Cape Town and its surrounds are well known for its wineries and wine routes - but there's none so quaint, at least in my opinion, than the Durbanville Wine Valley.

The local tourism boards have done well to create a variety of wine route experiences, from the well-known (such as Stellenbosch and Paarl) to the luxurious (such as Franschhoek and Hermanus) and the quaint (such as Robertson and Darling).

Free tastings

Yet just 20-30ks from Cape Town, and a five minute dash from Cape Town's northern suburbs, the Durbanville Wine Valley is home to some of South Africa's nicest new wine farms. And best of all, at several of the wine farms, tastings are absolutely free.

You heard me right. Eager to get word of their wines out to the public, several farms on this route do tastings free of charge - that's zero zilch, nothing! The route should take you no longer than a few hours to complete (depending on how desperately you want to taste all the free wine) so it's a great way to spend an inexpensive day out of the city.

So where to begin? It doesn't matter which end you choose to start from - the route does a circuit, which means you'll never be too far away from major roads or shopping centres - but I always like to finish my tour up in the lush surroundings of Durbanville itself (a lunch at one of the local restaurants never disappoints) so it's best to start at the opposite end.

Peninsula picnics

Head for the M14 (or Plattekloof Road) off the N1 out of Cape Town (if you're coming from the Southern Suburbs, take the N2 and get onto the N7) and your first stop will be De Grendel. One of South Africa's oldest farms, De Grendel markets itself as one of the highest vineyards above sea-level. Situated on the slopes of Tygerberg Hill, the tasting centre offers magnificent views of Table Mountain and a unique combination of a south-facing climate and ocean air. There's also space for intimate picnics overlooking the peninsula, and best of all, they're open on a Sunday.

• Must-taste wine: Pinot Noir for R120

Now that you're in the right mood - nicely warmed up from a few glasses - and properly oriented by the sight of Table Mountain - head further along the M14 and up along Durbanville Road (the M13). You're now into the main wine route, with winding valley roads among the vineyards. Relax. You won't need to leave this road for anything other than yummy lunches and good wine for many miles to come!

One of the best known brands of the region, Durbanville Hills, has established an impressive tasting centre. Drawing its grapes from several smaller farms in the region, Durbanville Hills has two notable ranges - the Hills Range and the Rhinofields Reserve Range.

The restaurant on site is also a must-see, with panoramic views of Cape Town, and is open Tuesday to Saturday with a buffet menu available on Sunday. There is a small charge for tasting, but if you bring your own glass, it's just R10 per person.

• Must-taste wine: Rhinofields Merlot for R98

Just a few minutes of driving ahead lie the real gems of this wine route - Hillcrest, Ntida and Bloemendal farms. They are a must-visit, are open on Sundays, and feature family-friendly spaces and activities for the kids.

Hillcrest farm is perhaps best known for their olives and olive oil, but their wine doesn't disappoint. Tastings (of both - olives and wine) are free, even on Sunday's, and you can't visit without trying their restaurant's tapas selection or the Chef's Burger. In winter, patrons can snuggle up by the indoor fireplace and staff are friendly and eager to impart their knowledge of the region's wines. You can't do this wine route without stopping here, and keep an eye on their website for their programme of events throughout the year.

• Must-taste wine: Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot Blend for R70

Nitida's newly-established Cassia restaurant is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays, and for lunch on Sunday, and has both indoor and outdoor dining facilities.

There is also the less-formal Café Ntida, and a family-friendly area to keep the kids amused. On the last Saturday of each month, the farm hosts the Ntida Food Market, which can't be missed. Pick up tasty treats like vanilla paste, porcini mushroom butter, and farm fresh produce from a variety of stalls.

The tasting centre isn't open on Sundays, but tastings are free and usually presented by passionate and knowledgeable viniculture students. Chill out by the bar and absorb some of their knowledge.

• Must-taste wine: Ntida Calligraphy for R83

Just down the road lies Bloemendal, but be sure to choose which one you want to visit. There is the more extravagant restaurant at the top of the hill (a stunning venue for weddings and conferences) and the more family-oriented restaurant and tasting area in the valley.

The restaurant setting is quaint and cosy, with a giant indoor fireplace for lazy winter days and an outdoor play area for the kids. Tastings are inexpensive, but their wine is served best with one of their delicious lunches. Afterwards, grab your glass and laze under the gazebos by the Koi pond.

Also, make a note of visiting them around Easter time for their Champagne and Oyster festival - a real treat for those who can't make it to Knysna later in the year.

• Must-taste wine: Bloemendal Sauvignon Blanc for R80

You've now got to choose between the shorter, more travelled route home, or two more stops further into Durbanville. If you head to the South, you've got the well-known farm ahead of you, with the lure of the High Street Village and Tygervalley Shopping centre beyond that. If you keep going north, there's still Diemersdal and Meerendal wine farms ahead of you. The routes to those farms aren't as direct as before, so take a map to avoid getting lost.

Diemersdal is a modest farm with only a tasting centre on site, but tastings are free of charge. There is no restaurant, but there are animals for the kids to pet while you get to the serious business of tasting.

Meerendal is a more established farm with three restaurants on site - The Bistro restaurant is open daily for breakfast and lunch and Wheatfields, their fine dining restaurant, is open for lunches and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday (where I'm told you can find the best scallops in the world). They also do a Sunday buffet at the Barn and Lawn, which is very popular.

There's a large lawn and play area for the kids (look out for the launch of their petting zoo soon). Tastings are just R10 per person and there is always knowledgeable staff on hand to answer any questions you may have about their wine.

• Must-taste wine: Diemersdal 2008 Sauvignon Blanc for R28 and the Meerendal Merlot for R64

If you've got any room left, the best way to wrap up your day is at one of Durbanville's restaurants - I recommend Avocado for its relaxing setting and renowned lamb shank.

For more information on all of these farms, visit Durbanville and keep an eye out for more information on their upcoming Season of Sauvignon festival in September.

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