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Franschhoek · Western Cape

Franschhoek Cellar

Franschhoek Cellar is a wine farm in Franschhoek, Western Cape. About 63 km from Cape Town.

63 km from Cape Town Restaurant

Franschhoek Cellar: Central wine, chocolate and cheese hub

Franschhoek Cellar sits on Huguenot Road / the R45 as one of the valley’s most accessible cellar-door venues—a DGB destination that combines Franschhoek Cellar wines, Bellingham tasting options, food-and-wine pairings, and casual garden dining. Official site: https://www.franschhoekcellar.co.za/. For first-time visitors, Wine Tram passengers, and anyone who wants wine with chocolate or cheese without driving deep into side valleys, this is a practical Franschhoek anchor stop.

Tasting room experience

The official tasting-room page frames the venue as picture-perfect, understated luxury: views, wine hosts, and classic culinary pairings of Franschhoek Cellar wines with Belgian chocolate or handmade cheese. Spontaneous visits are welcomed; advance reservation is encouraged and is essential for parties of more than 20. Booking channels include Dineplan for Franschhoek Cellar wine tasting, phone +27 21 876 2086, and emails such as fhccellardoor@dgb.co.za / finewines@dgb.co.za.

Opening hours (official tasting-room page):

  • Monday–Saturday 10h00–18h00 (kitchen closes 16h00)
  • Sunday 10h00–17h00 (kitchen closes 16h00)
  • Boards and snacks until 17:00
  • Closed on selected public holidays (wine.co.za notes include 25 December, 1 January, Good Friday)
  • Cashless facility

Pairing menus (Oct 2024 tasting menu PDF)

A tasting-menu PDF linked from official channels (October 2024) lists structured experiences—confirm current prices and pairings on arrival, as menus refresh:

  • Wine & Chocolate Experience — R180 — three white and three red Franschhoek Cellar wines with artisanal chocolates (examples: Statue de Femme Sauvignon Blanc with green fig chocolate; La Cotte Mill Chenin Blanc with apricot; Our Town Hall Chardonnay with pistachio marzipan; Old Museum Merlot with strawberry dark; Baker Station Shiraz with cinnamon milk; Churchyard Cabernet Sauvignon with dark chocolate and nibs).
  • Wine & Cheese Experience — R180 — the same six-wine arc paired with cheeses such as Emmental, Boerenkaas, Camembert, Gruberg, cumin Boerenkaas, and Gorgonzola.
  • The Heritage Experience — R180 — two Chenin Blancs and two Pinotages with nuts and biltong (Franschhoek Cellar and Bellingham Homestead bottles in the flight).
  • Bellingham Homestead Range tasting — R150 — six Homestead wines.
  • Bellingham Bernard Series — R30 per wine (Chenin Blanc, S.M.V, Syrah, or Pinotage).
  • Bellingham Founders Series — R40 per wine (white blend, rosé, or red blend).
  • The Showstopper – The Last Elephant — R40 — small-batch Franschhoek Cellar red blend tasting pour.

These pairings are why Franschhoek Cellar appears so often on “first day in the valley” lists: the format is clear, the food hook is famous in Franschhoek hospitality marketing, and Bellingham drinkers can taste that brand here even though Bellingham’s own brand site does not run a separate homestead cellar door for casual visitors.

Dining, gardens and tram logistics

Beyond flights, the cellar door offers alfresco lunches, boards and snacks, and a beer-garden feel in the grounds—family-friendly positioning with supervised child play noted in estate communications. Winter and seasonal food menus are published separately from tasting flights. DGB’s own winery page emphasises Cap Classique, white and red ranges under the Franschhoek Cellar label and the garden dining outlook toward the mountains.

Logistically, Franschhoek Cellar is a central Wine Tram hub (Blue / Pink / Red lines historically interconnect here) and appears on the Vineyard Hopper list as Franschhoek Cellars. That makes it an easy first or last stop of the day: taste and snack here, then hop to quieter mountain or Robertsvlei farms, or reverse the order and finish with chocolate pairings before returning to village accommodation.

Wines and who should visit

Expect approachable, place-named Franschhoek Cellar cuvées—Statue de Femme, La Cotte Mill, Our Town Hall, Old Museum, Baker Station, Churchyard, Stone Bridge Pinotage, The Last Elephant—plus Bellingham Homestead, Bernard, and Founders series by the glass or flight. This is not a tiny appointment-only cult cellar; it is a high-capacity, cashless hospitality venue designed for travellers, groups, and tram traffic.

Visit Franschhoek Cellar when you want reliable hours, published pairing menus, chocolate or cheese with wine, and optional Bellingham tasting under one roof on the main Franschhoek road. Book ahead for large groups; bring a card (no cash); and treat the October 2024 PDF prices as a baseline until the tasting-room team confirms today’s board. For a Western Cape wine portal audience, it is one of the clearest “what you see is what you get” Franschhoek experiences—ideal for itineraries that balance one polished pairing stop with one or two quieter boutique farms elsewhere in the valley.

