Spier Hotel and Wine Farm
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In Their Words
Spier History & Location
Taste 300 years of winemaking heritage!
Situated just 10 minutes from the centre of Stellenbosch, Spier is one of South Africa’s oldest wine farms with a recorded history dating back to 1692. While rooted in this heritage, we’ve got a vibrant and conscious energy. We’re home to multiple family-friendly restaurants, a host of nature-based activities, a wealth of Cape Dutch architecture and one of the largest collections of contemporary South African art.
Our wines are among the most awarded in the country. Visit us, and enjoy them paired with wholesome, tasty food made with ingredients grown either on our farm or by trusted, nearby farmers. If you feel like lingering, our hotel and conferencing facilities offer inspiring Winelands getaways in the tranquillity of nature.
Continuing a long-held tradition, Spier is owned and managed by the family who bought the farm in 1993. They live on the farm and work hands-on with the farming and leisure operations, together with Andrew Milne, who directs the business.
Spier Operating Hours
Wine Tasting: open daily 10am-4.30pm.
Spier Farm Café: open daily 9am-5pm.
Hotel Restaurant: open daily 7.30am-9.30pm (pre-booking recommended).
Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery: open daily 9am-5pm, dinner Fri & Sat 5pm-8pm.
Picnics: available daily between Sep -Apr (pre-booking required).
Live Music: available Fridays at 5pm between Oct-Mar (pre-booking recommended).
Eagle Encounters: open Tue to Sun 9.30am-5pm.
Segway Tours: open Wed to Sun & public holidays, times vary (pre-booking essential).
Weekend Craft Market: open Fri to Sun between Sep-Apr, 10am-4.30pm (weather permitting).
Spier Spa: open daily 8am-7pm.
*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.
Spier Wine Tasting
Enjoy award-winning wine paired with innovative food at our airy Tasting Room, on the banks of the Spier Dam. Our wine ranges include the Signature Collection, Seaward, 235 Creative Block, 21 Gables, Frans K Smit, plus other bubbly MCC, organic and collaborative ranges.
Settle in and admire the iconic Heath Nash chandelier – made from 334 recycled Spier wine bottles and weighing 370 kilograms – which hangs above the tasting counter. You can either enjoy a set wine tasting, with or without a food pairing, or order whatever you like with an olive, cheese or cured meat board.
Wine Tasting Prices
Spier’s range of tastings and food pairings can change regularly, so visit www.spier.co.za/visit/wine-tasting for the latest information. Pre-booking is suggested, especially at weekends and groups of 8+ must always pre-book, 48 hours in advance.
The Spier Tasting includes 3 wines from the Signature range and 1 from each of the premium wine ranges 21 Gables, Creative Block and Seaward, for R50pp. The Winemaker Selection Tasting includes samples from our 21 Gables and Creative Block ranges, plus the organic red blend Spier First Stone, for R90pp.
A Chocolate & Wine Tasting including the Spier Signature bubbly Cap Classique and Spier Creative Block blends, paired with carefully crafted chocolates, is available for R70pp. We also offer a Kids’ Grape Juice Tasting, including 2 different grape juices and an educational activity sheet, for R40pp.
Spier may also offer seasonal tastings including low alcohol/low calorie wines, cheese and wine pairings, heritage pairings etc. Food platters to pair with all tastings are always available.
Spier Restaurants
Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery offers farm to plate dining, plus indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the rolling lawns – perfect for the kids to run wild on. It is also widely regarded as one of the best bakeries in Stellenbosch.
The Spier Hotel Restaurant offers contemporary country dining, a wine bar, loungers and a large outside terrace and sprawling lawn for kids to enjoy, well into the evening.
At the Farm Café, grab delicious ready to eat favourites or build your own picnic and enjoy the Werf and our farm’s other outdoor spaces. Al fresco seating facing the lawns and oaks available.
With Spier’s Gourmet Picnics, you can collect your farm-fresh picnic then find the perfect spot to relax – on the grass, by the dam or under the oak trees. Our seasonal and vegetarian picnics are made with local, organic produce where possible.
Menus & Pricing
At the Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery, the bakery offers sweet and savoury pies, breads and pastries. The Smokehouse features quality-driven local produce popular for sharing, such as juicy Beef Brisket, Smoked Pork with a Bourbon BBQ sauce or Apple Ketchup. Vegetarian dishes, plus pizzas, breakfasts and a kids’ menu is available. Sharing plates from R85.
The Spier Hotel Restaurant features traditional farm specialities including Trout on Rye Toast or Avo smash for breakfast, plus burgers, steaks, salads and pastas later on. Main courses from R140, plant-based options and Sunday Roasts available.
At the Farm Café, expect freshly baked breads, tarts, pies and pastries, plus freshly harvested fruit, veg and leaves grown at Spier and farmer Angus’s flavoursome meats. The café also serves a range of hassle-free frozen ready meals to take home.
Spier’s iconic picnics change seasonally however usually feature a selection of deli items, charcuterie, cheese, breads with dips, salads and something sweet. A vegetarian and kids option is also available. From R295 per adult, R160 per child (pre-booking essential). For full terms & conditions please see www.spier.co.za/food/picnics-at-spier.
