Kanu Wines
Share:
In Their Words
Kanu History & Location
Founded in 1692 as part of the famous Nooitgedacht farm, Kanu underwent various changes and an accumulation of history to become what it is today. As of 1997, the land and the wines became known as Kanu.
The farm is located in the Polkadraai Hills of Stellenbosch, just north of the historic town, in an area originally known as Goedgeloof (meaning “good faith”). The name Kanu is from a legend told by an old Xhosa man who was raised in his grandmother’s house on the Goedgeloof farm. Day after day, he would tell of the mythical bird he had seen flying over the farm. According to him, if the bird’s shadow touches your crop, you are promised a bountiful year’s harvest!
Kanu is now established as a boutique producer of quality wines, with grapes sourced over a wider area in the Western Cape. This diverse terroir allows us to now select grapes suited to the best area and we produce a range of red, white, rosé and bubbly Cap Classique wines for your enjoyment.
Kanu Operating Hours
Wine Tasting: open Wed to Sun 9am-4pm.
Deli: open Wed to Sun 9am-4pm.
Du Vin Restaurant: Wed & Thu 8am-3.30pm, Fri to Sun 8.30am-4.30pm.
Live Music: usually Public Holidays & Special Celebration Days. Please contact the farm to check.
Putt Putt: available Wed to Sun 9am-4pm.
Bass Fishing: available Wed to Sun 9am-4pm.
*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.
Kanu Wine Tasting
In the short history of Kanu wines as we know it today, all our wines have achieved phenomenal acclaim and have won numerous awards. Across our Lifestyle, Flagship, Premium and Rifle Ranges you can sample Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, a Pinotage Rosé, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Blends, plus bubbly Cap Classique and Noble Late Harvest.
Join us at our upstairs Tasting Lounge or downstairs in the stylish Cellar Tasting Booths, as we tantalise all five of your senses with our selection of wines and nibbles.
Wine Tasting Prices
Choose any 5 wines for R75pp. Tasting fee waived upon purchase of 6 wines or more. Optional Dalewood Cheese Board for 2 for R130.
Kanu Restaurants
Kanu’s Deli sits adjacent to the Putt Putt area and offers a selection of light bites, cakes, coffees and local produce.
Our Asian-fusion Du Vin restaurant is designed on the Japanese style of “izakaya” which introduces guests to a variety of dishes which encourage sharing. By pairing good wine and good food, our chefs have designed a modern fusion menu that stimulates the tastebuds and seduces your palate when paired alongside our award-winning wines.
Menus & Pricing
At Du Vin, breakfast may include staples such as Brioche French Toast, Salmon or Bacon Eggs Benedict and Banting-friendly options. Previous lunch items have included Beetroot & Goats Cheese salad, a Dashi Tofu Broth, Crispy Squid, Beef Fillet, Pumpkin Gnocchi, Gourmet Burgers and a Lemon Posset. A kids’ menu and extensive sushi and sashimi menu is also available. Mains from R120pp, please note we often run sushi specials on Fridays.
Kanu Tours & Activities
Currently Kanu do not offer guided cellar tours however do feature unique Cellar Tasting Booths where you can immerse yourself in the cellar environment for a wine tasting like no other. Please contact the farm for more information.
Kanu’s family-friendly Putt Putt sits adjacent to the Deli and offers young and old the opportunity to get a hole in one! Costs from R30pp per game, which can be booked on the day. Please note we also have a jungle gym and lawns, adjacent to the Du Vin restaurant area. Bring the family for a great day out!
We also offer seasonal Bass Fishing at our dam, for R60pp. Please contact the farm for more information.
When Lucy Visited
The first time I visited Kanu I thought ‘what a wonderful breath of fresh air’. Modern, bustling and airy, it’s ideal for families and small groups looking for somewhere stylish – and couples will love exploring the cavernous nooks and crannies of the Tasting Room.
So What Makes Kanu Stand Out?
Whilst the origins of the farm can be traced back to the year 1692, Kanu stands out as a contemporary take on what a South African wine farm can be, in the 21st Century. Period sructures do exist, however updates over recent years have brought the interiors bang up to date, for example the old Manor House has now been reimagined as a bright and fresh dining space: the lovely Asian fusion restaurant, Du Vin.
With new owners on board in the last 5 years, the farm has continued to expand its offering. There’s now a spacious and shady jungle gym, a fun putt putt course (R30pp), a dam to fish in (R60pp), plenty of space to wine and dine and multiple tasting areas which are cosy and sleek. They’ve also really focused on evolving their wines, with new vineyard plantings and a slew of wine awards now coming in. Kanu have huge plans for the future and it really is a great all rounder for food and wine lovers.
