A recent three-day tour took a couple from the United States through Robertson on Route 62, working slowly through some of the valley’s finest boutique estates: Springfield, De Wetshof, Excelsior, Zandvliet and Kranskop. Of everything on the itinerary, their strongest reaction was to two things: the sheer beauty of the Robertson area, and the consistent quality of the wines across every estate.
The Estates of the Robertson Valley
Robertson sits in a stretch of the Breede River Valley that many international visitors have never heard of, and that is part of its charm. There are no crowds and no queues, just generous tasting rooms, unhurried hosts, and wine that punches well above its reputation. The valley is best known for its Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Chardonnay, and over three days the couple tasted their way through all three across five very different cellars.
Each estate has its own character, but the thread running through all of them is a quiet confidence in the wine. The couple kept returning to the same observation: that they could not find a weak bottle anywhere in the valley.
Blend Your Own Bottle at Excelsior
The most hands-on moment came at Excelsior, where guests get to blend their own bottle. You work the barrels yourself, drawing off the components and deciding the proportions until you have created a red wine that is genuinely your own. The bottle is then corked and labelled for you to take home: a souvenir you actually made, rather than one you simply bought.
It is the kind of hands-on moment that turns a tasting into a memory. There is something about choosing your own blend, sealing the bottle, and signing the label that stays with people long after the trip is over.
Where to Stay and Eat in Robertson
The Robertson Small Hotel, right in the centre of town, worked well as a central base. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the hotel has its own restaurant serving breakfast and dinner, which makes it an easy and relaxed home base for a wine weekend.
On two of the evenings the couple headed just outside of town to eat at Ragazzi and Mo&Rose, both excellent restaurants and well worth the short drive. After a full day of tasting, a good dinner in the valley is the perfect way to round things off.
For guests who want a boutique wine experience without rushing, Robertson works well over three days: enough time for several estates, proper meals, and a more relaxed feel than a single-day tasting route. If you would like a private, unhurried tour built around your own tastes, explore my wine experiences or get in touch and I will put together a custom Route 62 itinerary just for you.