Practical booking and day-plan advice

Use Dineplan or phone ahead if your party exceeds a couple of tables, if you need a specific pairing experience at a set time, or if you are visiting in December–January and Easter peaks. Walk-ins remain part of the estate’s stated hospitality model, which is rarer among Franschhoek’s appointment-only boutiques—another reason the Cellar works as a flexible buffer stop when other farms only offer fixed slots.

Kitchen closure at 16h00 matters: late-afternoon tram arrivals can still taste wine but may miss hot food; boards and snacks run later (until 17:00 per the tasting-room page). Sunday’s earlier overall close (17h00) should shape weekend plans. Cashless operations mean cards or whichever digital payments the venue accepts—do not rely on ATMs at the gate.

For content accuracy on a wine portal: Bellingham tastings here do not mean Bellingham operates a separate public homestead cellar door elsewhere on the Franschhoek map for casual visitors; this venue is the practical tasting point called out in valley routing notes. Franschhoek Cellar’s own named ranges carry local place references that help first-time guests connect wine to valley landmarks.

Wedding and event use of the grounds is part of DGB’s venue story but is outside day-tasting scope—enquire via the site for functions. Travellers chasing cult Syrah appointments in Robertsvlei can still begin or end at Franschhoek Cellar for a calibrated, food-paired flight that sets a baseline for the valley’s more commercial style before exploring smaller cellars.

Keep the October 2024 menu PDF prices labelled as such in internal notes; consumer-facing copy should invite guests to confirm today’s board. That discipline keeps SEO pages trustworthy when chefs and winemakers rotate pairings.

Things to do at Franschhoek Cellar

  • Wine tasting & pairings

    Wine & Chocolate Experience

    3 white + 3 red Franschhoek Cellar wines paired with artisanal chocolates (e.g. Green Fig, Apricot, Pistachio Marzipan, Strawberry Dark, Cinnamon Milk, Dark Chocolate with Nibs). From official Oct 2024 tasting menu PDF linked on tasting-room page.

    Price R180

    Booking: Spontaneous visits welcome; advance reservation encouraged (essential for parties >20). Dineplan: https://www.dineplan.com/restaurants/franschhoek-cellar-wine-tasting ; +27 21 876…

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Wine tasting & pairings

    Wine & Cheese Experience

    3 white + 3 red wines each paired with handmade cheese (Emmental, Boerenkaas, Camembert, Gruberg, Cumin Boerenkaas, Gorgonzola). Official Oct 2024 tasting menu.

    Price R180

    Booking: Spontaneous visits welcome; advance reservation encouraged (essential for parties >20). Dineplan: https://www.dineplan.com/restaurants/franschhoek-cellar-wine-tasting ; +27 21 876…

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Other experiences

    The Heritage Experience

    2× Chenin Blanc & 2× Pinotage paired with nuts and biltong (La Cotte Mill Chenin + Salted Cashew Brittle; Bellingham Homestead Chenin + sweet/savoury macadamias; Stone Bridge Pinotage + chutney biltong; Homestead Pinotage + beef biltong).

    Price R180

    Booking: Spontaneous visits welcome; advance reservation encouraged (essential for parties >20). Dineplan: https://www.dineplan.com/restaurants/franschhoek-cellar-wine-tasting ; +27 21 876…

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Wine tasting & pairings

    Bellingham Homestead Range tasting

    Curated tasting experience with 6 wines from the Bellingham Homestead Range.

    Price R150

    Booking: Spontaneous visits welcome; advance reservation encouraged (essential for parties >20). Dineplan: https://www.dineplan.com/restaurants/franschhoek-cellar-wine-tasting ; +27 21 876…

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Other experiences

    Bellingham Bernard Series (by the wine)

    Bernard Series Chenin Blanc, S.M.V, Syrah or Pinotage tasted individually.

    Price R30 per wine

    Booking: Spontaneous visits welcome; advance reservation encouraged (essential for parties >20). Dineplan: https://www.dineplan.com/restaurants/franschhoek-cellar-wine-tasting ; +27 21 876…

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Other experiences

    Bellingham Founders Series (by the wine)

    Founders Series White Blend, Rosé or Red Blend tasted individually.

    Price R40 per wine

    Booking: Spontaneous visits welcome; advance reservation encouraged (essential for parties >20). Dineplan: https://www.dineplan.com/restaurants/franschhoek-cellar-wine-tasting ; +27 21 876…

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Other experiences

    The Showstopper – The Last Elephant

    Taste of Franschhoek Cellar The Last Elephant red blend (small-batch showstopper).

