-book wine tasting if you can, as it gets busy and with so many tasting options available, it can also be a bit hectic if you arrive at lunchtime. I’ve been a couple of times and find a late 3-4pm wine tasting is ideal. The Tasting Room is split into several small areas; there’s a section by the fire and grand piano, intimate tables just for couples or bigger sofas for groups. Expect the same warm decor and vibe, with artworks and views.
The basic pairing is R90 for 5 of their Estate and Lighthouse wines, which is pretty average pricing, but there are premium tastings you can try, upwards of this. All wines are Estate grown and the winemaker Johann Fourie has an excellent reputation – they’ve won many awards so it’s worth checking in advance which suit you best. Remember there are SO many pairing options to choose from – chocolate, cheeses, charcuterie, oysters (weekends only) and also bigger platters (as well as nibbles, their own olive oils etc).
My favourite wine first time was their totally affordable Lighthouse Rose which sadly they’ve sold out of! They also offer a more unusual bubbly tasting and a vast array of other varietals. Their maritime location certainly brings a uniqueness to their wines and I found them all very easy drinking – I particularly liked their oaked Chardonnay with creamy vanilla notes and their unusual Sauvignon Blanc honey tasting Noble Late Harvest.
As for vineyard, wine blending, lagoon and cellar tours, I wish I could comment on the quality of them but I haven’t been able to do any as yet! The boat tour would be wonderful on a warm sunny day. When I have more time I’ll be back to do the Vineyard Safari & Wine Tasting, which I think would give you an excellent overview of this beautiful estate and costs from R250pp.
In Summary
Great for couples, groups or families looking for a stylish and complete wine farm destination which offers a multitude of food and wine options, with both family-friendly and wine focused activities, in a beautiful setting.
Top Tip!
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again… take a look at their website in advance and suss out what floats your boat. Prebook where you can and if you’re local to this area and have kids, check out their annual pass for the Splash Park/Putt Putt. Looks great value!