Spier Tours & Activities
Spier offer a wide variety of activities and experiences for leisure and business travellers alike. We recommend looking at https://www.spier.co.za/visit to plan your visit. Please refer to Operating Hours for latest times and days of operation.
Eagle Encounters has been going strong since 2001, rehabilitating and releasing birds of prey, promoting conservation and education, on land donated by Spier. Enjoy up close interactions with eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, kites, buzzards, snakes and lizards and take part in heart-stopping falconry displays. From R85 for adults and R65 for children.
Segways are the coolest way to do a breezy lap around the farm and a number of organised 1 and 2 hour tours are available showcasing all that the farm has to offer. Tours change with the seasons and are subject to minimum ages and maximum weights. Priced from R375pp, please refer to www.segwaytours.co.za for more information.
The vibrant Weekend Craft Market is open Fri to Sun during the warmer months, selling unique locally-made gifts. Situated outside on the lawns, the market showcases authentic and innovative pieces of art, all made by hand. You can expect everything from gallery-level collectors’ paintings and head-high wooden carvings to jewellery, leather-work, textiles and ceramics.
The Spier Art Collection is one of the largest contemporary collections of South African art in the country. Works in a variety of mediums offer a richly diverse portrayal of a vibrant country in transition – and these can also be experienced as you wander through the grounds and among our heritage buildings.
The Spier Elemental Play Garden was conceptualised by landscape architects, using mostly indigenous plants. The garden is divided into quadrants representing the four elements: water, air, fire and earth. The water in the Water quadrant has been treated and is safe to splash about in – perfect for kids on hot summer days.
Our 90 minute self-guided Heritage Walk offers you the chance to immerse yourself in Spier’s fascinating history, sustainability ethos, nature and art. Download the VoiceMap app from the Google Play or Apple App Store and listen to one of our 3 audio tours on your smartphone.
The two Spier Shops offer carefully selected gifts for both for the home and body, allowing visitors to take home a piece of Spier farm life. Situated in the Hotel and Tasting Room, pop in to see our beautiful selection of wine, gifts and keepsakes.
The Spier Spa, based at the farm’s Hotel, offers treatments guaranteed to leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. Please refer to www.spier.co.za/visit/spa for more information and prices.
Spier is one of the leading wedding and event venues in the Stellenbosch Winelands. With multiple venues and dedicated spaces, our warm and efficient team can offer attentive support and guidance. Please see www.spier.co.za/weddings for more information and contact details.
Spier Accommodation
The 4 star Spier Hotel features village-style buildings, lush green lawns and spacious rooms situated next to the calming Eerste River. Our rooms are clustered around six courtyards, with each courtyard boasting its own swimming pool.
Our Signature Rooms are airy and sunny, on the first floor, overlooking our gardens. Our Riverside and Garden Rooms have high, beamed ceilings, opening onto fresh, green lawns. Finally our Suites are the pinnacle of our accommodations, with options on the ground or first floor, framing gorgeous mountain and river views.
Spier also offer a fun Kids’ Clubhouse, with an array of activities designed for kids aged 3 to 12 including crafts, farm walks and story time. Open daily from 8am-5pm, after which babysitting can be arranged at an hourly rate.
Pricing
Prices start from R2075 per room per night, based on a Signature Room including breakfast for 2 in low season (winter). Do check Spier’s website for latest offers, which may include specials or packages with wine tasting, segways, picnics and dinners.
When Lucy Visited
Spier is one of the oldest, most sustainable and popular wine farms in the whole of South Africa, full to the brim with a range of activities suitable for the whole family. It easily warrants a whole day here, or better still a weekend getaway at their lovely hotel and spa !
So What Makes Spier Stand Out?
Whether you’re a couple, family, group, corporate businessman or bridal party, there really is something for everyone here at Spier and not many wine farms can genuinely say that.
Spier’s winemaking history can be traced back to 1692 which makes them a truly iconic heritage estate, yet they’ve also embraced modernity and innovation, championing sustainability which really shines through when you visit.
Sure you can visit for a wine tasting (or even grape tasting for kids), but you can also savour a meal or picnic with produce which has been ethically sourced from the farm, you can ride a bike, Segway through the vines, enjoy nature trails, admire art, sculptures and heritage buildings, buy local trinkets at the weekend craft market, handle a majestic bird of prey, relax with a spa treatment or just let the kids go crazy on the sprawling lawns. The possibilities are endless and they are also hugely popular for private events and functions with lots of dedicated facilities and overnight accommodation.
So What About The Farm Itself?
Located just over 30 mins drive from Cape Town en route to Stellenbosch, Spier is easily accessible however you still need a car unless you’re on an organised tour (note there is a tiny ‘train station’ opposite the farm, but as far as I know the old steam train tours which used to run here have been discontinued). There’s plenty of free parking and whilst the estate is almost completely flat and has gravel walkways, it is designed in a linear fashion, so from one end to the other is perhaps 10 mins walk, max.