    Price R40

    Booking: Spontaneous visits welcome; advance reservation encouraged (essential for parties >20). Dineplan: https://www.dineplan.com/restaurants/franschhoek-cellar-wine-tasting ; +27 21 876…

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Wine tasting & pairings

    Cellar Door dining / bistro & beer garden

    Alfresco lunches, boards & snacks, artisanal beers; family-friendly with supervised child play area. Winter 2026 food menu published separately (not tasting flights).

    Booking: Spontaneous visits welcome; advance reservation encouraged (essential for parties >20). Dineplan: https://www.dineplan.com/restaurants/franschhoek-cellar-wine-tasting ; +27 21 876…

    Details on the farm website ↗

Browse all experience types

Notable wines

Accessible Cape blends; Bellingham tastings on site

Wines made here

Wine list from wine.co.za. The taste words are drawn from those notes, which are not reprinted here. Ask the cellar door what is pouring on the day.

Visiting with kids

Covered fenced play park with jungle gyms, play houses, mini bike track and childminders plus a full under-12 kiddies menu.

With kids. About 55 min from Cape Town. Suited to toddlers, tweens.

Play areaKids menuLawnsCasual food

  • covered play park

Franschhoek Cellar on Huguenot Road is a dependable, easy family stop in the village. Its covered, securely fenced play park has jungle gyms and play houses, and the cellar notes childminders on hand, so parents can settle in nearby. The kitchen offers a full under-12 kiddies menu — the July 2026 menu lists a kids platter, burger, pizza, pasta, milkshakes and boxed juice — alongside boards and snacks for adults. The official pages don't mention booking for a casual stop, so phone ahead if you're a large group. It suits toddlers through tweens. The venue is cashless, so bring a card. Bellingham wines are also tasted here.

Before you go

  • No booking is listed for a casual visit. Weekends can still fill up.
  • A children's price is listed. Confirm the amount when you book.
Is there a play area?

Yes — a covered, fenced play park with jungle gyms and play houses, with childminders noted.

Is there a kids menu?

Yes — a full under-12 menu including platter, burger, pizza, pasta and shakes.

Do we need to book?

The official pages don't mention booking; phone ahead for large groups. The venue is cashless.

Nearby with children

  • Huguenot Memorial Museum — Kids museum, Franschhoek · 2 km Website
  • Huguenot Monument & wild flower garden — Outing, Franschhoek · 2 km Website
  • Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve — Walk or hike, Franschhoek · 5 km Website
  • Franschhoek Motor Museum — Kids museum, Groot Drakenstein · 10 km Website

Family notes checked 5 October 2026. Confirm on the farm’s website before you drive. Source. More family farms in Franschhoek. Things to do near this farm. Stay on this farm. Weddings on this farm.

Staying here

Two central self-catering cottages (Rose & Protea, sleep 4 each) beside cellar door and Country Kitchen

Place to stay. About 55 min from Cape Town. 55 min from the airport. Rose Cottage|Protea Cottage.

Cottage, Self-catering. Sleeps 4 a unit. Up to 8 guests. 2 units.

RestaurantKitchenKids welcome

near village|working cellar

Franschhoek Cellar is a verified wine-farm accommodation listing in the Franschhoek (audit region: Franschhoek). Stay types noted: cottage, self_catering.

Named properties: Rose Cottage; Protea Cottage.

Two central self-catering cottages (Rose & Protea, sleep 4 each) beside cellar door and Country Kitchen.

Setting / views noted: near village, working cellar.

Amenities flagged in the audit: kids welcome, self-catering, onsite restaurant.

Official rack rates were not published as a dated rate_from in our audit — confirm pricing on the estate’s booking page.

We only publish facts from official sources gathered in the stay audit (Last checked 5 October 2026). Re-confirm units, min stays, child policy and load-shedding backup on the estate’s own booking page before you pay a deposit.

Travellers comparing Franschhoek wine-farm stays should match stay type (hotel vs cottage), dated rate basis, and child or pet rules before shortlisting Franschhoek Cellar. Prefer official estate booking links over OTAs when both exist, and ask for written confirmation of breakfast inclusions and min-stay rules.

Does Franschhoek Cellar offer wine farm accommodation?

Yes — our audit marks has_accommodation as

yes

, with named stay products listed above.

What are the property names?

Rose Cottage; Protea Cottage.

Do you publish a current rate for Franschhoek Cellar?

No dated `rate_from`/`rate_year` pair is available to quote as current. Check the official booking page.

Which amenities are flagged?

Audit flags include: kids welcome, self-catering, onsite restaurant. Policies change — confirm in writing for your dates.

Are children welcome?

Kids welcome is flagged yes in the audit — confirm cot/extra-bed policy and any min age for spa or restaurant areas.

Stay notes checked 5 October 2026. Confirm the rate and what is open before you book. Book. Source. More stays in Franschhoek. With kids. Weddings.

