Home to South Africa’s largest concentration of award-winning restaurants, celebrated wine estates, visionary chefs and artisan producers, Stellenbosch once again invites visitors to experience why it is recognised as the country’s leading food and wine destination.

Some destinations are known for great restaurants. Stellenbosch is something else entirely.

Here, award-winning chefs, passionate winemakers, artisan producers, farmers and welcoming hosts come together to create a destination where every meal tells a story. Whether it is an intimate chef’s table, a long table feast among the vines, an innovative tasting menu or a leisurely brunch that turns into an afternoon, food is not simply something you enjoy. It is how you experience Stellenbosch.

It is this extraordinary concentration of chefs, winemakers, farmers, cheesemakers, bakers, distillers, olive producers and hospitality experiences, all within minutes of one another, that makes Stellenbosch unlike anywhere else in South Africa. Every meal begins long before it reaches the table, rooted in exceptional local produce, generations of craftsmanship and a culture that celebrates creativity, collaboration and genuine hospitality.

Recognised by the Eat Out Awards, Gourmet Guide and the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants, Stellenbosch continues to set the benchmark for culinary excellence in South Africa. Home to some of the country’s most celebrated restaurants and wine estates, the destination has earned a reputation for delivering world-class food and wine experiences that are authentic, innovative and deeply connected to place.

“Taste Stellenbosch is more than a celebration of exceptional food and wine. It is a celebration of the people, passion and craftsmanship that have shaped Stellenbosch into South Africa’s leading food and wine destination,” says Annemie Liebenberg, CEO of Visit Stellenbosch.

“Every chef, winemaker, farmer, artisan producer and host contributes to a culinary story that is uniquely Stellenbosch. Here, remarkable experiences begin with extraordinary ingredients, are brought to life by talented people and shared around tables that inspire conversation, connection and discovery. Taste Stellenbosch invites visitors to slow down, savour every moment and experience a destination where every meal becomes a lasting memory. We hope every visitor leaves inspired, already planning their return, because the very best way to discover Stellenbosch is one unforgettable meal at a time.”

This year’s programme celebrates the remarkable breadth and diversity of Stellenbosch’s culinary landscape. From intimate chef collaborations and immersive food and wine pairings to vineyard feasts, long table gatherings, heritage dining experiences and menus created exclusively for the season, every experience has been thoughtfully curated to showcase the creativity, generosity and unmistakable sense of place that define South Africa’s leading food and wine destination.

“Taste Stellenbosch is an invitation to experience the extraordinary diversity of our destination,” says Daniel Kriel, Chairman of Taste Stellenbosch.

“Whether it is an intimate chef’s table, a vineyard feast, a long lunch with friends or discovering a hidden culinary gem for the first time, every experience has been thoughtfully created by passionate people who love sharing Stellenbosch. Visitors won’t simply enjoy exceptional food and wine. They’ll discover the warmth, creativity and generosity that make this destination so memorable and leave with every reason to return.”

Highlights of Taste Stellenbosch 2026 include:

• De Warenmarkt’s interactive Test Kitchen and Pinotage & Venison Winemakers’ Dinner with Beyerskloof.
• 96 Winery Road Restaurant’s nostalgic four-course celebration of 30 years of Good Food, Good Wine and Good Times.
• HŌSEKI at Delaire Graff Estate’s Nihon Jūdan, an elegant culinary journey through regional Japanese flavours.
• Muratie Farm Kitchen’s Story Room Experience, where exceptional wines, slow-cooked cuisine and heritage storytelling come together.
• Pink Valley Restaurant’s Pink Drinks & Petite Plates experience, pairing rosé wines with beautifully crafted tasting plates.
• Warwick Wine Estate’s signature gourmet slider and wine pairing.
• Lanzerac’s guided Taste Lanzerac experience and Family Style Sundays.
• Klein Joostenberg Bistro’s spectacular long table farm brunch celebrating seasonal produce, artisan charcuterie, oysters and sparkling wine.

But Taste Stellenbosch doesn’t end at the table.

Some places deserve more than a day

Exceptional seasonal accommodation experiences at boutique guesthouses, luxury hotels, vineyard estates and countryside retreats invite visitors to slow down and stay a little longer. Wake up among the vineyards, linger over another breakfast, discover another cellar, book another table and give yourself the greatest luxury of all: another day to experience the flavours, people and unexpected moments that make Stellenbosch unforgettable.