The Location & Facilities at Kanu
Located on the scenic R304 road around 40 mins drive from Cape Town, Kanu sits halfway between the N1 highway turnoff and the town of Stellenbosch (which is around 10 minutes away). They’re surrounded by distant mountains, rolling farmland and a range of other wine estates, which make them ideal for a day of wine hopping if that’s your thing.
The farm itself is around 50 hectares, with 10 currently under vine (however this is growing, I believe they’ve planted 13 more hectares of grapes to keep up with demand). They also make their own olive oil. Facilities including a Restaurant, Deli and Tasting Room are spread across a series of separated buildings, however the centre point is the Restaurant, with the jungle gym and green lawns in plain sight, which is ideal for parents (note the old Manor House swimming pool is now a pretty fish-filled pond, however has safety mesh for little ones).
The stylish elevated Tasting Room is at the rear of the property, close to their Bass fishing dam (R60pp for fishing, please pre-book), however do note the Tasting Room is on the first floor and can only be reached by an external staircase. If this poses a challenge for you, then wine tasting can also be done in the ground floor Deli next to the Restaurant, which also sells curios and cakes.
Wine Tasting at Kanu
The main Tasting Room area upstairs has been designed to be warm, intimate and cosy, perfect for couples and smallish groups. There is no outside seating and only limited views, however don’t let that put you off as it has such a nice vibe inside (if you do want to sit outside, head to the Deli where you can wine taste, next to the Putt Putt area).
Leading off the main Tasting Room are stairs to the downstairs cellar, which boasts a fabulous cavernous bar area designed for larger groups. Adjacent to this is also a spacious cellar with unique ‘tasting nooks’, ideal for couples or small groups. Pre-book if you can and explain to the staff what group size you are and they’ll assist accordingly. Larger than life wine host Cobus has been working at Kanu since the late 90s (he’s known as ‘Cobus Kanu!’) and is a wealth of information and juicy stories.
On my last visit I was hosted for a wine tasting (usually R75 for 5) and sat downstairs in one of the cellar tasting nooks. Such an atmospheric experience amongst the barrels and totally unique in Stellenbosch. Kanu’s wines are very affordable and their wine style is fruity, approachable and soft, especially with their reds. If you usually find reds too harsh and tannic, try Kanu’s as they have been designed to be silky smooth, mellow and very palatable. They use a mix of their own grapes and bring some in from other notable areas such as the Overberg, Swartland etc which also allows them to produce a wide range of whites, reds, blends, bubbly and Noble Late Harvest. I tried 7 of their wines this time and absolutely love their Chenin, Pinotage and Cab Sav. I can see why they’re winning so many awards! A cheese platter is available for around R130 and from memory they offered my kids a juice box the first time we came for a tasting.
For something really special, ask about their ‘one of a kind’ Angelina Gold Cap Classique. Only 2000 bottles were produced using Pinot Noir grapes, and this lovely bubbly also contains 24 carats of edible gold flakes (!) and has an LED unit in the base of the bottle which lights up the flakes. I’ve never seen anything like it! At R1200 a bottle it’s not cheap, but it tastes great and would be a perfect special gift.
The Restaurant at Kanu
The perfect day would be to enjoy a wine tasting as above, then head straight to the restaurant for a delicious lunch (open Weds to Sun). I brought my kids the first time (they have a good kids’ menu) and you can choose to sit undercover overlooking the lawns, inside surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the kitchen or outside under the trees by the jungle gym. It can get busy at the weekend, so definitely pre-book.
Open for breakfast and lunch, the main lunchtime menu prides itself on being pan-Asian, but in reality there are plenty of South African favourites, just with Asian-inspired flavours and of course an array of delicious sushi. As the owner of Kanu hails from Asia, you know the quality here has to be tip top and authentic and if you’re a sushi lover you won’t be disappointed. I’ve had colourful and crispy pork belly before, and sushi – great quality for the price.
In Summary
If you’re looking for a modern and vibey wine farm with unique tasting venues, great wines, a wide choice of quality food and activities to keep the kids happy, Kanu should be top of your list. One of my go-to lunch spots now in Stellenbosch and a great all rounder for families, couples and groups.
Top Tip!
Not many wine farms of this quality serve breakfast, yet Kanu are open from Weds to Sun for a selection of popular options, including Bacon and Banana Brioche French Toast (yum!). As it can get busy in the restaurant over the weekends, why not come early and have breakfast with a view, then head over to the Wine Tasting area for a cosy afternoon in one of the tasting nooks. Also keep an eye out for specials and events on their social media, including live music and sushi discount days.