Weddings here

Official Weddings & Conferencing page plus 2026 venue portfolio with four+ wedding spaces and exclusive in-house catering

Hosts weddings. Up to 220 seated. About 55 min from Cape Town. 55 min from the airport. From R10000 (Blame Lilly).

Rooms on siteIn-house cateringSmall weddingOutdoorIndoorWheelchair

The Venue; The Platform; Blame Lilly; Old Road Wine Co.; Backsberg; Old Road Distillery; Distillery Mountain View Lawns

Multiple indoor/outdoor spaces with mountain and vineyard backdrops

Mountain and vineyard landscapes; Old Road Distillery mountain-view lawns

Franschhoek Cellar is a multi-venue wedding and events hub set against mountain and vineyard landscapes.

At a glance

  • Capacity: up to 220 seated and 350 standing for The Venue, according to the website (the 2026 portfolio says The Venue can take 150, so confirm with the events team)
  • Spaces: The Venue, The Platform, Blame Lilly, Old Road Wine Co., Backsberg, Old Road Distillery and the Distillery Mountain View Lawns
  • Ceremony: multiple indoor and outdoor spaces with mountain and vineyard backdrops
  • Accommodation: the Rose and Protea cottages, which sleep four each
  • Catering: exclusive in-house catering; outside caterers can't be accommodated
  • Coordinator: yes
  • Access: disabled facilities and access are listed in the standard venue inclusions

Smaller spaces suit intimate weddings. The venue and bar close at 00:00 and guests leave by 00:30 unless arranged beforehand, with music volume regulated by the estate.

Price: venue hire from R10 000 (2026, as published by the venue) for Blame Lilly. The official 2026 portfolio lists each space separately, for example The Venue at R29 000.

Download the 2026 venue portfolio from the official Weddings & Conferencing page, or email events@franschhoekcellar.co.za.

Last checked 5 October 2026 against the estate's official information. Confirm details directly before booking.

Before you enquire

  • Venue and bar close promptly 00:00; guests depart by 00:30 unless prior arrangement; estate regulates music volume
  • Exclusive catering rights — outside caterers cannot be accommodated
  • Official Venue Portfolio 2026: The Venue R29000; Platform R17500; Blame Lilly R10000; Old Road Wine Co. R14500; Backsberg R20000; Old Road Distillery R23000; Mountain View Lawns R15000. Website also cites The Venue 350 cocktail / 220 seated; portfolio body text says Venue can accommodate 150 — confirm with events team.
How many guests can Franschhoek Cellar host?

The website cites up to 220 seated and 350 cocktail for The Venue, while the 2026 portfolio says 150. Confirm with the events team.

Can we use our own caterer?

No. Franschhoek Cellar has exclusive catering rights.

Is there accommodation?

Yes, the Rose and Protea cottages sleep four each.

What time does the venue close?

The venue and bar close at 00:00, and guests leave by 00:30 unless arranged in advance.

Wedding notes checked 5 October 2026. Guest numbers and packages change. Ask the farm for the current offer. Enquire. Brochure. Source. More wedding farms in Franschhoek. With kids. Stay. Tours.

Tours that stop here

All wine tours

Questions before you go

Where is Franschhoek Cellar?

Franschhoek Cellar is at Huguenot Road / R45, Franschhoek. Most visitors drive there from Cape Town in 60–75 minutes.

When is Franschhoek Cellar open?

Open Sunday · Closed public holidays. Hours change, so call +27 21 876 2086 before you drive.

How much is a wine tasting at Franschhoek Cellar?

From R150 · Walk-in · Groups of 20 by appointment. Prices change, so confirm when you book.

Can I eat at Franschhoek Cellar?

Yes, there is a restaurant on the farm. Book ahead for weekend lunches.

Wine of Origin

Geographical unit: Western Cape → Coastal Region → Franschhoek

Franschhoek Valley is a compact, dramatic district: a cul-de-sac of vineyards between the Groot Drakenstein, Franschhoek and Klein Drakenstein mountains.

Terroir snapshot

Elevation and soil figures are modelled at the pin, not a vineyard block survey. Use them to compare farms, not to quote a technical sheet.

Latitude
-33.90429
Longitude
19.11143
Elevation
253 m (Open-Meteo)
Soil pH
6.3 (SoilGrids 0–5 cm)
Clay
13% (SoilGrids)
Organic C
54.5 g/kg (SoilGrids)

Sources

  • Wine route membership: association listing
  • Wine list: wine.co.za
  • Family notes: farm website, checked 5 October 2026
  • Stay notes: farm website, checked 5 October 2026
  • Wedding notes: farm website, checked 5 October 2026
  • Tours: operator pages
  • Elevation: Open-Meteo
  • Soil: ISRIC SoilGrids

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