Sundowners at Peter Falke Wine Farm in Stellenbosch

Toast dusk with fine wine, gorgeous cheese platters and tasty salads

Just past strawberry country and just beyond the shadow of the Helderberg Mountain crouches Peter Falke, one of Stellenbosch’s most sublime sundowner spots and a wine farm that’s not afraid of keeping the drink flowing late and the good times rolling.

The boutique winery props its historic Cape Dutch doors open until an unheard-of 7pm, Sundays included, in a Cape Winelands region where knocking off early comes with the territory.  So, those looking to bid farewell to the day with a Pagan sort of ceremony can toast dusk amidst vibrant rose gardens and wild lavender and atop a green fit for a championship golf course.

During the warmer season, guests are invited to lounge about on the verdant lawn under a canopy of outstretched umbrellas. The wine estate supplies the vino, gorgeous cheese platters and tasty European-style salads - and visitors must merely bring the good cheer. When the days get colder and shorter, happy hour mavens can still enjoy vintages from one of Peter Falke’s two ranges in the racy tasting room or on a covered veranda; heaters, blankets and plush wicker furniture make the outdoor lounge of sort surprisingly cosy.

On the whole, the intimate setting is a playful mix of old and new: whimsical cork screws the size and thickness of young olive trees twirl into the space between patches of garden, a tasting room bar with nightclub sheen and swagger makes a home within 18th-century architecture, and a tree painted race car red stretches its branches metres away from wise, old weeping willows and towering oaks.

The atmosphere is sophisticated, but light-hearted; the winery, with its bright rouge swatches at every turn, clearly doesn’t take itself too seriously – a mindset that likely stems from its owners’ reason for purchasing the estate in the first place.

German hosiery mogul Peter Falke and his better half, Danièle Görtz, took over the property in 1995 purely to further their own sense of enjoyment, and the commitment to leisure and indulgence shines through.

So, whether you’re on the hunt for a perch that carries the same sort of romance as the setting sun, or whether you’re simply looking for a serene and scenic spot to share a bottle with friends, Peter Falke is a great place to see out what’s likely to be an unforgettable afternoon in the Winelands.

Wine Tasting Sundowners at Peter Falke

Wine tasting at Peter Falke costs between R35p/p and R45p/p, depending on your choice of sip and swirl session. All tastings come with a minimum of five wines.

A cheese platter, which comes with your choice of one, three, five or seven creamy inclusions (like Gorgonzola, fresh Asiago, Crottin and more), preserves, charcuterie and seasonal fruit (it’s also served with two types of bread), costs from R90 to R345.

European-style salads, like a Parma ham and melon creation or a caprese with vine-ripened tomatoes, ring in at between R60 and R65.

Reds and whites from both Peter Falke’s Signature range and PF range are available for purchase as well.

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Curious about what else is on offer at this charming boutique wine farm? Read more about Peter Falke winery in Stellenbosch.

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