The estate is split into a few main areas and is designed to be explored. By the day visitor parking area (at one end) you have the Eagle Encounters Centre and Segways, which then lead towards the Wine Tasting Area, lake and lawns which has a kids’ jungle gym. Continue on to the historic ‘werf’ for the restaurants, the start of the garden walks and weekend craft market, then finally on to the conferencing facilities, art gallery and hotel at the other far end (which has its own parking).
What Is There To Do (Especially For Kids)?
The Eagle Encounters sessions are suitable for all ages and are really fun – not only can you see rehabilitated birds of prey and falconry displays, but you can also get up close to lizards and snakes. There is a small fee involved but it’s well worth it. You don’t need to pre-book as there’s plenty of space and kids and grown ups are both welcome.
The Segways are designed more for older kids (12+) or adults – they have different packages but whizzing through the vines was pretty fun and not something you get to do every day (just perhaps do the wine tasting afterwards, not before!). You do have to book an organised tour to use these, so check the website for latest offerings.
Speaking of wine tasting, Spier offer a grape tasting for kids which is thoughtful, and combined with some included sweeties, a communal toy box plus a colouring sheet (the latter for a small fee), our two were quite happy for an hour or so. The Wine Tasting area unfortunately is a little far from the jungle gym but if you sit outside, certainly older ones could play safely in front on the lawns (there is a lake though here, so I wouldn’t suggest for toddlers). Overall though, families are very welcome.
I particularly love the weekend craft market, which showcases a number of very cool local artisan gifts, such as elephants and rhinos sustainably made out of old colourful coffee pods. Open during the warmer months, you can meet some of the artists here and for both kids and adults it’s a lovely place to explore and buy something ethical and unique.
Other than that, there are some pretty self guided short walks. Here you traverse bridges and through a forest, passing sculptures and fossils, gardens and streams along the way which would keep both young and old minds engaged. Such a peaceful setting.
What About Dining Options?
Spier have three restaurants and are famous for pre–booked summer picnics, which can be enjoyed in a number of spots throughout the estate. I’ve eaten in all three restaurants but not yet managed to have a picnic, however I love how all their food is responsibly sourced, either from the farm itself or from neighbouring farms.
As with many historic Cape Dutch wine farms, Spier’s heart is the central ‘werf’ area, an enormous lawn which sits in front of the main heritage buildings, which also house the two restaurants Vadas and the Spier Cafe. Both of these restaurants offer seating inside and out, with outside tables perfect for those with young kids as they can freely roam on the lawns in plain view.
Vadas is both a ‘smokehouse’ and a bakery but also has a kids’ menu. I wasn’t sure whether the communal ‘smokehouse’ style would suit kids but actually ours loved the ribs, southern fried chicken and salads. If you prefer more straightforward sandwiches, cakes and light meals then the café might be a better bet. Prices are affordable and it’s casual dining with friendly service.
The hotel restaurant is open to non-residents and it has a large bar area showing sports and HUGE outside lawns. In the evening it’s a lovely sociable spot as they add tables on the grass and all the kids make friends, running around together while mum and dad eat in peace! The food is nice enough (steaks etc) – personally Vadas is my favourite though if you’re a ‘foodie’.
What About The Wine Tasting?
Spier’s wine tasting space is bright and welcoming, with a traditional yet stylish decor. There are a few areas to sit depending on your group size, including a large (partially covered) veranda overlooking their dam, long indoor tables by the decorative barrels, some sofas and small tables all arranged around their bar with showstopping chandelier, made from 334 recycled wine bottles!
They have a wonderful mind boggling array of wines and wine ranges, from award winning premium wines to lighter, easier drinking style, plus vegan, organic and non-alcoholic options. They source grapes from a number of locations so you’re sure to find a wine to suit your palette. Tastings are priced from R50 for 6 and what’s nice is you can choose from quite a wide list and the staff are really friendly. It can get busy, especially at weekends so do pre-book.
I opted for the R90 premium tasting and would really recommend this as you can taste a few of their ranges, but ultimately the best of what they have to offer. I particularly loved their Bordeaux style blend ‘Creative Block 5’, which recently scored 93 points from revered British Wine Master, Tim Atkin. My two step sons enjoyed the Kid’s Juice Tasting with sweeties – quirky but fun!
After your tasting, don’t miss a visit to the tasting room gift shop, where you can buy wine at cellar door prices and also lovely curios.
In Summary
A complete destination, Spier is a popular full day (or weekend) getaway suitable for all ages and tastes. With plenty of space, it’s the sort of wine farm you go to again and again. Sustainable and ethical, they have curated so many experiences for you to enjoy, on foot, by bike … or Segway! If you love art, heritage buildings, nature and wildlife, plus great food and wine options – it’s a no brainer. If budget allows, stay overnight as I’ve heard the hotel is lovely and peaceful with a wonderful pool and spa, too.
Top Tip!
Spier always have loads of events and pop ups on throughout the year, which change with the seasons. Check their website in advance and plan around them, as they can include braai (BBQ) days, light shows and art exhibitions, among others.