Because the best meals are never rushed. Neither is Stellenbosch.

Taste Stellenbosch accommodation highlights include:

• 10 Alexander B&B: Stay for two nights and savour a third night free at the #1-rated Tripadvisor B&B in Stellenbosch.
• Rozenburg Guesthouse: Stay within walking distance of Stellenbosch’s historic village centre, top restaurants and wineries, and enjoy 30% off your accommodation.
• Spier Wine Farm: Book two nights or more and receive R1,600 credit to indulge across dining, wine and spa experiences.

Discover the full range of participating accommodation at: taste.visitstellenbosch.org/accommodation/

Come hungry. Leave inspired. Return soon.

Taste Stellenbosch runs from 1 August to 20 September 2026.

Discover the full programme of dining experiences, accommodation packages and seasonal inspiration at: taste.visitstellenbosch.org

ENDS

About Visit Stellenbosch

Visit Stellenbosch is the official destination marketing organisation for Stellenbosch, working in partnership with tourism businesses, local government and industry stakeholders to position Stellenbosch as one of South Africa’s leading year-round leisure, lifestyle and business events destinations. Through strategic destination marketing, visitor services and industry collaboration, Visit Stellenbosch inspires travellers to discover the region’s exceptional wine, award-winning culinary experiences, rich heritage, vibrant culture and breathtaking natural landscapes.

Media enquiries

Roland Muller: roland@bigambitions.co.za

Madalene Manuel: madalene@bigambitions.co.za

For more information about Taste Stellenbosch, visit taste.visitstellenbosch.org

It’s a beautiful picture, yes, but it tells only part of the story.

The Stellenbosch that reveals itself to those who look a little deeper, who wake early and follow a river instead of a map, is something else entirely. A place of genuine surprise, where the most memorable moments were never on the itinerary.

According to Annemie Liebenberg, CEO of Visit Stellenbosch:

“Stellenbosch has always been extraordinary. What has changed is the invitation. This year, we are moving beyond the highlights reel and asking a more meaningful question: what happens when you stop ticking boxes and start paying attention? The answer, captured in our promise of ‘Unexpected Firsts. Unforgettable Moments,’ is what this town has always quietly offered. Some places you visit. Stellenbosch, you experience.”

Here is what a single day of paying attention might actually look like – just one example of the thousands of incredible, unexpected “firsts” that await…

Sunrise: The Valley That Wakes Before the Town Does

There is a quieter, more intimate side of Stellenbosch that reveals itself in the early hours of the day.

Before the estates open their gates and the coffee shops pull back their shutters, the Dwarsrivier Valley (a stretch of raw, unhurried landscape framed by the Simonsberg mountains and threaded by the Dwars River) is already alive, offering the kind of stillness that makes you aware of your own breathing.

Accessible via the R310, roughly 10 to 20 kilometres from the town centre, the valley draws trail runners and mountain bikers who understand something others are only beginning to discover: that this landscape, at this specific time, is one of the most beautiful places in South Africa.

There are trails of varying lengths for both mountain bikers and runners, winding through rocky singletrack and open farmland with elevation gains that reward the effort with panoramic views across the valley floor. The paths suit a range of fitness levels, and local guides are available for those who prefer company over solitude.

Morning: A Gallery with No Walls

Come mid-morning, after a comforting cuppa and an energising breakfast, you can choose to follow the Eerste River and let it lead you somewhere special.

The Stellenbosch Art Mile is a 1.6-kilometre open-air gallery that runs along the riverbank from the Krige Street pedestrian bridge to the Coetzenburg bridge, crossing six bridges beneath a canopy of trees. It’s free and open around the clock, and it asks nothing of you except that you pay attention.

Various South African artists have placed their work along this route, including interactive metal sculptures and site-specific pieces tied to the river’s geology and history. Recent themes have explored concepts of reflection, time, and the layered human relationship with landscape. QR codes on many of the works connect to the artists directly, but there’s no gift shop and no queue.

For those who want to extend the morning, the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden sits just a short drive away on Paradyskloof Road: seven hectares of indigenous fynbos and mountain views populated by more than 60 bronze sculptures exploring wilderness and the deeper terrain of the human psyche. Visits are by appointment only, which means you’ll never share the encounter with a crowd.

