What is Babylonstoren
Babylonstoren is one of those places that gets recommended to everyone visiting the Cape Winelands and for once the hype is justified. Set on the R45 between Paarl and Franschhoek, it is a working farm that has been turned into a full day destination. The famous formal garden draws the biggest crowds but the wines hold their own against the spectacle. If you only visit one wine farm in the Western Cape, many locals would tell you to make it this one.
The cellar tour takes you underground through the working facility, from the vineyards above ground through the fermentation cellar with its clay amphorae, open cement fermenters and concrete eggs. It finishes with a master tasting of the full range paired with farm grown accompaniments. Four tours run daily at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 17:00 for groups of up to 14 guests.
Babylonstoren Wine Tasting Prices and Options
The tasting room sits in a beautiful underground wine tunnel where thousands of bottles line the walls. You gather around a long wooden table lit by a skylight and work through the range with a knowledgeable guide. The standard tasting covers seven wines at R220 per person. You can add flagship wines for an extra fee.
| Experience | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Tasting (7 wines) | Mixed | R220 per person |
| Express Tasting (3 wines) | Mixed | R95 per person |
| Cellar Tour + Tasting | Mixed | R650 per person |
| Chardonnay (add-on) | White | R55 extra |
| Nebukadnesar (add-on) | Red | R95 extra |
| Sprankel (add-on) | Sparkling | R100 extra |
The wines themselves are clean, well made and reflect the farm's commitment to doing things properly. They are not trying to be the most awarded or the most expensive. They are trying to be genuinely good and they succeed.
Beyond the Wine at Babylonstoren
The garden is the main attraction for many visitors and it is worth seeing. Modelled on the historic gardens of the Cape, it grows over 300 varieties of plants used in the farm's kitchens. The wine museum at the entrance to the tasting room is free and self guided, covering the origins and culture of winemaking through the centuries.
Babylonstoren is also a stop on the Franschhoek Wine Tram orange line, which covers 8 estates in the valley. Normal entrance fees and tasting costs apply when arriving by tram. There are two restaurants on the property, a spa, farm shop and accommodation in cottages across the estate.