Brandy & Chocolate Tasting

Brandy & Chocolate Tasting – At a Glance

• Tour type: Private full-day Cape Winelands tour
• Duration: Approximately 8 hours
• Pick-up: Approximately 08:30 from your Cape Town accommodation
• Region: Stellenbosch, Franschhoek & Paarl Winelands
• Experience: Premium South African brandy tastings
• Pairing: Brandy paired with handcrafted chocolate
• Highlights: Van Ryn’s, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek & KWV
• Lunch: Franschhoek – own account
• Transport: Private air-conditioned vehicle with qualified local guide
• Important: Van Ryn’s is closed on Sundays

Brandy & Chocolate Tasting Tour Highlights

• Private full-day Cape Winelands tour
• Door-to-door collection from Cape Town
• Scenic drive into the Stellenbosch Winelands
• Van Ryn’s Brandy Distillery experience
• Taste premium aged South African brandies
• Explore historic Stellenbosch
• Travel through the beautiful Franschhoek Valley
• Lunch in Franschhoek – own account
• KWV brandy and chocolate pairing in Paarl
• Private vehicle and qualified local guide
• Approximately 8 hours

Brandy & Chocolate Tasting Tour Overview

Discover another side of the Cape Winelands on a private full-day experience dedicated to one of South Africa's great specialist products – premium brandy.

Your journey begins in the Stellenbosch Winelands with a visit to Van Ryn’s Brandy Distillery, a name closely associated with award-winning South African potstill brandy. Learn more about the craft of brandy production and experience the complex aromas and flavours created through careful distillation and maturation.

Continue through Stellenbosch, one of South Africa's oldest towns, where Cape Dutch architecture, oak-lined streets and mountain scenery provide a beautiful introduction to the historic Cape Winelands.

The journey then takes you towards Franschhoek, surrounded by vineyards and dramatic mountains. Time is allowed for lunch at a suitable restaurant in the village or surrounding wine valley, giving you the freedom to choose according to your preference.

In the afternoon, travel to Paarl for a second premium brandy experience at KWV. Enjoy a selection of award-winning brandies paired with carefully selected chocolates, allowing you to explore how the flavours and aromas of fine brandy interact with chocolate.

This private tour is ideal for visitors wanting something different from the traditional Cape wine-tasting route. It combines the beauty of the Winelands with two distinctly South African tasting experiences and the craftsmanship behind premium brandy.

Your Brandy & Chocolate Tasting Itinerary

🏨 08:30 – Cape Town Hotel Collection

Meet your private guide at your Cape Town accommodation and begin the scenic journey into the Cape Winelands.

🌄 Scenic Drive to Stellenbosch

Leave Cape Town behind and travel through the beautiful countryside towards Stellenbosch, surrounded by vineyards and mountain scenery.

🥃 Van Ryn’s Brandy Distillery

Visit Van Ryn’s and discover the craftsmanship behind premium South African brandy. Learn more about distillation and maturation before tasting selected aged brandies.

Please note: Van Ryn’s is closed on Sundays and the itinerary may need to be adjusted accordingly.

🏘️ Stellenbosch

Explore the historic heart of Stellenbosch and enjoy an introduction to its Cape Dutch architecture, oak-lined streets and long association with South African wine and brandy production.

🍇 Franschhoek Wine Valley

Continue through the spectacular Cape Winelands towards Franschhoek, one of South Africa's best-known food and wine destinations.

🍽️ Lunch in Franschhoek

Enjoy time for lunch at a suitable Franschhoek restaurant. Lunch is for your own account, giving you the freedom to choose according to your taste and budget.

🥃🍫 KWV Brandy & Chocolate Experience

Travel to Paarl for a premium tasting experience at KWV. Taste selected award-winning brandies paired with handcrafted chocolate and discover how different flavour profiles complement one another.

🚐 Return through the Cape Winelands

After the final tasting, relax on the return journey through the beautiful Winelands countryside.

🏨 Return to Cape Town

After approximately 8 hours, your private guide will return you to your Cape Town accommodation.

⚠️ Please note: The order of the itinerary may change according to tasting-room opening times, estate availability, traffic and other local operating conditions.

✅ What's Included

• Door-to-door collection and drop-off
• Qualified English-speaking local tour guide
• Private air-conditioned transport
• Brandy tasting experience
• KWV premium brandy tasting
• Chocolate pairing
• Scheduled tasting experiences described in the itinerary

❌ What's Not Included

• Lunch
• Additional beverages or tastings not specifically included
• Personal purchases
• Gratuities
• Any optional attractions or activities not listed above

Why Book This Brandy & Chocolate Tour?

• A different Cape Winelands experience: Discover premium South African brandy rather than following a conventional wine-only tasting route.
• Two distinctive tasting experiences: Combine the heritage of Van Ryn’s with a premium KWV brandy and chocolate pairing.
• Private touring: Travel with your own vehicle and qualified guide rather than as part of a large scheduled group.
• Brandy and chocolate: Explore the way carefully selected chocolates complement the aromas and flavour profiles of aged brandy.
• See more of the Winelands: Experience Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl during one full-day journey.
• Door-to-door convenience: Enjoy your tastings without needing to worry about driving back to Cape Town.

What to Bring

• Comfortable clothing and footwear
• Sun protection and hat
• Sunglasses
• Camera or smartphone
• A light jacket during cooler months
• Any personal medication you may require

⚠️ Important Information

Van Ryn’s Brandy Distillery is closed on Sundays. Where an attraction or tasting experience is unavailable, the itinerary may need to be adjusted.

Tasting-room schedules and individual brandies or chocolates offered may change according to availability. Your guide will manage the day's route to provide the best possible experience.

Alcohol tastings are available only to guests who meet the applicable legal drinking-age requirements.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Your road transport and Cape Town Day Tours guide are reserved exclusively for your booking.

How long is the Brandy & Chocolate Tasting Tour?

Allow approximately 8 hours for the full-day experience, including travel from Cape Town and the scheduled tasting stops.

What brandy tastings are included?

The tour includes premium South African brandy experiences at Van Ryn’s and KWV, subject to their current tasting schedules and availability.

Is chocolate tasting included?

Yes. The KWV experience includes a brandy and chocolate pairing designed to demonstrate how different flavours complement the characteristics of the brandy.

Is this a wine tour?

The primary focus of this experience is South African brandy and chocolate rather than conventional wine tasting. The tour nevertheless travels through the famous Cape Winelands regions of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl.

Is lunch included?

No. Time is allowed for lunch in Franschhoek, but the meal is for your own account.

What happens on Sundays when Van Ryn’s is closed?

Van Ryn’s is closed on Sundays, so the itinerary may need to be adjusted. Please check the available programme when booking a Sunday departure.

Do I need to know anything about brandy to enjoy the tour?

No. The experience is suitable for both brandy enthusiasts and visitors who simply want to discover a different part of South Africa's food and beverage heritage.

Can children join the tour?

Families may travel together, but alcoholic tastings are restricted to guests who meet the applicable legal drinking-age requirements.

Explore More Cape Town Experiences

If you'd like to explore more of Cape Town and the Western Cape, consider another private experience:

• Cape Town Wine Tasting Full Day Tour – discover historic wine estates and premium tastings across the Cape Winelands.
• Cape Point & Peninsula Private Full Day Tour – exchange the vineyards for Chapman's Peak, Cape Point and the African penguins at Boulders Beach.
• Cape Town Big 5 4x4 Safari – travel inland from Cape Town for a full-day African wildlife and safari experience.

View All Private Tours – discover our complete collection of private Cape Town and Western Cape experiences.