Together, the two experiences form something rare: an art morning that feels genuinely discovered rather than consumed.

Midday: The Table You Were Not Expecting

Forget, for a moment, everything the word “tasting” conjures.

In the Kayamandi township, just minutes from the centre of Stellenbosch, Nocawe Piedt opens her home and her table to visitors in a way that changes what hospitality means in this part of the world. This is the Township & Village home dining experience, and it’s unlike anything else available in the Winelands.

The table is laden with traditional Xhosa dishes, like pap, chakalaka, samp, stew, spinach with potatoes, pumpkin with sweet corn, and chicken feet, alongside amagwinya, the traditional Xhosa beer that has been poured at celebrations here for generations. There’s dancing, drumming, storytelling, and the particular warmth of a community that has chosen to share its culture not as a performance, but as a genuine act of welcome.

It’s the most unexpected lunch in the Winelands. It is also, for many who experience it, the most unforgettable.

Afternoon: A Tasting That Tastes Like South Africa

The conventional wine tasting is not what Vergenoegd Löw had in mind when they created their Indigenous Tasting.

Spekboom. Bokkoms. Roosterkoek. Kaiings. Amasi. Dexter biltong. Kei apple. The Indigenous Tasting draws on ingredients that have sustained communities across southern Africa for centuries. Flavours that most visitors have never encountered and that most tasting rooms would never think to serve. Each element is paired with estate-grown wines that reflect what Vergenoegd Löw calls their “merroir”: the particular character of this specific place and this specific soil.

It’s a tasting that asks a quiet but significant question: how well do you actually know this land?

The answer, for most visitors, is not as well as they thought. Which is precisely the point.

Sunset: The Street That Becomes a Living Room

As the light turns golden and the oak trees cast long shadows across Drostdy Street, something shifts in Stellenbosch. The energy is contagious and everyone, locals and visitors alike, comes together to laugh, eat, sip, chat, and simply enjoy the moment.

The Stellenbosch Street Soirées, a summertime highlight, are among the most joyful expressions of what this town truly is at its core: a community that genuinely enjoys itself. Wine tokens in hand, visitors graze on street food and find themselves in conversations they never planned to have with people they never expected to meet.

No itinerary leads here, and no booking is required. You simply follow the music and let the evening unfold.

It is the perfect final note for a day that began in a misty valley and moved through river art, a township kitchen, and an indigenous wine pairing. A day that looked nothing like the Stellenbosch most visitors would imagine, and everything like the one they will spend years trying to describe to people who were not there.

Stellenbosch is only 40 minutes from Cape Town, or a scenic 25-minute helicopter transfer away, placing you within easy reach of your next unforgettable moment. For more information on experiences, visit www.visitstellenbosch.org

-ENDS-

Media Contact: visitstellenbosch@bigambitions.co.za     

Table of Contents

Johannesburg – A consultant flies to a regional hub for a late-week meeting. Their partner joins for the weekend; they use loyalty points to upgrade the room, book a set‑menu Valentine’s dinner on the Saturday evening, and add a day of local exploring before flying home. This is business travel done right.

It’s an open secret that multi-day business travel is less “exciting time away in a new city” and more “lonely and exhausted”. It’s a recipe for decreased productivity and, critically for your business, a negative impact on mental and physical health, says Herman Heunes, GM of Corporate Traveller South Africa.

We all know the drill: waiting at airports, transfers, delays, traffic jams, jetlag, long days in meetings, hotel food eaten alone. It’s a drag. Companies have woken up to this, and many are supporting employees who tack a few leisure days on to their business trip, says Herman. Think: Monday is the new Sunday and Thursday is the new Friday.

Human connection

It’s not just about leisure time, though, but how you spend it. And crucially, with whom. Loneliness is now widely described as an epidemic, with younger men especially affected. There is strong evidence that close, in‑person connection is protective for mental and physical health.

The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing published in the UK’s BMJ Journals, for example, found that people with the highest loneliness have about a 30% higher risk of new cardiovascular disease and a 48% higher risk of related hospital admission than the least lonely.

Additionally, a meta‑analysis of 16 longitudinal studies published by the US’s National Library of Medicine, found that loneliness and social isolation are associated with a 32% higher risk of stroke, which is on par with established risk factors like job stress.

In mental health terms, social support consistently predicts lower depression and anxiety.

Of course, business travel can offer its own social rewards – colleagues bonding over delayed flights, discovering hole-in-the wall restaurants together and navigating foreign cities as a team. But an adventure with a loved one? Priceless.

Love is in the air

In a 2024 Deloitte corporate travel study, 41% of travellers said time away from loved ones was a top drawback of business travel. Simultaneously, research into work‑life balance and satisfaction in romantic relationships suggests that spending quality time with a supportive partner significantly lowers the damage of high work stress.

“This supports the idea that using business trips as opportunities for couple time, such as a Valentine’s long weekend around meetings, can strengthen relationships, provided there is deliberate planning and partner inclusion,” says Heunes.

Bringing a partner along on a work trip is both rational choice and preventive care. It replaces evenings alone with shared experiences, turns anonymous hotel time into couple time, and gives the travelling partner a built‑in source of emotional support and stress‑buffering presence.

Instead of date night, plan a Valentine’s Day bleisure date-cation. Convert a solitary three‑night trip into a shared experience, especially around Valentine’s Day.

How to do it

Be transparent. A “stealth trip” or “hush trip” might be tempting – especially if you work remotely – but it can have huge duty of care ramifications. Instead, openly discuss your plans with your boss, team and travel management company (TMC). Your TMC will be able to use their buying power to secure the best rates and upgrades – and ensure details like travel insurance and visas don’t trip you up. Your employer is unlikely to pay for your partner’s flights and excursions – but loyalty points, special rates and negotiated fares can go a long, long way.

Plan the “relationship time” properly. Your partner does not want to spend all their time on their own. Block out one or two non‑negotiable windows for couple time, such as a Valentine’s dinner plus a morning walk, and keep those off‑limits for calls.

Manage expectations; transparency extends to your partner too – be honest about your workload, when you will be working, and when you will be fully present.

Keep logistics as smooth as possible and choose accommodations and locations that serve both purposes. Corporate Traveller’s analysis of longer average stays and their own client communications show a shift towards central, amenity‑rich hotels that are walkable to both meetings and restaurants or cultural sites, which is ideal for squeezing in a Valentine’s lunch or evening out.

Look for hotels with strong WiFi, quiet workspaces, and late checkout, but also easy access to romantic experiences (views, spa, wine bars, or safe evening strolls), so you don’t waste limited shared time.

If you can’t book chunks of couple time, use micro‑moments. Build small rituals into your day, even on days of back-to-back meetings: early morning coffee together, a sunset walk between sessions, or room‑service dessert after you’ve logged off.

Once you’ve made your plans, protect your time. Don’t over‑schedule sightseeing on top of work and add your leisure days at the end of the trip, so your break is not overshadowed by next‑day presentations.

“For more guidance on structuring bleisure travel that works for both your business and your people, speak to your TMC or travel expert about travel policy considerations, duty of care, travel insurance and the accommodation options, rates and excursions that it make it worthwhile,” says Heunes.

-ENDS-

MEDIA CONTACT

For more information about Corporate Traveller, or to interview Corporate Traveller South Africa GM Herman Heunes, call Sonnette Fourie on 081 072 2869 or email sonnette@bigambitions.co.za.    

About Corporate Traveller

Corporate Traveller is a division of the Flight Centre Travel Group, dedicated to saving businesses across Southern Africa time and money. Corporate Traveller has the benefit of being part of the world’s third-largest travel retailer, leveraging its global negotiating strength. It has access to over 50 of the world’s leading airlines and deals with more than 100 000 hotels around the world to guarantee savings for clients. Corporate Traveller provides clear, consolidated reporting of all its clients’ travel activities, helping them to control travel spend and identify opportunities to save costs.

Issued by:

Big Ambitions

Sonnette Fourie

sonnette@bigambitions.co.za

+27 81 072 2869

Corporate Traveller has teamed up with Healthwise Global to pick the top seven tips for travellers who want to protect their health and wellbeing when flying.

“Business travellers are definitely prioritising their health this year,” says Herman Heunes, GM Corporate Traveller South Africa. “But the reality of early flights, back-to-back meetings and room service can quickly derail even the strongest resolutions, making it particularly difficult to stick to the promises you made yourself on New Year’s Eve!”

As Heunes explains, the Flight Centre Travel Group makes use of the services of Healthwise Global – an in-house employee wellness programme – to motivate, inspire and assist their staff to live their happiest and healthiest lives.

Healthwise’s Global Business Leader, Tod Horton, says: “Healthwise is proud to look after the health and well-being of Corporate Traveller employees, especially when they are on the road at home and abroad.”

For Heunes, Healthwise Global are the perfect people to go to for advice.

“As our corporate travel teams benefit from the support and insights of Healthwise Global, we decided to ask them for a list of easy and practical ways travellers can keep their health and fitness levels in check,” says Heunes. “And when it comes to your well-being, every little step helps.”

1. Hydrate early. It is so important to rehydrate your body after a few weeks of Christmas and New Year’s cheer before travelling. Aiming for your eight glasses of water each day will help you feel better, think more clearly, aid digestion, improve your skin, and help prevent headaches. Yes, you may need to go to the bathroom a bit more often, but your body will thank you for it once you land.
2. Perfect your pre-airport routine. Use the night before your flight to prepare for the hustle and bustle of airport check-in and security. Pack yourself a healthy snack for the flight, have a quick but balanced breakfast, such as Bircher muesli or egg white frittata, ready for the morning, and get an early night’s sleep. It is also worth checking your journey to the airport the night before in case there are scheduled roadworks on your route. These extra steps will help reduce unplanned stress ahead of departure.
3. Use seat selection to your advantage. Once you have made it on board, it is easy to sink into your seat and settle in until landing time. However, remaining immobile for several hours on your flight will cause your body to work harder to pump blood from your legs back to your heart. By selecting an aisle seat at the time of booking, you will ensure you can get up as you please (when safe to do so) and use the aisles to stretch your legs.
4. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Alcoholic and caffeinated drinks are a tempting option when travelling; it’s common to feel the need for a few cups of coffee after an early start or a glass of wine on the flight home to decompress. Their diuretic nature, combined with the humidity levels on planes, however, increases the risk of dehydration. It’s best to stick to bottled water when flying, and if you’re travelling on a long-haul flight, consider taking a hydration tablet with electrolytes to help with water absorption.
5. Eat balanced meals, in moderation. It’s easy to slip into unhealthy food habits when travelling, with the enticement of hotel breakfast buffetsand restaurant meals on offer. Foods with processed sugars, such as pastries, energy drinks, and chocolate cake, can cause our energy levels to peak and crash, so they are best avoided if you want to optimise your energy levels. In addition, moderation is key. If you’ve had a meal of lean protein, vegetables, and wholegrains, and aren’t completely satisfied, a scoop of ice cream won’t hurt and may help to curb the cravings.
6. Stay on the move when on the move. There is no reason to pause your exercise routinewhen travelling and staying active can help your body acclimatise to your new location. Consider going for a walk after you check in to get the blood circulating before your flight, or consider packing compact fitness items, such as resistance bands, that you can use in your hotel room. Simple exercises such as squats, burpees and bicycle crunches can all be performed in small indoor spaces.
7. Sleep well. It is super important that you use the travel time to catch up on some sleep or at least try to adjust to new time zones, so you feel fresh and more focused upon arrival. Use eye masks and earplugs and try to avoid screens right before sleeping.

-ENDS-

MEDIA CONTACT

For more information about Corporate Traveller, or to interview Corporate Traveller South Africa GM Herman Heunes, call Sonnette Fourie on 081 072 2869 or email sonnette@bigambitions.co.za.    

About Corporate Traveller

Corporate Traveller is a division of the Flight Centre Travel Group, dedicated to saving businesses across Southern Africa time and money. Corporate Traveller has the benefit of being part of the world’s third-largest travel retailer, leveraging its global negotiating strength. It has access to over 50 of the world’s leading airlines and deals with more than 100 000 hotels around the world to guarantee savings for clients. Corporate Traveller provides clear, consolidated reporting of all its clients’ travel activities, helping them to control travel spend and identify opportunities to save costs.

Issued by:

Big Ambitions

Sonnette Fourie

sonnette@bigambitions.co.za

+27 81 072 2869